My Friend Myles Munroe: Promoting Others In Life and Death

“Make people greater than yourself and you will live forever!”

I just returned home from a sometimes tearful two day pilgrimage to the place “where God lives” – the beautiful Bahamas, home to the inauspicious birth, the unparalleled life and the untimely death of of my mentor and friend Dr. Myles Munroe, his regal wife Pastor Ruth and seven of their beloved staff and friends – who all perished in an internationally publicized, shocking plane crash en route to the Myles Munroe Leadership Conference on November 9th.

My wife Jeri and I were honored to accompany Dr. Morris and Theresa Cerullo for the Myles and Ruth Munroe Homegoing Celebration where Dr. Cerullo had been invited to speak at the National Stadium as world leaders, esteemed ministers, family and friends were joined by thousands to honor this humble apostle of God and his beloved wife.

I couldn’t help but feel Myles presence day and night during the two days we were In Nassau…

Here is a raw recording of Dr Cerullo’s tribute that I recorded with my phone: Morris Cerullo Tribute at Myles/Ruth Munroe Memorial Service

For over 20 years I had the joy and privilege of booking Myles to speak in Dr Cerullo’s major conferences. Myles chose not to refer me to deal with an assistant, but would speak to me personally – and make most of his arrangements with me directly.

And he wouldn’t just want to get the speaking details confirmed and get off the phone. He would always take time to invest in me and speak to the purpose of God in my life and ministry. He would ask about my health, my marriage, my family and my ministry.

Along with Dr. Cerullo, it was Myles that urged me to write my book “The Blessing of Serving Another Man’s Ministry” and would call me to check on the progress.

Dr Cerullo wrote the forward. After Morris, Myles was the first to read the manuscript and send me his most gracious words of endorsement, which are printed on the back cover.

The last time Myles spoke for us was this past January – he called me several months before the conference to ask what the theme was — so that he could prepare his message to most effectively complement Dr. Cerullo’s vision for the World Conference. I shared with him that the  conference theme was “Legacy”.  After all this is Morris’s 68th anniversary of ministry — and at age 83, Morris and Theresa are in their legacy years — and building an incredible  World Outreach Legacy Center on 18 prime acres in San Diego.

When I met Myles and Ruth in the green room before he ministered this message, that warm smile as big as the Bahamas welcomed me with the words, “How’s my world famous author?!”

Ruth glowed with regal beauty.  Myles so happy by her side.

Little did I or anyone know that the powerful and profound message Myles would subsequently deliver, “The Principle and Power of Legacy and Succession” would be the last message he spoke in a Morris Cerullo conference and ultimately become the compelling words that would frame his (and her) own legacy and succession…

“Make people greater than yourself and you will live forever”,  Myles said that day.  And that is what he did.

Following the passing of Dr Munroe on November 9th this prophetic message has been viewed nearly 100,000 times.

Now months later, I had forgotten how that at the close of his message, before turning the service back to me, Myles spontaneously held up a copy of my book and spoke very gracious words of endorsement and encouraged every leader to get a copy for their team, and every Christian to get a copy to learn the blessings of serving.

Then, following the shocking events of November 9th, one email, then another, and another – from pastors and leaders – and believers from around the world – who were now watching Myles’ message on legacy and succession to the gracious end – began to overflow my inbox asking how they could get copies of the book.  A little reminder that even from heaven Myles’ encouragement continued.

I can see Myles looking down from heaven with that smile as big as the Bahamas saying to me and every person that was touched by his life, “Now it’s your time, finish strong, and make people greater than yourself!”

My prayer is that I would make him proud.

Tags: morris cerullo, myles munroe