December 19, 2003
For some time now, we have been looking for someone to take my place when I get too old or sick to direct WEI. After praying for guidance, Bill Morgan and I came to the conclusion that Tom Langley was the man.
We had seen Tom at work in Albania. We had listened to him speak at mission conferences. We both concluded that Tom had the leadership skills, the world vision, and the personal qualities needed to lead WEI to new heights.
Tom met with us in Tirana in March 2001 and responded positively to our proposal. He met with the Metro elders in January 2002, and they were favorably impressed. Tom agreed to find a sponsoring congregation, raise his own support and working fund, and work with WEI as Executive Vice President beginning January 1, 2004 when he and Angie completed their mission in Oradea, Romania.
Now, things have come together. The Langleys have returned to America. The church in Maryville, Tennessee is now Tom’s sponsoring congregation. And Tom Langley is working with WEI full time. Praise God!
As you read Tom’s comments, you will detect his humble spirit and heart for missions. Please welcome the man whom God has chosen to lead this outreach ministry a few years down the line.
Tom writes the following:
“It is an understatement to say that Angie and I are eager and excited to begin this new phase in our life and ministry.
“We were first introduced to WEI in 1992 while working as missionaries in Bucharest, Romania. Angie was studying with an atheist student who brought his WEI materials to class with him one day. They began reading the WEI material and Bible together. After several weeks of study, he became a believer and was soon baptized.
“This basic story has been repeated thousands of times over the last decade. Angie was so impressed with the material that she persuaded me to read it. We were immediately drawn to the simplicity, logic, and biblical content of the WEI materials.
“Over the last twelve years, we have taught WEI to hundreds of students, led teams of WEI short-term missions, hosted WEI short-term missions as resident missionaries in Romania, and taught WEI through correspondence.
“We are looking forward to establishing stateside local outreach, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.
“We feel blessed by God to have this wonderful opportunity to promote and expand the WEI ministry here in America and all over the world. WEI is truly an international missions ministry reaching out to the lost of all nations with God’s word.
“As citizens of the most powerful country in the world, with the most popular language in the world, we have a unique opportunity in history to attract people to God’s word through the language of our heart.
“With great opportunities come great responsibilities. May God grant us the wisdom and courage to accept these responsibilities and meet the challenge of fulfilling the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. As brother Dick Ady has stated many times, “WEI belongs to God, and to Him be the glory.”
“Please keep us in your prayers as we move forward with this new and exciting missions ministry.” —Tom Langley
You can contact Tom at his new office at the Maryville Church of Christ, 611 Sherwood Drive, P.O. Box 5293, Maryville, TN 37802-5293, telephone number 865/9830-0370. Tom’s email address is tabblangley@yahoo.com
You can also contact him at the church’s email address: marycoc@aol.com
