'I want to spend my life striving for something that matters'
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Edward Cannon, president of Far East Broadcasting Corporation (FEBC)-US / Courtesy of FEBC-Korea
FEBC-US President tells faith-led life
By Park Jin-hai
Edward Cannon, president of Far East Broadcasting Corporation (FEBC)-US, came to Seoul with FEBC’s 80 board of directors from around the world to participate in the Christian broadcast’s annual International Council Conference.
During the five day conference, which runs under the theme of “pressing on towards the goal” through Friday, at GLAD Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, participants share their thoughts on how to reach larger audiences and spread the word of God in China and other Far East Asian countries.
“We are always working on many things in our jobs: how to attract larger audiences, how to comply with different government rules and restrictions, how to raise financial support, and more. Our Mission, however, is to share the good news so as to inspire our listeners to follow Jesus,” Cannon said during the interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Monday.
“My message is, don’t forget in all the business of running large ministries what our mission is. And in everything we do, how are we accomplishing our ultimate mission? Never forget to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Only one year from a comfortable retirement package, vesting of stock options and guaranteed health benefits for life, Cannon walked away from a twenty-five year career in the oil industry and entered full-time ministry and has been leading the FEBC-US since 2012.
Asked about the importance of living by the word of God in the post-Christian world of today, where people increasingly live without faith, he said after a long time working for the profitability and success of his company, he couldn’t help but feel he had not been accomplishing anything significant.
“I was working to increase the stock price which would serve wealthy investors. God was calling me to serve Him and His kingdom with the skills and experience he gave me. I realized that there were ways I could use my business experience to serve ministries that would have a lasting impact by proclaiming the Gospel, thereby creating eternal impact,” said Cannon.
Mentioning the statement made by famous evangelist D. L. Moody, which says “do not fear failure, rather fear succeeding at something that does not matter,” he said he wants to spend his life striving for something that matters.
“I realize that the only thing that matters long term is what is done for Jesus Christ. John 20:31 says I do these things so that you will believe in Him and in so doing will have Everlasting life. I want to do that too.”
It is the largest FEBC conference as yet and the second Seoul gathering since FEBC-Korea served the venue for the annual meeting for the first time in 2013.
Cannon recognized FEBC Korea’s overall mission with high regard, saying that it serves as a model for the overall ministries. “FEBC Korea’s overall mission is not small. It’s huge. They have impacted the entire nation with the gospel of Jesus Christ and they are now moving to the surrounding countries,” he added. “FEBC Korea’s mission is a model for all other fields of FEBC to follow which is to proclaim His message so people will place their faith in Him.”