What a way to go

By Rachel Tidwell It may seem like Wycliffe lost a great partner when Bob MacDicken passed away just over a year ago, but Gail, his wife, would argue that his legacy lives on. Bob and Gail met at church, having both been widowed. Bob and his first wife, Nancy, faithfully supported three couples serving with […]

By Rachel Tidwell

It may seem like Wycliffe lost a great partner when Bob MacDicken passed away just over a year ago, but Gail, his wife, would argue that his legacy lives on.

Bob and Gail met at church, having both been widowed. Bob and his first wife, Nancy, faithfully supported three couples serving with Wycliffe for years. The MacDickens knew Mel and Nory Grant as well as Don and Helen Johnson from church in Washington. They began supporting both couples shortly after each joined Wycliffe. The Grants have served in Columbia, Texas, Senegal and Washington, performing a variety of tasks for the organization. The Johnsons have held roles in operations and international relations in Ecuador, Washington D.C., and Texas. Bob connected with Jim and Nancy Agnor when they were briefly on emergency support provided by the missionary-in-need fund that Bob supported. His “brief emergency support” continued with the Agnors for more than 20 years.

Through Bob's estate, missionaries can continue to bring God's Word to millions still waiting around the world.

“To know them is to love them,” Gail said as she described their decision to continue their support once she and Bob were married. “They really wanted to serve God wherever He wanted them in ministry. Missions was Bob’s heart. To support that desire in his heart when he knew he couldn’t go…he had such a burden for the lost.”

Bob owned his own business, but never saw it simply as a way to gain wealth. Instead, it was a means to an end – an income that allowed him the freedom to give generously to his church and Wycliffe Bible Translators, among other ministries. He understood the importance of being a good steward of all the Lord’s blessings.

That faithful discipline and generosity continued throughout his life and led him to research further ways to continue supporting these Wycliffe missionaries after his lifetime. He discovered that through Wycliffe Foundation, he could set up a bequest to fund Missionary Support Plans for each couple. Upon his death, these MSPs would continue supporting each couple at the same level that he had been until the funds were exhausted. His first wife included the same provisions in her will prior to her death.

“He didn’t want to see these three missionaries suffer because of finances,” Gail said. “To know that all of his money didn’t have to be for [his own] family…that’s just a blessing.”

It hasn’t just blessed the MacDicken family. After hearing of the combination of Nancy and Bob’s gifts into one MSP, along with Gail’s continued current support, Nory Grant shared, “Through the years you lose supporters. Someone passes away or there are medical or family issues that come up. This is amazing to me how when one would drop off for some reason, it just gets picked up. This has been a real encouragement to us to keep pressing on.”

Similarly, Helen Johnson shared, “It is a mind-boggling gift. As we grow older, it is so great to know how God provides. It’s just such a blessing! God will not fail us, even in times that seem difficult.”

While Bob may not be physically on this earth anymore, Gail explained that “His life is still going on in the lives of these missionaries that are serving the Lord. I think that’s a great way to go. It’s a part of Bob going on in their lives.”

Editor’s note: To read more stories like this or to find out how you can leave a legacy for Bible translation, visit our Web site at WycliffeFoundation.org, or complete the enclosed card and return it to the Wycliffe Foundation for further information.