In 1997, God called our family into missions. I had met Dr. Sisk before, but I had never had an extended conversation with him. Our four children, ages 2-8 at the time, were so excited to begin their missionary journey and had put together a large jigsaw puzzle of children from around the world as a gift to him. He proudly displayed that puzzle for many years in a prominent place at the home office. At that time, I had no idea what the MK (missionary kid) journey would be like for our children. But Dr. Sisk took special interest in them and made them feel like the most special children in the world when they gave him that puzzle.
After we returned to the US years later due to health issues and burnout, each of our children wrestled with that transition in different ways. Dr. Sisk ministered to them, cared for them, and once again made them feel like the most special missionary kids in the world.
My wife and I attended Dr. Sisk’s funeral last week, and we heard similar stories were told by other people. Dozens, if not hundreds, of people posted on social media, sharing memories of his life and ministry. God placed Dr. Sisk in a position to be able to express the love of Jesus to hundreds of families throughout his lifetime.
Dr. Don Sisk’s greatest influence was not in the crowds who heard him preach but in the individual lives he touched with the Gospel.
When reflecting on his life, I see four priorities that made Dr. Sisk’s life so influential.
- Don Sisk loved people intentionally.
Dr. Sisk never viewed people as interruptions to his ministry. They were his ministry.
Whether speaking with a veteran missionary, a discouraged pastor, or a child, he made people feel seen, valued, and loved. He remembered names, asked thoughtful questions, wrote encouraging notes, and took genuine interest in others.
During the memorial service, Dr. Sisk’s daughter, Renee, commented, “Dad’s love for his Savior was fervent, strong, and passionate, but he also loved most anyone he met with a cherishing love, treating each person as a treasure and holding them dear.”
Our Savior modeled this throughout His ministry.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
The Apostle Paul described his heart in ministry this way:
“We were gentle among you… affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls.”(1 Thessalonians 2:7–8
Gospel influence begins with loving people well.
- Don Sisk encouraged more than he criticized.
Just one conversation with Dr. Sisk could give one of God’s servants fresh courage to continue on in ministry.
“Wherefore comfort (encourage) yourselves together, and edify one another…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Barnabas earned the nickname “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36), and his ministry changed the course of the early church by strengthening others rather than merely evaluating them. Though often overlooked, a key emphasis of the missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas was caring for the souls of those who had received Christ:
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22
“Confirming” souls means to strengthen by encouraging. Though all of us often need sharpening and instruction to become more productive and efficient in our place of service, our deepest longing is to know that we are loved and cherished as children, not just workers in the kingdom.
Dr. Sisk seemed to understand that faithful servants often need encouragement more than they need strategies for ministry.
Each one of us should ask ourselves: “Who needs courage from me today?”
- Don Sisk chose humility over recognition.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Dr. Sisk’s life was that his influence never seemed to make him important in his own eyes.
Although he traveled the world, led one of the largest missionary organizations of its kind, and preached to thousands, he remained approachable. He listened more than he spoke, treated people with dignity regardless of their position, and was content to let others receive the recognition.
His life reflected the life of Christ:
“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister… even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” Matthew 20:26–28
The Apostle Paul urged us to have the same spirit:
“…In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3
People are naturally drawn to leaders who are secure enough to serve rather than to be served. They may be obligated to listen to leaders who are militant and authoritative, but they will be truly influenced by those who speak truth in love with a humble spirit.
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” – C.S. Lewis
Dr. Sisk demonstrated that the greatest leaders are not those who seek influence but those who quietly serve others in the name of Christ.
- Don Sisk valued daily faithfulness to Christ over ministerial success.
Long before he became a respected missions leader, Dr. Sisk learned the quiet discipline of daily faithfulness. His ministry reminds us that extraordinary influence is usually the result of routine faithfulness repeated over decades.
We are often impressed with remarkable gifts or talents, but God does not look at the outward appearance. He looks at the heart. God says that faithfulness is the goal and the measure of a job well done.
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2
The most remarkable lesson from Dr. Sisk’s life is that joy is found not in extraordinary moments of ministry but in the ordinary privilege of walking faithfully with Christ day after day, year after year. Dr. Don Sisk did not chase fame and recognition. He pursued faithfulness. And God multiplied that influence.
Most of us will never preach in dozens of countries or lead a major missions organization.
But every one of us can:
Love people intentionally.
Encourage others daily.
Choose humility over recognition.
Prioritize daily faithfulness with Christ.
May we pursue the kind of influence that many of us have received from Dr. Sisk and others like him, not for our own reputation, but so that others might know Christ more deeply and serve Him more faithfully.
Take a moment and think about the people you interact with every day. Think about the people who know you best. When they write your eulogy, how would they say you have influenced them?
Chris Phillips
Chris and Dawn were married in 1989; they have been blessed with four children and seven grandchildren. Their journey in full-time Christian ministry has taken them from Georgia to South Carolina, Costa Rica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Through the ministry opportunities God has given them over the past thirty years, their passion has been to see souls saved, solid churches established, to encourage church leaders, see marriages restored, parent-teen relationships healed, child-rearing methods improved, and generations impacted by solid, biblical counseling of the fundamental truths of God’s Word. Chris and Dawn are graduates of Pensacola Christian College where Chris also received his MS in Education. Their passion for Biblical counseling led them to pursue certification through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), and Chris is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Biblical Counseling. They are eagerly anticipating how God will use Selah International Counseling Ministries to make a difference in the lives of God’s servants and advance the Kingdom of Christ.
