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In 2005, Chris and Brenda Swinford returned to Lubbock as Chris received the mantle of leadership from Truman Scott as dean of International Studies at Sunset. Truman worked for many years to develop a network of schools that used the Sunset material as a model to help teach ministers within their own culture around the world. This model of training was one with which Chris was very familiar, as he had previously worked in one of these first schools, the Ukrainian Bible Institute. Chris worked tirelessly over the next few years to develop relationships with more and more schools around the world. He traveled most months of the year and found schools where Sunset could assist in training and helped to spread the gospel internationally. 

After building up the number of international schools to over 40 in 2009, Chris was invited to lead Sunset in a new way--in development. To replace him as Dean of International Studies, Chris invited his fellow missionary from Ukraine, Tim Burow. Chris changed the name of the department from Development to Advancement. He believed that beyond fundraising, the department would advance the mission and purpose of the school around the world. Over the next 11 years, Chris represented the school in countless churches across the country and around the world and also at workshops and lectureships. There was never a venue too big or too small for Chris. One of his favorite activities was to just go and say thank you to a congregation or individual who had faithfully given to support the school in some way. He often remembered the faithful Christians who had given him as little as five dollars to help feed faculty who were training gospel preachers. Chris always strove to represent the school with faithfulness and honesty. He believed that the integrity of the organization would bring more blessing than anything else he did.

In Nigeria, the name C.A.O. Essien is as legendary and familiar to our brethren as Alexander Campbell is to those who know about the Restoration Movement in the United States. Essien requested a Bible correspondence course from a church in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1950 and began to preach the Gospel he had learned.

When we began the large distribution of Solar Players in 2014, Zimbabwe was one of the first recipient nations. Our partner school, Mutare School of Preaching and its director Nhamo Marunga, led the way in helping us to put over 900 Solar Players into the hands of the right people in one of the most receptive nations in our world. After six years, most of those Solar Players are still preaching and teaching the gospel. Recently brother Marunga said this:

“When the Solar Player project started, we did not know that a global pandemic would come. We have used the Solar Players in evangelism, Bible classes, preacher training, leadership workshops, prisons, and hospitals, far and wide. In Zimbabwe, we were not spared from the pandemic and lock downs. Families are now able to listen to the songs, Bible lessons, sermons, and Bible readings from their Solar Players. What a blessing.”

On a recent DiscipleTrip to Guatemala, Bob Gruner and the rest of the DiscipleTrip team worked at an orphanage in Guatemala City. In this image, Bob is handing out bags of rice to these beautiful children, however, these children are not orphans. This orphanage is not only involved with helping orphans, but they also help the children and families of their neighborhood. Three times a year the orphanage opens its doors to the children of the community to come and enjoy their facilities and to receive gifts. For two days the DisipleTrip team worked with this orphanage to distribute food, clothing, and toys to the local children. What an amazing experience to see children become excited about receiving food, something we may too often take for granted. Acts 20:35 reminds us of what Jesus said, “It is truly more blessed to give than to receive”.