From the Desk of: Steve Elliott

About 32 years ago, my father passed away. My dad left his family a wonderful legacy as a father, a business leader and a man who lived for Jesus. I still feel his loss today. 

About 31 years ago, William G. Sidebottom entered my life.

Bill and I met for the first time while I was an intern at the Heritage Foundation and Bill was helping my boss at Heritage with a marketing project. Little did I know that, in God's economy, the most important aspect of that internship would be meeting Bill.

That initial connection launched a three decade mentoring and friendship relationship that has guided my life and helped shape who I am. It's difficult to express how profoundly Bill's influence impacted me. Bill was one of the two key mentors the Lord gave me in that season. I called him "Dr. Sidebottom" and he would affectionately refer to me as the "Sage of the Nansemond" (after a river near my home).

Bill introduced me to the professional world. He gave me my first freelance job (what they now call a "side hustle") when I was trying to make ends meet with two young kids. Very specific discussions with Bill inspired me to launch a business that has provided for my family for most of my professional life. We co-labored to help win presidential elections. We launched non-profits out of thin air and then helped create the funding. We served great organizations that have advanced the Gospel and defended our liberties.

No matter what we were doing, the work was always secondary. Bill took his role as a key mentor in my life very seriously. He was intentional in his interactions. He shaped me. He showed me how to dress and prepare for meetings (Bill always had 3 or more ideas or reports ready to present tucked away in his large briefcase). He helped me to see the importance of relationships in business (it's always about the relationships first). He taught me that our job was to serve and teach clients who will eventually replace us. And that's okay, too.

Bill even introduced me to the world of corporate golf. I'll never forget the first time we played together. I was the only novice, playing with three experienced golfing businessmen in our foursome. I've played a lot of sports but never felt more nervous than on that first tee as I dribbled the ball barely off the tee box. There were a few chuckles from the group, but Bill just smiled and offered encouragement. During that round, he explained the most important rule of corporate golf -- don't slow down play and everyone is happy. By the end of the round, Bill had me thinking I could be decent at this sport (although that has yet to materialize!).

At that first golf outing, Bill saw that I had a set of sub-standard clubs. Soon thereafter, Bill showed up at a golf event with two complete sets of clubs -- one for him and one for me. Over the years, the golf gifts kept coming. Scotty Cameron putter. A new big-head driver. I'm still using a complete set of high-quality clubs that Bill gave me (and my son uses a set of irons from Bill).

From those first encounters three decades ago until our last conversations in recent weeks, Bill always had vision for my life. He never stopped speaking enthusiastically about what I was doing and the great things that were just ahead. He was still seeing what I could become. I'm sure he believed more in me than I have ever believed in myself. And of course, Bill was always pointing to the "greater" God in me who could do "exceeding abundantly beyond all we can hope or imagine."

Even with his health failing in these recent months, Bill would urge me to view our work as a calling and a ministry -- not to collect money but to cultivate kingdom vision. Bill would remind me of providential events in our past and urge me to reach for the highest heights. Just a few weeks ago, he commissioned me to update and republish a short book I wrote more than a decade ago called Thriving In Exile because he felt like that message was still a NOW word.

Through it all, Bill never asked for anything. He just gave and gave and gave. Even our house is full of furniture from Bill. 

My only regret is I wish I had more pictures with Bill. And I hope he knew how much he meant to me and to my wife, Stacy, and our family.

About a week ago, after a year-long health battle, Bill stepped across the veil into Jesus' presence. A week before he passed, Stacy and I were able to spend some time with Bill and his wonderful wife, Rosemary. Even in his weakened state, Bill was dignified, optimistic and full of vision... for me.

I can only hope to do for others what Bill did for me. As Paul stated so eloquently, love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Thank you, Bill, for always bearing, always believing, always hoping and always enduring. I'm marked forever.

Your friend and co-laborer in Christ,

Steve