A famous English poem by Lewis Carroll that we learnt at school started off: “The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things Of shoes and ships and sealing wax Of cabbages and kings.”
After 53 years in full-time ministry of one sort or another (YMCA x 9 years, YFC x 33, FFTN x 11), I guess the time to talk of ‘retirement’ has finally come around for me. It will likely not be a total and complete switch-off, but certainly a change from full-time leading of Foundation for the Nations to something part-time under the direction of Simon Marriott and the Board of Trustees.
The decision was made very easy in that in Simon we have an outstanding young leader to whom we can entrust the future of FFTN with complete confidence.
A quick potted history of the man might be as follows:
- A gifted graphic designer by trade who co-led with me the youth bible-study held in our home.
- In 2011 he and Hannah accepted the challenge to give up his business career and her teaching post and go out to Czech Republic to help lead the work at Camp Immanuel.
- After doing a great job for four years…
• They felt led to relocate to the Republic of Ireland and re-pioneer the Youth For Christ programme there… Which flourished under his leadership
• January 2022, handed over to Liam Burke as YFC National Director and - Accepted the call to pastor, part-time, the growing Mullingar Christian Fellowship
- While at the same time studying part-time for a Master’s in Theology
- January 2023, came on staff part-time with FFTN
- January 2024, having graduated MTh, handed over the reins of the Fellowship and became FFTN Deputy Director
- 1 June this year, officially took over as Executive Director
We had a terrific and moving passing-the-torch ceremony during a Gala Dinner at the end of the recent FFTN Distribution Gathering where I prayed for Simon, he prayed for me and our Board members prayed for both of us. See a few of the photos here.
I have absolutely no doubt that under Simon, Foundation for the Nations will not only continue to serve the cause of youth evangelism and discipleship around the world but will flourish and grow. He is a team person, someone with a passion to see young people coming into a living relationship with Jesus; a man of vision but also good with detail, and someone who doesn’t care who gets the credit as long as the job gets done well.
I am very excited to see what FFTN will look like ten years from now.
For my own part, Maisie and I are open to whatever God may have next for us. Since the inspiration for FFTN came out of the blue (humanly-speaking) we wouldn’t be surprised if something we had never considered turned up to keep us out of mischief.
Meanwhile, we are enjoying the three-month sabbatical that the FFTN Board has kindly given us, and God willing, Board chairman David Schultz, new boss Simon and I will then talk in September about any ongoing part-time role.
Underpinning it all will be our lifelong experience of God as “the faithful One” and Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides. We have been surrounded and supported at His direction by a faithful band of praying and giving family, friends and churches who have walked with us for years. Our prayer is that many or all of them will continue to support Simon as he takes on the larger responsibilities of leadership.
As I step back, I can’t think of a better epitaph than Psalm 115:1 – “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness.”
John Duncan
1 July 2025