Staff

Lee Bradley

It has been my privilege to serve as your missionary with the International Mission board (SBC) since October of 1996. All but one year of that time has been spent serving as a church planter in the capital city of Tirana. Prior to coming to Albania I served as a church planter in New Hampshire and Northern California. Those years taught me a lot about what it takes to plant a church. Though the cultures of California and new Hampshire are much different from that of Albania, the principles learned in those prior ministries have been invaluable to gain the mind of a church planter. Here are some basics of what I learned about church planting:

• Church planters must learn how to persevere when resources are few and discouragement is great.
• Church planters must learn to go into any situation with plans a, b, c, d and z. I think this is what we call think on your feet. In other words, "you gotta be flexible."
• Church planters must learn to be responders to unexpected situations with love and laughter. Yes, you gotta be flexible. Choking bad musicians is not allowed.
• Church planters learn that failure is a better teacher than any seminary. Is there a degree beyond the PhD? If so, I've got it.
• Church planters learn to listen and develop relationships with people, not for the purpose of getting them in your church, but just simply because you care about them. All whom Jesus met were not interest in the kingdom of god, yet he was called "a friend of sinners."
• Programs and strong organization don't carry one far in church planting, except in giving one a headache. The broad outline is envisioned and the details are colored in as we go. In other words, "You gotta be flexible."
• Church planting takes a lot more time than I want it to take. All the church planting books about rapid anything are wrong. People don't change fast! "You gotta be flexible." Don't expect too much too soon. Seven years may be a short amount of time to plant a church.
• Everybody doesn't have the foundations for understanding the Christian faith. When they see my life, do they see the LIVING BIBLE?
• It isn't all up to me.
• Relationships, relationships, relationships!

I am a graduate of Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in Mill Valley, California. I am also a graduate of the University of Alabama. Prior to becoming a pastor and church planter, I worked as a high school social studies and English teacher for two years. Until going to the mission field 10 years ago, I served almost all of my ministry bi-vocationally. In those years I have worked at a movie theater concession stand, served as a counselor at a group home for teenage boys, been a substitute teacher, sold newspaper ads, cut grass and painted. Prior to my pastoral work, I have served as youth director and music directory in rural Alabama churches.

My passions are my work and going to football games. I love seeing those Auburn Tigers! I love visiting with friends and spending time with folks I've known all my life. I love traveling and seeing places I've never been. I love getting out and riding my bike. This year I spent 17 days out on the roads of Alabama on my bike. That was 925 miles of fun! I play piano and sing when I have time. I read as much as I can. In the last 2 years I've read over 100 books.

I grew up in Bynum, Alabama. For those of you from other parts, that is near Anniston.