BIRTHDAY NOTE TO EBERHARD ROELL

Good day everyone.

We are gathered here today because of Professor Eb. Roell. To set the record straight, Professor Eb is the only Professor who gained the title without ever going to University. We call him that because of his tenacity, persistence, brusqueness, curiosity, keenness for details, desire to seek knowledge and understanding and desire to share the complete truth of the gospel. There is a story that Eb shares in his book, the story goes that he was invited to be a speaker at a local church in Uganda. And of course, as with all things related to the white skin in black culture, the whole church was excited and they got everyone together. Sure, very few would miss such a service.

Before agreeing to speak, the Professor had told the leaders of the church that he would speak only to selected 12 people whom he could disciple. The church leaders had ignored the instruction thinking the professor would ignore it too. On getting to church, the Professor met a full church with the members ululating and chanting. Disappointed, the Professor told the church leadership they would have to select 12 people and send the remaining home. You can imagine such a scene. Well, he never changed his mind and he spoke to only 12 people by the end of the day. Commenting on that story many years later, he said: “Jesus settled for 12, why should I go for more?”

I met Eb through a friendship with Thaine Norris, a story that began on Facebook. Many of us are very familiar with the story already but I would like to point out that it was Eb, who first brought Thaine to Africa in 2013, to Uganda specifically. According to Thaine, it was because he had been here before that when the opportunity opened up to come to Africa again, he was interested. So somehow, we are here because of the “carelessness” of two couples. After Eb married Debbie, they both agreed to hitchhike to Africa. Here we are today, almost 4 decades later, gathered in a hall in Jenta because two beautiful souls decided to be careless with their lives. Maybe we need some more carelessness in our Christian walk. Don’t you think so Professor?

Thank you, Debbie, for staying with the disruptive Professor for so long. He always tells us that he cheated on life when he married you. He’s right, no one could have been luckier than him to have such a supportive partner in this walk of life. I read of your calmness, faith, and trust in God during the dark days in Uganda. You two are a challenge to me and many of those who have read that beautiful book that pierces the heart.

I really find it hard to believe that Eb is 80. We communicate as brothers and friends. He still calls us “Bro,” and “Man,”. As a friend, he is always there to help. As a brother, he is committed to our growth in faith and life. As a mentor, he never hides our weakness and is always correcting with the goal of raising us to be better adults.

Your example of faith in Christ, excellence in life and boldness to take risks has blessed us profoundly. Your life is an epistle to us. Thank you for raising the bar for everything you come across! I have learned many things from you, but I’ve learnt importantly to be careless with my life. Life is an adventure, and an adventure, there is some level of wanderings, which the world calls carelessness. Who knows if carelessness will get me to 80?

Cheers to 80 years of being an ambassador of Christ and of making a difference in this world!

P.S: This was originally written as a speech to be presented at Eb's birthday, altering its form of presentation will reduce some juice out of it.