When Bailey and Elizabeth Marks married in 1959, their future appeared obvious. Bailey would work in his family’s successful furniture business and Elizabeth would raise their family in Birmingham, Ala., just like her debutante friends: with a nanny and maid and dream home overlooking a golf course

When God interrupted their plans, the Marks’ response reflected that of any new believer. “Little did I know the growing pains we were all about to experience,” says Bailey, “as we settled into a new way of life. Growing up spiritually was tough for me, probably because the Lord had a tough time getting my attention.” When He did, the Marks’ family up and sold their home, raised their financial support and moved to Campus Crusade for Christ’s headquarters, then in San Bernadino, Ca.

Once they arrived, Bailey faced another growing pain. There was no big, change-the-world job waiting for him. His fist assignment was to drive people between the headquarters and the Los Angeles airport. After two weeks of chauffeuring, Bailey began to use the lonely leg of the trip to argue with the Lord. “Is this what I left my lucrative business for?” he would ask. “I could have hired someone to do this job and continued my life in Birmingham!”

“Do you want me, Lord?” he remembers asking.

Yes, I want you, Bailey, was the answer. Not your service, or money or talent, or ability. I want you, an ordinary businessman to be clay in my hands so that I can shape and mold you anyway I see fit.

“Ok, Lord,” Bailey sighed. “I am willing to do whatever You want me to do. I will be a chauffeur for the rest of my life if you want me to be.”

After nearly 40 years as a missionary, Bailey still returns to that conversation on the San Bernadino freeway. His moment of surrender reminds him of God’s call to trust and be available to serve in any way: “It’s after the surrender that He usually reveals His plan,” he says.

Soon after, Bill Bright challenged Bailey to open the Asian ministry (Bailey was only three-and-half years old in the Lord.) He’d never been to Asia.

Thirteen years later, there were 2,000 Asian staff members.

“Believing God for the impossible means that you believe Him to do something that in no way you could accomplish in the energy of the flesh," says Bailey, now 75/ "God is in the miracle business and He wants us to believe Him for big things. It starts with praying, Here I am. What do You want me to do.”

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” Hebrews 13:7.