When people ask what drives the BTEA, I could point to strategy, structure, or our legacy. Those matter. But underneath all of it are a few convictions that shape how we think, how we lead, and how our Evangelists live in the field. We call these our core values.

Tim often says core values are simply the things that are “core” to who we are and what we “value” most. 

Here are ours:

1. Our Mission is Built on Trust

2. Everyone Deserves to Hear

3. We’re willing to Get a Bloody Nose

4. What We do in life echoes in eternity

5. The Job’s Not Finished

1) Our Mission Is Built on Trust

At the center of everything we do is this weighty truth: God trusts us with His salvation message. 

God’s 'Plan A' is to use imperfect people to proclaim a perfect Savior. 

The message of redemption could’ve spread through fire, angels, or big letters in the sky. Instead, it spreads through ordinary believers. Paul calls us “ambassadors” in 2 Corinthians 5. We represent the King, carrying His message to the world.

That trust should sober and center us. We must take this responsibility seriously. Not just to speak (via evangelism), but also to live in a way that does not contradict the message. Trust is not only given to us. It is something we must steward.

2) Everyone Deserves to Hear

When the angels announced the birth of Jesus in Luke 2, they called it “good news of great joy for all the people.” Not some people. All people. 

Tim says it often, "we don’t play God, we serve God." We do not decide who is worthy of the Gospel. We simply carry it.

Every person is God’s image, and therefore, every person deserves the chance to hear how they can be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. 

After his conversion, Paul writes that he no longer views anyone from a merely human point of view. The love of Christ reshaped his vision and should reshape ours.

And that’s why our Evangelists go to remote cities and villages. Places that are not always easy to reach. Why? Because access should not determine opportunity. Whether broken, abused, in prison or in business, close by or in the middle of nowhere, our heart is for all people to discover a relationship with Jesus.

3) We’re Willing to Get a Bloody Nose

This is a Bob Tebow-ism. 

He used it to describe the difference between a job and a calling. A job is something you do until it gets hard. A calling is something you stay in when it gets hard. 

When you get punched in the face, whether physically or through opposition, you learn quickly what you believe. The apostle Paul knew this well (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29). So did missionaries like Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), who endured loss, imprisonment, and years without visible fruit. His life eventually produced lasting impact in Burma, but it came at a cost most would not choose.

We see a similar spirit in our Evangelists. Many travel 15-20 days a month. They face death threats, long journeys through the mountains, and uncomfortable conditions. But they keep going.

My pastor in Jacksonville, FL once said many Christians want to be strong, but few want to be sore. Strength sounds good until you have to lift something heavy. Soreness means you actually did the work.

We are not chasing hardship for its own sake. But we are not avoiding it either. If the mission requires it, we want to be willing to take a hit.

4) What We Do in Life Echoes in Eternity

This famous quote from the 2000 film Gladiator, spoken by Maximus (aka Russell Crowe) to motivate his men before a battle, captures something Scripture teaches very clearly — what we do now matters forever.

Bob used to say four things last forever: God, His Word, people, and eternal rewards. We believe in the doctrine of eternal rewards; that God honors our blood, sweat, and tears on earth.

That perspective should change how you measure life. As a team of Evangelists, we cannot guarantee how people will respond to the Gospel. But we can guarantee that the Gospel is proclaimed. And although we may not see the outcome of our effort here on earth, we know that one day we will.

Every conversation. Every message preached. Every mile traveled to reach one more person. None of it is wasted when it is done for Christ.

5) The Job’s Not Finished

Before my wife (Mariah) and I left for the Philippines for several months in 2025, we had dinner with Bob and Pam at a Cracker Barrel (one of their favorite restaurants). Toward the end of the night, I asked both what they hoped for the future of the ministry long after they passed.

In Bob Tebow fashion, he didn’t hesitate. 

He looked at me with his squinted brow and said, “Finish the job.”

Clear as day. Plain and simple. Continue sharing the Gospel until every man, woman, boy, and girl across the Philippines hears and has a chance to respond.

I look at those three words almost everyday on my office whiteboard. 

One of our Philippine leaders, Danny Sabico, once told me a story that captures this mantra well. He was driving toward a remote mountain village when a man ran out in front of his Jeep and stopped him. In distress, the random man warned Danny not to continue because it was dangerous ahead.

Danny responded, “I have no reverse.”

The man was confused saying, “What do you mean you have no reverse?! What kind of vehicle has no reverse!” 

Danny clarified, “In this jeep, this is a reverse….but in me, there is no reverse. I must keep going.”

That is the posture we want. No reverse.

Because the work is not done.

Not in the Philippines. Not in Southeast Asia. Not in the world.