GARY ROEBBELEN
by Lisa Abbott
Photo Courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography
W
hen the world’s attention was riveted by the Ethiopian famine in 1985, Gary Roebbelen, Heritage’s Director of Development and Communications, found himself on the front lines of the story. Serving then as an Information Officer for the global non-profit, World Vision, he was assigned to the relief organization’s field office in Addis Ababa. He facilitated myriad media visits and hosted an international field of reporters and photojournalists. In the fall of 1985, Roebbelen learned that he would serve as personal guide and World Vision host for two VIP guests from Ireland. Roebbelen became well acquainted with the couple, Paul and Ali Hewson. To the rest of the world, Paul is known as “Bono,” lead singer for the rock band, U2. Roebbelen accompanied the two as they received orientation to the famine situation and prepared to take on a short-term assignment with a group of orphans in the remote famine camp in Ajibar. While there, they wrote several health care songs and produced some educational materials for the children. Bono later said, “I saw stuff there that reorganized the way I saw the world.” Over the course of the visit, the singer penned U2’s single, “Where the Streets Have No Name” and the lyrics to other songs that appeared on the band’s iconic album, Joshua Tree. With a set of Nikons as his constant companion on the African journey,
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SPRING 2016 HERITAGE MESSENGER
Roebbelen captured a large collection of images of Bono, as the mega-star interacted with the children and taught them songs. His photos appeared in global publications, including Q and People. It was an experience Roebbelen treasures and for a young communications professional, it helped to launch a broad-based career with a focus on global ministry. Roebbelen served in management positions for World Vision for the next 10 years, in Toronto, Canada and also in Los Angeles. He often rubbed elbows with celebrities, but also worked on-site when big crises and media stories like the Mississippi River flood (1993), Los Angeles riots (1992) and the North Ridge earthquake (1994) broke. He also took several more international trips with other musicians who were affected and inspired by their experiences. Some people may remember the song “Life is a Highway,” probably best known from the Rascal Flatts cover of the song done for the animated movie “Cars,” but it also hit number 6 on the Billboard Charts in 1992 and was featured in multiple commercials, and movies, and performed live on David Letterman. The musician who wrote and performed the hit was Tom Cochrane who was taken by Gary on a 5 country tour of Africa in 1989. One of the lines from the song… “From Mozambique to those Memphis nights…” Some of Tom’s most powerful memories came from his visit to a Mozambique medical relief camp. In 1995, Roebbelen and his young family moved to Boone, North Carolina, where he became Director of Communications for the burgeoning ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. His interview for the job was conducted from the cockpit of a small prop plane, with Franklin Graham in the pilot’s seat. They talked through the headsets on the flight from Tennessee to Toronto, where Graham had been called to
