International (MNN) — Global Advance
has announced that Jonathan Shibley is succeeding his father, David Shibley, as
the Rockwall, Texas-based organization's second president and CEO.
The decision of the Board of Directors was
unanimous. 36-year-old Jonathan Shibley
is a graduate of Baylor University and the founder of Global Advance's
Marketplace Missions initiative.
In a service held last Thursday,
Jonathan Shibley dedicated himself to carry on Global Advance's mission of
equipping one million church and business leaders throughout the developing
world to work for God's kingdom.
"This culminates an intentional process," David Shibley said of the
decision made last week. "I sensed God was leading me to transfer the
presidency to younger, more vigorous leadership while I was at optimum strength
to assist and encourage the new president."
"To pass the baton of leadership to our son, Jonathan, and to serve the
Lord alongside him is one of the greatest honors and joys of my life."
David Shibley plans to stay fully
engaged as the organization's chairman. He founded Global Advance in 1990 for the purpose of placing "a vision
in the hearts and tools in the hands" of church leaders in the developing world.
Since then, the ministry has brought
on-site training and native language resources to nearly half a million
pastoral leaders and business-persons in 80 nations. Every year, Global Advance provides training
and resources for approximately 40,000 church and business leaders at nearly 80
interdenominational training events in dozens of nations.
Praise God with Global Advance and the
Shibleys for preparing them for this transfer of leadership, and for the ways
He will use them to build up the church.
My husband Ed and I worked for Church on the Rock when David was there. Please remember us to your father. He was such a great inspiration to us. Ed passed on to glory in 2006. I have always kept Global Advance in my prayers. I’m in Denison TX and attend Trinity Lighthouse which is Assembly of God. But often go to Victory Life which has a branch here. — I have often wondered how David was. Please give him my love in the name of the Lord.
Marion Gray