USA (MNN) — Compassion International Global Board of Directors announced Wednesday the appointment of Santiago (Jim) Mellado as the ministry's new president and CEO.
Board members made the unanimous decision after a global search that began late last year. Since 1993, Mellado has served as president of the Willow Creek Association, a not-for-profit ministry dedicated to helping local churches thrive. Mellado will formally take his new position in September.
"My heart is full these days as I anticipate joining Compassion's team and giving myself fully to the cause of releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name." Mellado said, "As I look back on my life experiences, I can see how God has been leading, stirring, and preparing me for this role."
During Mellado's tenure leading the WCA, worldwide ministry income grew from $2 million to more than $20 million, membership grew from 860 churches to over 7,000, and annual conference attendance jumped from approximately 10,000 to more than 180,000.
In 1991, Mellado graduated from Harvard Business School. In 1985, he graduated cum laude with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX. Mellado is also a former Olympic decathlete, having competed in the 1988 games in Seoul, South Korea for the country of his birth, El Salvador.
"Jim Mellado is the right person to lead this organization into the future," says Board Chair Karen Wesolowski. "His leadership at the Willow Creek Association coupled with his heart for the Church and children in poverty make him the ideal choice for this critical role."
"I've known this remarkable man for 20 years," says Dr. Wess Stafford, who has been with Compassion for 35 years, serving the last 20 as president and CEO. "I'm certain that Jim will both wisely steward the ministry of Compassion and boldly lead us into new areas of Kingdom impact."
Jim Mellado becomes only the fifth president in Compassion's 61-year history. He inherits a robust ministry that has seen tremendous growth over the past six decades.
Under Stafford's leadership, the ministry has grown from just over 180,000 children in 22 countries in 1993, to now over 1.4 million children in 26 countries. Annual revenue for the organization has grown from over $55 million when Stafford took office in 1993 to now over $600 million. Stafford is an internationally recognized child advocate and author of two books on child advocacy, promoting his message of God's heart for children around the world. He will have a continuing advocacy role with Compassion's ministry following his retirement from the presidency in September.
Mellado's appointment to Compassion has drawn praise from Christian leaders nationwide.
"Jim Mellado is simply one of the highest-potential leaders I've ever known. Compassion is getting a fantastic servant leader to help guide them into the future. He will turn over heaven and earth to faithfully lead that awesome ministry." – Bill Hybels, founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church
"[Mellado's] new assignment with Compassion International is good news for children everywhere." – John Ortberg, Christian author, speaker, and senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church
"In working with Jim for over 20 years, I had an up-close experience of his absolute integrity, his genuine kindness and concern for others, and his superb skills leading a complex, international ministry. I can't imagine God providing any individual better equipped to lead the significant kingdom work of Compassion into the future than Jim Mellado." – Nancy Beach, leadership coach for The Slingshot Group and a former colleague from WCA
"In his personal and professional life, Jim is a man of integrity, honor and prayer. I know he will build on the organization's solid history and take it to new heights of effectiveness and servanthood." – Lee Strobel, best-selling author of "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith."
