06 Feb Jeff Bleijerveld Named Director of Global Ministries

Jeff Bleijerveld, currently Assistant Director of World Partners USA, has been appointed by Bishop Ron Ramsey as the new Director of Global Ministries. He will begin his new duties on March 3, replacing Gary Dilley, who served in that position since 2001. Gary stepped down, effective January 21, to accept the senior pastor role at College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind.

Jeff and Charlene Bleijerveld

Jeff has been an ordained minister in the Missionary Church for 23 years, was a missionary in Spain for eight years with World Partners Canada, has served as a pastor at two churches, and came to his current position in 2001. At World Partners USA, Jeff has been responsible for the daily operations, managed all human resources functions for the 130 staff scattered around the world, developed and supervised volunteer programs, worked with missionaries in raising their support, and much more. Being fluent in Spanish, he frequently traveled to South American, Central America, and Europe, and also served as Hispanic Liaison to churches in the United States and abroad. He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and ability to the position.

Jeff, a Canadian citizen, holds a Theology degree from Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ontario, and a Masters in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.

“Gary Dilley did much to advance our mission program,” says Bishop Ron Ramsey, “and he is highly respected throughout the denomination, not only in the United States but in our many partnering countries. We appreciate his service to the church, and wish him well as he returns to the pastorate. We knew it would be difficult to replace him.”

In January, the Global Ministries Leadership Team held a special meeting to discuss the qualities they desired in a new director. They wanted a godly person, someone who was cross-culturally savvy, a good administrator, a capable speaker who would represent Global Ministries well both at home and abroad, and a person who could think strategically about missions. They then developed a list of 12-15 potential candidates, and formed a four-person search team of GMLT members to complete the process: Bishop Ramsey, Luke Fetters (GMLT chairperson), Brian Magnus (bishop of the UB Church in Canada, which is a partner in Global Ministries), and Jeff Sherlock.

A preliminary meeting was held with Jeff and Charlene Bleijerveld on January 8 to talk informally about the position. Jeff expressed his interest in being considered. On January 28, the search committee conducted a formal interview with Jeff.

“The other members grilled him for a few hours, and he posed a lot of questions for us,” recalls Bishop Ramsey. “We talked through where we were and where we wanted our mission program to go. At the end of that time, Jeff went home while the four of us continued talking for another 90 minutes. We were convinced that Jeff was the person God wanted for us.”

They checked some references, and then Bishop Ramsey offered Jeff the position, which he accepted a few days later.

“It’s great how God works,” says Bishop Ramsey. “Jeff told us that although things were going well with World Partners, he began sensing that the Lord might be moving him on. Following the Christmas break, he prayed specifically, ‘Lord, if you want me to do something else, you’ll need to drop it in my lap, because I’m not going to go looking for it.’ Two days later I called him about the Global Ministries position. When he told that story, it gave me goose-bumps.”

This is the first time the Global Ministries director hasn’t been elected. Gary Dilley was elected in 2001, but the 2005 National Conference decided that in the future, all directors would be appointed by the bishop. When Ron Ramsey became bishop in 2005, he appointed Gary to continue in that role.

Interestingly, Jeff Bleijerveld has a variety of United Brethren connections. Growing up in the Niagara area of Ontario, he attended high school with a number of UBs, and while in college in Kitchener, he attended Stanley Park UB church for a year when Keith Nicholson was the pastor. Jeff and Brian Magnus were classmates at Emmanuel Bible College, he took two classes taught by Jeff Sherlock at Indiana Wesleyan University, and he interacted with Luke Fetters at Huntington University through some mission-related opportunities. Plus, two of his three children attend Emmanuel UB church in Fort Wayne, Ind.

“I feel confident that Jeff is the right person for the job,” says Bishop Ramsey. “I’m excited that God provided someone of Jeff’s caliber.”