SIMA International is pleased to announce the selection of the new President and CEO of WorldVenture, Dr. Jeff Denlinger.
Jeff’s first experience with WorldVenture was in 1988 as a mid-term missionary working in Davao City, Philippines. Two years later, in 1990, Jeff and his wife, Christine went as career missionaries with WorldVenture, to Caracas, Venezuela with a focus on church planting. In 2002, he was asked by the home office to become Vice President of International Ministries, to give leadership to WorldVenture ministries around the world. In the last 3 years, Jeff has served as Senior Vice President of International Ministries.
In the last 10 years of executive leadership, Jeff has built a team of International Ministry Directors, given oversight to the development, implementation, and accomplishment of strategic ministries in alignment with WorldVenture’s strategic purposes.
Jeff is a graduate from Columbia International University with a Masters of Divinity (M.Div., 1988) and Western Seminary with a Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss., 2010). He is married to Christine, a licensed professional counselor, with a significant ministry in counseling in the Denver area. The Denlingers have two adult children, Andy and Rachel.
Tommy Thomas and Laura Coverstone of SIMA International assisted WorldVenture with the search process. Board Chair Sam Earp commented, “Information was gathered from every corner of the world from various stake holders; surveys were sent; numbers of phone calls; lengthy conversation and personal interviews conducted. Literally, hundreds of hours were invested in this discovery process.”
WorldVenture is very excited about this next season of ministry under Jeff’s leadership. Dr. Hans Finzel, outgoing President, shared, “I could not be more pleased with the appointment of my friend and colleague, Jeff Denlinger. Jeff has been on our leadership team at the headquarters for a decade and has worked directly with me for three years. He is an outstanding choice and I applaud the board for their decision. The mission is in good hands for an exciting future.”