Introducing our VP of Missionary Services:

Phillip Peterson

Hello, IBMGlobal Family!

I am overjoyed that I can finally share extremely exciting news that I've had to keep quiet for the past seven months.  

God has continued to bless IBMGlobal by adding exceptionally skilled, experienced, and passionate people to our leadership team; people whose vision and values align with IBMGlobal's and whose desire is to help the IBMGlobal vision become a reality.

Our newest servant-leader will elevate our ability to minister to each of you at the level that I've dreamed of; a level of service that you need and deserve. I'm thrilled to present to you our Vice President of Missionary Services.

-Jamie Smith, President, IBMG

The Peterson’s Background

The Peterson's have 30 years of missions experience.  First, they served as church planters in Europe for 16 years (Sweden, Germany, Scotland). Next they served at Appalachian Bible College for 14 years where they trained the next generation of missionaries who would be sent across the world. Under Phillip's leadership, the missions program of Appalachian Bible College has become one of the strongest missionary training programs in the USA with nearly 1/4 of the student body interested in pursuing missions after graduation (1/6 of the student body enrolled as missions majors).

It was during the Peterson's ministry at Appalachian Bible College (ABC) when Phil started getting more involved with IBMGlobal. In fact, many of you have already benefited from Phil's training ministry as he became a regular speaker for IBMGlobal Candidate Orientation and Appointee Training. In 2021 Phil became our European Field Advisor and was extremely helpful in serving our missionaries there. I couldn't help but notice how Phil came alive every time he had a chance to encourage missionaries and impact what was happening on the field. In the fall of 2022 I had a conversation with Phil about what he desired for the future and he indicated that, although he loved training the next generation of missionaries, he missed being active in the practitioning of missions and would love to find a position that would enable him to do both. In February 2023, after a meeting to prepare for the IBMGlobal Candidate Orientation in June, I asked Phil if he would be willing to consider a ministry opportunity that I thought would give him the platform to be a key part of every aspect of missions and allow him to utilize all his previous experience. Four months later, he and Cindy attended Candidate Orientation and Appointee training as both facilitators and participants.

Phil and Cindy were officially appointed as missionaries with IBMGlobal on June 10, 2023.  Phil immediately became the Vice President Designate for Missionary Services. However, they needed to complete their ministry at Appalachian Bible College for the 2023/2024 Academic Year.  ABC is a ministry whose partnership IBMGlobal deeply values. Out of respect for this partnership we wanted to defer to the school's calendar of events to determine when we could share this exciting announcement. We didn't want this transition to distract from their mission conference in the fall. Dr. Anderson and I agreed that it would be best to wait until after their board meeting in the second semester when personnel announcements are typically made public.  

Earlier this morning, during chapel, the student body heard the news about the Peterson's ministry transition.  Having walked this road same road with my colleagues and students at CABU just 3.5 years ago, I know the mixed emotions that the team at ABC, the students of ABC, and the Petersons are feeling.  It is a time of both excitement and sadness.  Please make this a matter of prayer this week as everyone in West Virginia processes this announcement. At the same time, let's thank the Lord for this huge answer to prayer for IBMGlobal.

Phillip's Role at IBMGlobal

As the Vice President of Missionary Services, Phil will oversee the ministries that enhance your cross-cultural life and ministry. The missionary services department is currently responsible for the mobilization of new missionaries, training (pre-field as well as on-going), strategic planning and advice through regional field advisors, and missionary member care (soul care). As these ministries grow, some of these areas will be separated into their own department, but for now, Phil and his team will be responsible for all ministerial missionary services. Meanwhile, Chris Brown and his finance team will be responsible for all financial services. In upcoming newsletters we will share with you what our organizational accountability chart looks like now that we have added two vice presidents in the past year.

Like all of our leadership team, the Petersons are support-based which enables IBMG to keep our administrative fees low. This should give added confidence in your leaders as every financial decision we make affects us the same as you.

An Answer to Prayer

For years our team of field missionaries continued to grow at a rate that outpaced IBMGlobal's ability to serve you well.  One of my top priorities when I became your president was to build a leadership team capable of meeting the needs of you who are serving around the world as well as your financial partners that fund your ministry. I have prayed and prepared for what God has seen fit to provide for us this past year.  What a year it has been for maturing our organizational strength. We went from being an organization with only a president and two ministry directors to now adding two vice presidents and another director level role.  The work is becoming manageable.  We are no longer just surviving.  We are growing, maturing, and thriving.  Thank you, Lord, for your gracious kindness to IBMGlobal.

Off to a Great Start

Although we couldn't make Phil's role at IBMGlobal public until now, he has been serving in his role in limited ways since July. During the winter break at ABC Phil gave significant time and attention to IBMGlobal. He came to NH for our annual planning meeting. He joined me for a member care and sending church visit in January. He participates in each of our weekly leadership team meetings. It has been an amazing foretaste of what is to come once he can devote his full attention to IBMGlobal. 

In the meantime, Phil continues to carry his full load of administrative and teaching responsibilities at ABC until Graduation on May 4.  However, now that we have made this public announcement, he and Cindy will be reaching out to each of you to get to know you better.

For now, the Peterson's will continue to reside in West Virginia and work for IBMGlobal remotely, but it is our desire to get all the leadership team into one geographic location as soon as possible. Cindy will continue working as an administrative assistant at ABC while they live in WV, but will be actively involved in missionary training and member care with what time she has available.

Get to Know Phil & Cindy

Please join me in welcoming Phil and Cindy Peterson to the IBMGlobal family.  
You can send Phil an email at phillip.peterson@ibmglobal.org