Celebrating Faithful Leadership and
WorldVenture Announces Planned Presidential Transition
After 38 years of faithful service with WorldVenture, including the past 14 years as President, Jeff Denlinger will begin transitioning from his role as President in early 2027. This significant moment in WorldVenture’s story is both a time to celebrate God’s faithfulness through Jeff’s leadership and to look ahead with confidence.
The transition has been approached with prayer, wisdom, and thoughtful planning, reflecting WorldVenture’s commitment to strong leadership, long-term ministry effectiveness, and faithful stewardship of its mission. As one season of leadership draws to a close and another begins, WorldVenture remains firmly grounded in its calling and confident that God will continue guiding the organization in the years ahead.
Celebrating Jeff’s Faithful Service
Throughout his leadership, Jeff has helped guide WorldVenture through seasons of growth, challenge, and new gospel opportunity. His commitment to Christ, passion for the nations, and care for WorldVenture’s Global Workers, staff, partners, and supporters have made a lasting impact.
We are deeply grateful for Jeff and Christine and look forward to celebrating their many years of faithful service in the months ahead.
In a personal letter to the WorldVenture family, Jeff shared his confidence that God is directing this transition and his anticipation for what lies ahead.
A Thoughtful and Planned Transition
Jeff and the WorldVenture Board of Directors have prayerfully prepared for this transition. A Presidential Search Team has been formed, and WorldVenture is working with an experienced search partner to identify its next president.
Jeff will continue leading WorldVenture throughout the search and will help support a thoughtful handoff to the next president.
This transition is not a change in WorldVenture’s mission or a sign of organizational uncertainty. It is a strategic step intended to build upon the strong foundation already in place and prepare WorldVenture for continued ministry in the years ahead.
Continuing the Mission
WorldVenture remains missionally focused, doctrinally and financially sound, and firmly committed to making disciples and multiplying churches among the least-reached peoples of the world.
Our Global Workers, staff, leaders, and ministry partners will continue serving faithfully throughout the transition. The mission remains unchanged, and the work continues.
Join Us in Prayer
We invite you to join us in:
- Thanking God for Jeff and Christine’s faithful service.
- Praying for them as they prepare for their next season.
- Praying for wisdom and discernment throughout the presidential search.
- Praying for WorldVenture’s Global Workers and ministries around the world.
Updates will be shared as meaningful milestones are reached. We move forward with gratitude for all God has done and confidence in His direction for WorldVenture’s next chapter.
Presidential Transition FAQs
While the Board of Directors is formally announcing the retirement transition of Dr. Jeff Denlinger as President of WorldVenture, we also wish to express our immense gratitude to Jeff for his years of dedicated leadership that have made a lasting impact on our mission and for the service of Jeff and Christine on the field as well.
The Board of Directors seeks to answer the most prevalent questions concerning the presidential transition. If you have additional questions, please contact: wvboard@worldventure.com
Why is Dr. Jeff Denlinger handing off the president baton to a soon-to-be selected new president?
- The board’s primary responsibility is to work with the president in accomplishing the mission of the organization in the present and also visioning for the future. In January 2026, two task forces, the DNA and the Sustainability, brought reports to the Board and leadership of WorldVenture. The recommendations were then assigned to the Implementation Task Force to synthesize, and the findings are being incorporated into the current and subsequent strategic plans.
- As a part of the implementation, the Board and Jeff determined that now is the strategic time for him to pass the president baton, which allows the new president to contribute to strategic plans for the mission. This does not mean a period of inactivity for Jeff. He is actively involved in accomplishing goals already in progress. Jeff is in good health, and his character and reputation continue to be above reproach.
What is the anticipated timeline?
- The board selected a professional search company to assist in the presidential search.
- Our search company advised that the search should take about four months. Thus, our desire is to have the new president identified by late 2026 and begin the role in early 2027. We anticipate a four-to-six-month transition in 2027, during which time, Jeff will serve as a consultant for the new president.
How will WorldVenture continue to live on mission during this transition?
- We believe that WorldVentures’ DNA, values, and mission are right and good. The recommendations of the DNA and the Sustainability Tasks Forces are already in process or being incorporated into the next strategic plan by the Implementation Task Force, which is composed of the Go Team and Board members. Jeff, as our President, will continue to give his full energies to advancing this movement. We desire that, as those who are dedicated partners with WorldVenture, and those who are serving in the harvest fields as Global Workers, we all do the same.
- The board’s prayer and desire are that this be an opportunity to trust God together for even greater works in and through us for the sake of our King’s glory. This is what we will strive to accomplish.
From One Generation to the Next
“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”
—Psalm 145:4, NIV
For generations, God has worked through faithful leaders, Global Workers, churches, partners, and supporters to advance the gospel through WorldVenture. Jeff Denlinger’s years of service are part of that continuing story—a testimony to God’s faithfulness and to the lasting impact of a life devoted to Christ and His mission.
As WorldVenture prepares for its next season of leadership, we do so with gratitude for the foundation that has been built and confidence in the One who directs our steps. The leadership may change, but the calling remains the same: to make disciples and multiply churches among the least-reached peoples of the world.
We invite you to join us in thanking God for Jeff and Christine, praying for the leader God is preparing, and trusting Him to guide WorldVenture faithfully from one generation to the next.