Over the past 14 years under John's leadership, EMI has experienced significant growth. We have grown from approximately 60 staff members to more than 250, launched new offices and expanded our programs.
Yet when I reflect on John's contribution to EMI, I don't primarily think about growth in numbers. What stands out to me most is his willingness to lead change. John had a clear picture of where EMI needed to go and the conviction to take us there, even when the path wasn't always obvious.
Those of us who worked closely with John know that many of these changes began with long conversations and a whiteboard, where he was always challenging us to think beyond current constraints and imagine what EMI could become.
Some of the most significant changes during John's tenure were not always highly visible, but they fundamentally shaped the organization we are today.
The establishment of the Global Office helped separate EMI leadership from any one national office. The development of office boards strengthened local leadership and governance around the world. The creation of our leadership training program grew leaders across EMI.
And perhaps most importantly, John led us through the process of clarifying our mission, vision, and core values, giving us a shared framework that continues to guide our work today.
When I think about John's legacy, one theme stands above the rest: helping EMI become a truly global organization.
Discipleship
The vision statement that emerged during John's tenure speaks of seeing people restored by God and the world restored through design. Alongside that vision came a growing emphasis on discipleship and the idea of "all people to all places."
For John, discipleship was never simply about what EMI staff could offer others. It was also about what we could learn from one another. He consistently challenged us to recognize that God's work of restoration is carried forward by His people in every culture and every nation. That perspective broadened how we viewed ministry and strengthened the relationships that define EMI today.
Diversity
When John became CEO in 2012, EMI was still largely structured around a western expatriate model. Today, more than half of our staff are local nationals.
That transformation did not happen by accident. It was the result of a deliberate vision for a more global EMI and a belief that God's Church is strongest when people from different tribes, tongues, and nations serve together.
This was never change for the sake of change. It made EMI stronger. The people closest to the communities we serve bring perspectives, relationships, and understanding that cannot be imported from somewhere else. As a result, EMI is better equipped to serve ministries around the world than ever before.
Design
Before joining EMI, John spent twenty years serving as an engineer and missionary in West Africa. Those years gave him firsthand experience with both the opportunities and challenges faced by the ministries EMI serves.
That experience helped shape his conviction that effective design begins with listening, partnership, and respect for local knowledge. Under John's leadership, EMI increasingly embraced an approach that combines technical excellence with local insight and long-term relationships.
The result has been an organization where design, discipleship, and diversity work together toward a common purpose: helping ministries bring restoration to the communities they serve.
As I prepare to step into this role, I am thankful for John's leadership, friendship, and trust. For more than a decade, I’ve had a front-row seat to many of the decisions that shaped EMI during this season, and I’ve learned much from watching how he approached both opportunities and challenges.
John leaves EMI stronger, more global, and better prepared for the future than when he arrived. That is a meaningful legacy for any leader.
Most of all, John's story is a reminder that God remains faithful to His work. Every office that has been launched, every staff member called into service, and every community impacted through EMI ultimately points back to God's provision and guidance.
Thank you, John, for your years of faithful service. Alisha and I are grateful for your friendship, and we wish you and Gala every blessing in the years ahead.
