Foursquare President Jack W. Hayford, along with General Supervisor Glenn Burris Jr. and the board of directors, announced two new ministries of the U.S. Foursquare Church that will expand our outreach to Hispanic leaders and congregations and the next generation of young leaders. These exciting opportunities were presented during cabinet meetings in March, where representatives of the historic districts and regions were given opportunity for feedback. The response for these intentional efforts toward kingdom expansion was enthusiastic.
National Office of Hispanic Ministries
Jim Tolle, senior pastor of the English- and Spanish-speaking congregations of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, Calif., and supervisor of the Sur de California District of Foursquare churches has been appointed director of the Office of Hispanic Ministries. Serving within the Department of Urban and Multicultural Ministries overseen by Art Gray, this new department will provide resources and partnerships for ministers and congregants of our Foursquare Spanish-speaking churches.
The Office of Hispanic Ministries will also resource Foursquare district supervisors and their offices around the U.S. in communicating with and equipping Spanish-speaking pastors, leaders and congregations regarding church activities. Jim and his team will partner with Foursquare Church Multiplication in establishing ministries among the Spanish-speaking population and providing immigration assistance to churches and districts for Hispanic pastors. More information regarding the Office of Hispanic Ministries is available online or by contacting Cherry Richey.
IGNITE
Mike Larkin has completed his service as director of Foursquare Missions and has accepted an appointment as director of IGNITE. This new ministry emphasis of the National Church Office will serve recent high school graduates who want to devote a season of their lives to serving Christ on an intensified level, gaining in-depth knowledge of the Word and learning to be led by the Spirit. IGNITE will serve as a catalyst for future Foursquare leaders who are in pursuit of their life-mission through discipleship, education and training in a life-changing college atmosphere that provides focus on both local church outreach ministries and global missions.
During the NextGen Summit ’07 last December, Glenn Burris Jr. challenged the students in attendance to tithe one year of their lives to seek God and help meet the needs of others. The response of students following Glenn’s challenge was significant, and IGNITE will offer one avenue for fulfilling this call in these student’s lives. IGNITE is a field-based ministry of the National Church Office located on the campus of Life Pacific College, also known as LIFE Bible College, in San Dimas, Calif. Information about IGNITE is available online or by contacting Kristin Flores.