The Foursquare Foundation—a ministry resourcing extension of The Foursquare Church that provides grants for evangelism efforts worldwide—made a special announcement in May during the annual convention (Connection 2009) in Anaheim, Calif. The Paul and Marilee Risser Endowment for Pastoral Leadership has been created. Establishing this endowment demonstrates Foursquare Foundation’s commitment to discipleship and leadership training.
“I am delighted to make this presentation,” noted Dr. Greg Campbell, executive director of the Foursquare Foundation. “It was Dr. Risser who had the vision and fortitude to sell KFSG and create a foundation that would fund evangelism projects in perpetuity. He also demonstrated his commitment to Foursquare education and leadership training by leading The Foursquare Church to invest $12.5 million in Life Pacific College from the proceeds of the radio station sale.”
In a special ceremony on the last night of convention, plaques of the endowment’s charter were presented to Dr. and Mrs. Risser; Dr. Robert Flores, president of Life Pacific College; and Dr. Paul Chappell, executive vice president and academic dean of The King’s College and Seminary.
The charter of the endowment includes statements honoring Dr. and Mrs. Risser for their many years of faithful service to the Foursquare family. The couple served as senior pastors in Brownfield, Texas, and in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., for a combined total of 36 years. Dr. Risser also was a member of Foursquare’s board of directors for 28 years, and served as the movement’s president from 1998-2004. While president, and with his encouragement and leadership, Life Pacific College achieved its full academic accreditation. At the same time, The King’s College and Seminary in Van Nuys, Calif., continued in its growing educational and ministry partnership with The Foursquare Church.
Dr. Jack Hayford, president of The Foursquare Church and a member of the Foursquare Foundation board, said: “It is my delight to have been among those who early proposed this means of bringing worthy tribute to Paul and Marilee’s pastoral and presidential leadership. The lengthy and broad scope of impact brought by their faithfulness, devotion, creativity and passion for global evangelism brought to our Foursquare movement gives abundant reason for this ongoing tribute.”
Although Life Pacific College and The King’s College and Seminary are the only Foursquare institutions that currently have national accreditation, the endowment will also serve Foursquare institutions that attain national accreditation in the future.
