Dear ITA Family,
At the 2014 year-end Council meeting, the ITA International Council unanimously approved Dr. Jeff Turnbough as the next CEO of ITA, replacing the current CEO Mr. Joop Strietman, who stood down from his role on 5 November 2015. Subsequent to the ITA decision, the members of the Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions (FWBIM) voted to second Jeff and Susana Turnbough “to ITA to serve as CEO while retaining their responsibilities with FWBIM as regional directors for Europe and candidate shepherd, understanding that 40% of their salary compensation and expenses will be provided by ITA.”
I urge all members of the ITA family to pray for Jeff and Susana as they venture through the next leg of their ministry journey. Jeff writes, “I am immensely thankful to both the ITA Council and the IM Board allowing me the flexibility to begin this transition immediately and continue throughout 2015. During this time I shadowed the current CEO, Joop Strietman (OM Netherlands), as I released responsibilities as the director of field operations and focus on our IM roles as regional directors and candidate shepherd.”
In September 2015, Jeff and Susana spent significant time in The Netherlands with Joop and Annie Strietman to more fully understand the inner workings of ITA and to make this important leadership transition as smooth as possible.
Please also pray God will supply the finances needed to complete the budget package for Jeff and Susana. The ITA Council, in conjunction with the Turnboughs, has established a plan for 2016 and beyond. We continue to look to the Lord to provide what is necessary for Jeff and Susana to take up this role.
By God’s grace, ITA is in good hands and the future is full of potential for this unique ministry to make an even greater global impact for the sake of those who have never heard the name of Jesus.
With much gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His abundant provision,
Dr. Roger Lang
Chairperson
International Training Alliance