Dave Mann Retires from World Partners

For more than 30 years, World Partners has benefited from the humble leadership of Rev. Dave Mann. Dave grew up attending Beulah Missionary Church (Goshen, Indiana) and is a graduate of Bethel University (formerly Bethel College; Mishawaka, Indiana) and National Louis University (Chicago), having earned degrees in Biblical Literature, Pastoral Ministry, and Organizational Development. In 2003, Dave was named Bethel University alumnus of the year.

Dave became licensed with the Missionary Church in 1969 and ordained in 1978. He served the Missionary Church denominational office as youth director and as the educational ministries director before moving over to the missions department in 1988 to become an associate director for World Partners, the overseas ministry of the Missionary Church.

In 1989, he became director of World Partners and oversaw the ministry of a missionary team serving in various countries around the globe. 

As Dave contemplated retirement, a shift was implemented in the organization’s leadership — a change from a single director to a team of three directors, each focusing on a different area. In 2017, Dave became the World Partners Director of Strategic Partnerships. He was joined by Tami Swymeler, Director of Operations, and Rick Dugan, Director of International Development, to make up the World Partners Executive Leadership Team. In this new role, Dave assisted churches and individuals in finding ways to fulfill the call God has placed on them for involvement in international ministry.

Dave states, “I am so grateful for the blessing God gave me in opening the door to serve in the various capacities with the Missionary Church during the past 45 years. During these years I have found over and over again that following the leading of the Holy Spirit, no matter how difficult, in the end provides satisfaction, joy, and an adventure second to none. What could be more exciting than seeing people’s lives changed and the Gospel moving forward into some of the world’s darkest places?”

 Dave’s last day with World Partners was June 30, 2022. All of us at World Partners will miss Dave deeply, and we are grateful for the influence he has had in our lives over the years. We wish him well in retirement.