January 2024 featured Article

Passing the Baton — Bob Ransom’s Retirement

For more than 34 years, one face and one name has been consistently involved — if not synonymous — with the national office and ministries of the Missionary Church. Five presidents of the denomination have served during this time, along with dozens of other national office staff members, while the denomination has grown and expanded both nationally and around the world. But only one person has consistently remained in leadership at the national office, faithfully serving in numerous capacities through it all.

Bob Ransom.

When I was first introduced to the Missionary Church in 2009 as a church planter, I heard about Bob as a champion for church multiplication. As I worked with him and got to know him, I quickly discovered that this was, in fact, an accurate description, but that there was so much more to him and his Kingdom impact. In the years that followed, I saw him embody the teaching of Titus 2, which outlines how younger leaders can be mentored by the example of those who come before them.

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8).

I am only one of many who are here today because of Bob’s faithfulness to this and many other teachings on servant leadership and multiplication. In my first day on the job in this role, one of my first priorities was to meet with Bob and his wife, Donna, for lunch. This meeting began a series of conversations about the past, the present, and the future that have already proved invaluable and incredibly helpful to me. Knowing that Bob’s original intention was to retire in 2023, we talked about what the transition for him and the ministry would look like whenever that time would come.

Soon after this, Bob agreed that the transitions already occurring with a new president of the denomination in addition to the changing needs of Generate (US Ministries), which he oversaw, made sooner rather than later the right time for him to pass the baton and retire from full-time ministry. We agreed that January 1, 2024, would mark the beginning of a new era for both Bob and the ministries that he has overseen for so long.

Bob will continue to serve the Missionary Church in the part-time role of Services Coordinator, which now focuses specifically on immigration services, the establishment of the Missionary Church of South Korea that he has been instrumental in organizing, and preparation for the 2025 National Conference. More than all of that, his new role also includes being on what he and I have jokingly referred to as the “Bat Phone” for me, advising me and helping me to learn as much institutional knowledge as I can from him in the process. At the same time, we have reorganized the Generate department of our national office in such a way that the position of Generate Director will not be filled immediately as we discern what the needs for the ministry will be in the future.

It is impossible to summarize in a short article the impact that someone with Bob’s tenure and influence has had on so many and for so many years. The high points of attempting to do so would point to the growth that the Missionary Church has experienced over the past three decades. When Bob began as the Director of US Ministries, the Missionary Church was comprised of fewer than 250 churches compared to the nearly 500 today. Additionally, there was no Pacific Rim Region or Caribbean Region, and several other regions like Building Bridges (Mid South) and Connect (Southeast) had only a handful of churches compared to the more than 100 combined total now in these two regions alone. This incredible growth and expansion are thanks in large part to Bob’s passion for discipleship multiplication, church planting, and creative, apostolic leadership. This is a legacy that he leaves for me and others in the next generation of leadership to build upon, and one that I am eternally grateful for.

As Bob passes this baton of leadership, we will plan more ways to honor and celebrate him, Donna, and their family in the coming months. In the meantime, please join me in praying for Bob and Donna as they embark on this new season of life, and please take time to express your thanks for their many years of sacrifice and service.