Partners International Announces CEO Transition

Dear Friends,

Over the past couple of weeks, my wife Anita and I have made a significant decision that I should step down as President/CEO of Partners International and allow the Board of Directors to begin a leadership succession plan for recruitment of a new CEO.

You might ask, “Why would you want to leave Partners now? How could such a decision happen so quickly?” In brief, it is the result of an in-depth analysis of our overall ministry that led me to conclude that the most strategic move to best position PI for the future is to seek a new president/CEO who has the right management skills for implementing the needed changes called for by our review. Following is the official announcement of this leadership transition:

Partners International recently conducted a planned major review of its strategies and global impact, seeking how best to position the organization for the future. The intent was to listen to God’s voice regarding reaffirmation of His calling on the organization and its staff.

As a result of that review, the Board of Directors and President/CEO Jon Lewis agreed that a leadership transition would be in the best interest of the organization in order to carry out needed changes called for by the review.

Therefore, on August 31, 2011, Jon will step down from the position of President/CEO and hand the operational responsibility of Partners International to Board member Steve Sullins, who will provide interim leadership until a new President/CEO is recruited.

Jon has served as President/CEO of Partners International for eight years, having come to the organization in 2003 after a 26-year career with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Equipped with this rich history of international mission work, he intends to explore opportunities for further personal ministry with international Christian leaders.

It is with gratitude to Jon as well as a sense of sadness associated with change of this nature that we look to God's continued blessing on his life and ministry. We invite you to visit with Jon and his wife, Anita, as well as many of our friends and staff during the Celebrate Legacy event from October 28-30 at Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center in northern California.

Without question, we sense God's hand directing this transformation process that we are experiencing both corporately and individually. As Partners International seeks to follow God's leading to serve His servants in the hard places of the world, we appreciate your partnership with us.

Sincerely in Christ,

John Weller – Chairman of the Board
Jon Lewis – President/CEO

I cannot adequately express what a privilege it has been to serve as President/CEO during these past eight years. The staff have become family to us. We have gone through tough times of trusting God as well as times of celebrating the incredible ways He has shown us His grace. All of us together can point to unparalleled Kingdom results that have come directly from enabling our ministry partners around the world.

Thanks so much for standing with us during this significant time of personal and corporate transition. We know God is in control and we are ready to continue following His path for our lives.

Under His wings,

Jon Lewis