David Curry has been appointed the new president and CEO of Open Doors USA, according to the Open Doors USA Board of Directors. Open Doors, which will celebrate 60 years of ministry in 2015, is an international ministry which supports and strengthens persecuted Christians in some of the most dangerous countries in the world.
Curry has previously served as CEO of The Rescue Mission in Tacoma, WA. He will begin his new duties at Open Doors USA on Aug. 1.
“After an extensive search involving an impressive group of highly qualified candidates, the Open Doors USA Board of Directors is delighted that Dr. David Curry will be our new president/CEO,” says board chairperson Roger Spoelman. “During interviews board members were impressed with his spiritual maturity and leadership capability which he demonstrated in previous roles. He clearly has a passion for persecuted Christians around the world. The board is excited about the future of the ministry under the leadership of Dr. Curry.”
Curry says: “It’s an honor to serve along side those who stand for their faith against great opposition. Open Doors is doing incredibly important work to support and advocate for those persecuted for their faith.
“For many years I have been troubled and concerned about the increasing persecution Christians have faced for their faith, and the neglect by some governments to take a stand. While I’ve always been an advocate for the persecuted church, it’s my belief that the next generation will see even greater persecution. As a result, we need a deeper awareness to support and advocate for those who face prison or even death for their faith in Jesus Christ.”
According to Curry, his vision includes “continuing to increase Open Doors’ effectiveness in serving persecuted believers. In addition, Open Doors USA will be striving to communicate to people in the United States the challenges Christians face around the world in order to live their faith in freedom.”
Curry adds that his eight years as CEO at The Rescue Mission and his position as president of the Foundation for Grace, an organization which provided leadership and management training to non-profit groups in South America, will serve him well in his Open Doors presidency.
“My whole life and calling have been about serving those who are suffering, living in despair and who are placed in really challenging circumstances,” he states. “Serving with the Foundation for Grace placed me in the position of service to impoverished pastors in the Third World; assisting, training and supporting them in their important work. Serving the homeless and hurting further deepened my resolve that God’s love extends to everyone, and that everyone should have the ability to experience and grow in their spiritual journey regardless of socio-economic strata, ethnicity or nationality. These are all parts of my experiences that I will bring to my ministry at Open Doors in assisting those who desire to serve Jesus in freedom.”
Curry is an expert on the subject of ethical leadership and life transformation and has addressed such diverse groups as Fortune 500 company AT&T, the Congress of Peru, drug-recovery programs and social workers in the Amazon jungle. He is the author of four books, including his new book First Aid for Enablers. His other books are: It’s Not How Far You Fall It’s How High You Bounce, God Plays Golf and Change Your World!
Curry has a B.A. from Northwest University (Seattle) and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Faith Evangelical College and Seminary (Tacoma). His family includes his wife Kate and sons Jack, 17, and Cole, 15.
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