DBU Report Summer 2021 - Page 35

SUMMER 2021 35 Dallas Baptist University alumnus Dr. Ryan Jespersen, who previously served as Director of Denominational Relations at DBU, has accepted the call to become Executive Director of the Dallas Baptist Association. Prior to this new role, Dr. Jespersen served in various directorial, pastoral, and interim roles. From April 2006 to June 2013, Dr. Jespersen served as Senior Pastor of Grace Temple Baptist Church in Dallas as the church went through a time of transition to become a bilingual congregation. He has since pastored in interim roles in Mesquite, Garland, and has served as Interim Pastor at Haltom Road Baptist Church in Haltom City. From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Jespersen served as Director of Urban Missions for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, focusing on the health and training of pastors in urban areas. Here he also aided in the development of the Texas Baptist Missionary Program and the Urban Church Leadership Certification. Most recently, Dr. Jespersen has been at Dallas Baptist University leading as Director of Denominational Relations, serving as a link between the University and local churches, local Baptist associations, and various Baptist bodies. “I am honored that the Dallas Baptist Association has called me as the next Executive Director to follow the Kingdom focused Gospel spreading leadership of Dr. Bob Dean over the last 15 years.” In his new position as Executive Director of the DBA, Dr. Jespersen is eager to begin doing the work of consulting, encouraging churches, strategizing mission opportunities, serving pastors, and also empowering the work of the DBA as a whole. He has a clear understanding that the work of the Association is based in the reality that churches working together can accomplish more than one local church by itself. “I am honored that the Dallas Baptist Association has called me as the next Executive Director to follow the Kingdom focused Gospel spreading leadership of Dr. Bob Dean over the last 15 years,” says Dr. Jespersen. “I am grateful to Dr. Adam Wright for the opportunity to serve at DBU, and for the godly leadership he and Dr. Gary Cook have modeled. I and so many others who have been prepared and sent from DBU to lead in other organizations are indebted to them for their Kingdom vision of sending out servant leaders to transform the world.” Dr. Jespersen received his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University in 2001, his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004, and obtained his Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2015. Dr. Jespersen is married to wife, Joanna, who serves as the Minister to Children and Families at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas. They have two daughters, Rachel Elizabeth and Mary Katherine. JESPERSEN ACCEPTS POSITION AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Dr. Bob Dean and Dr. Ryan Jespersen