Leader appointments

Donek Tesfaye Ministry Evaluation & Learning Lead

Start date: Jan 2020

Donek, from Addis Ababa, has been an SIM member since 2014 and served as deputy director of SIM Ethiopia. She and her husband, Israel Kidane, sit on the East Africa Sending Office board. Donek, who has degrees in accounting and organisational leadership, will report to Phil Bauman, Global Director of Strategic Development.

Michelle Krewson: Faithful Witness Lead

Start date: Jan 2020

TCK Michelle has served with SIM since 2013 and was part of the Faithful Witness initiative from its inception. She interned with SIM USA for a year, served with Sports Friends, and will lead the development of new locations for Faithful Witness. She reports to the Global Director of Strategic Development.

Joshua Ngunta: Acting Director of SIM Mali

Start date: Jan 2020

Joshua and his wife Carol have pioneered SIM’s church-planting work in Mali, West Africa, since the team began there 10 years ago. Originally from Nigeria, Joshua has planted churches among the Hausa people and has a passion to share Christ in the Islamic world.

Phil Bauman Global Director of Strategic Development

Start date: Jun 2020

Phil has served as the Deputy Global Director of Strategic Development since 2018 and served as SIM Ghana Director from 2011 to 2019. He and his wife Andrea spent 19 years in Ghana. They are seeking God’s guidance as to where they should now be based.

Sherri Letchford: Board of Governors member-at-large

Start date: Jan 2020

Sherri and her husband Steve have served with SIM for 21 years — eight years at Mukinge Hospital, Zambia, and 13 at AIC Kijabe Hospital, Kenya. Sherri is passionate about discipling and mentoring. She has a doctorate in physical therapy and more than 24 years of clinical and teaching experience.

Clive Barker: Regional Director for South Asia

Start date: May 2020

Clive has served three consecutive terms as Pakistan area director, having been part of the SIM team there since 1993. He and his wife Cath are graduates of Northumbria Bible College, in the UK.

Brendan Connally: Ministry Point Person for Orality

Start date: Jan 2020

Brendan and his wife Erin joined SIM Peru in 2009 to serve the Quechua people. Brendan helps low-literacy Quechua pastors and church leaders by teaching God’s Word through stories that can be easily memorised and taught to others. He is passionate about orality as a tool to fulfil Christ’s commission.

Marcus Baeder: Regional Director for Europe

Start date: Feb 2020

Marcus, from Switzerland, and his wife Jen joined SIM in 2005 and moved to Burkina Faso in 2007. He has since served in several leadership roles, including international coordinator for HOPE for AIDS, international projects coordinator and two acting regional director appointments.

Julieta Murillo: Latin America Director

Start date: Jan 2020

Julieta Murillo Alvarado of Ecuador has served as SIM Latin America director since 2015 and has now been reappointed for a second term. She served in India for 11 years and founded the missions agency, Impacto Mundial, in Ecuador. She is now a seminary teacher, speaker, mobiliser and facilitator of Simply Mobilising courses.