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Pastor, Educator, Former College President to Join World Vision
After two decades on World Vision boards, Roberta Hestenes to become Minister-at-Large
LOS ANGELES – After more than two decades as a World Vision board member, Roberta Hestenes – pastor, educator and former college president – will assume a full-time role at the largest Christian humanitarian organization in the world.
Dr. Hestenes will become Minister-at-Large for World Vision early next year, focusing on international staff development, leadership conferences, church relationships and missions education, serving both internationally and in the United States. She also will speak at church conferences.
Over the past several months, Dr. Hestenes says she has found herself “increasingly drawn personally into the worldwide mission of the church, especially for work among children and the very poor of the world.”
Dr. Hestenes will serve both World Vision International, based in Monrovia, California, and World Vision United States, based near Seattle. She has been on the boards of directors of one or both organizations since 1980, including such roles as chair of the international board from 1985 to 1992.
“Roberta is uniquely qualified for this new position,” said Richard E. Stearns, President of World Vision U.S. “She brings with her a pastor’s heart, an educator’s determination and vision and her own passion for international ministry which meets both spiritual and physical needs.”
Hestenes will leave her post as senior pastor of the 2,000-member Solana Beach Presbyterian Church in north San Diego County at the end of September. She has been in that role since November 1996. She had been President of Eastern College in St. David’s, Pennsylvania since 1987. Dr. Hestenes was instrumental in founding Eastern’s Center for Christian Women in Leadership and the Center for Excellence in World Missions. Previously, she was an associate professor and founder of the Christian Formation and Discipleship Department at Fuller Theological Seminary, where she earned her doctorate. Ordained by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), she has served churches in Seattle and La Canada, California.
In addition to writing articles and tape courses, Dr. Hestenes is the author of six books, including “Using the Bible in Groups,” “Women and the Ministry of Christ,” and “Turning Committees into Communities.” She is married to Dr. John Hestenes, a research scientist. They have three children and seven grandchildren.
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World Vision is the largest, privately funded Christian humanitarian agency in the world, serving more than 80 million people in nearly 100 countries. |