Leadership
the people who guide our ministry
President and CEO
Donald H. Lough, Jr. follows a great legacy of leadership as President and CEO of Word of Life Fellowship. He brings more than 20 years of experience and service in the ministry as he shares the passion of those who have gone before him…Holding Forth the Word of Life. He is a graduate of the Word of Life Bible Institute in 1984 and of Cedarville University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1987. In 1992 Don graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary after serving as a teaching assistant to Drs. Howard Hendricks and Mark Bailey and where he received a Master of Theology degree.
His ministry with Word of Life Fellowship began as a teenage young man working in the camps and conference programs. After graduating from seminary, he became the assistant to Paul Bubar, Director of Word of Life’s International Ministries in 1992. Five years later he became the Vice President of International Ministries where he served from 1997 to 2006. Don served as Director of Word of Life Fellowship from 2006-2011 before being installed as the President and CEO.
Don and his wife, Darla, have four children: Alyssa, Jonathan, Justin and Ashlyn.
John Nelson
Executive Assistant to the President and Director of Word of Life Foundation
John has served with Word of Life for more than 40 years in several leadership roles, including in our operations, finance, and advancement departments. He has a passion for service and an incredible drive to develop the next generation of Christian leaders. John graduated from Michigan State University.
Kris Stout
Executive VP of International Ministries
Kris oversees our more than 1500 missionaries both here in the United States and around the world in over 80 countries. He is a connector of people whose passion for spreading the Gospel is evident in how he leads and guides the ministry.
Brian Baker
VP of the New York Bible Institute and Camps
Brian serves as the Vice President of the New York Bible Institute and Camps. He is passionate about helping young people develop a biblical foundation upon which they can build the rest of their lives. Brian loves preaching, teaching, and building into current and future leaders.
Rich Andrews
VP of Florida Ministries
Rich serves as the Director of Word of Life Florida. He has a B.S. in Business Management and Ethics from Trinity College of Florida. Rich and his wife, Lynn, have served in various capacities at Word of Life for over 25 years. In his current role, Rich serves at camp, in the conference center, and at the Bible Institute.
Eric Messer
VP of Operations and Central Services
Eric and his wife, Karalie, have been serving Jesus with the ministry of Word of Life for over ten years. They are passionate about building teams of people who desire to work harmoniously to reach young people with the gospel. Eric is a graduate of Liberty University (B.S. Religion, MBA). He currently serves in the capacity of Vice President of Operations and Central Services.
John Collins
Director of Youth Ministries
John has been in youth work for over 35 years, and he applies that knowledge as the Director of Word of Life Youth Ministries. He is passionate about mobilizing the next generation to reach their generation with the gospel. John loves the outdoors, sports and his family.
Mark Strout
Executive Dean of Global Bible Institutes and Professor
Mark serves as Executive Dean and Professor of the global campuses of Word of Life Bible Institute. In addition to leading the Florida Bible Institute, he provides accreditation oversight for eight international campuses. Mark also serves as an adjunct professor on our Florida campus, New York campus, and around the world.
Chip Nightingale
Director of Advancement
Chip serves as Director of our Advancement Department. He is a passionate leader who brings 25 years of experience in business, coaching, pastoring, and fundraising to the team. Chip uses those skills to serve those who faithfully serve Word of Life through their giving.
A History of Godly Leadership
Past Directors
Jack Wyrtzen
Director 1940-1990
Jack founded the ministry after trusting Christ as a young man. His passion was to share the Gospel and to reach young people. Jack’s contagious enthusiasm and his desire to be used of God were hallmarks of his leadership.
Harry Bollback
Director 1940-1990
Harry was invited by Jack Wyrtzen to become the Co-Director. He was used of God to launch the International Ministries of Word of Life and in later years, he began the Tour Ministries (Gospel Productions) which presented the Word of God through music, drama and multi-media.
George Theis
Director 1991-1999
George followed the leadership of Jack Wyrtzen and Harry Bollback and led Word of Life to expand the International Ministries into ten new locations – a total of 44 countries. Under his leadership and through his vision was born the need for a new teaching facility and library at Word of Life Bible Institute.
Joe Jordan
Director 1999-2011
Joe served as Executive Director after founding the ministry of Word of Life in Argentina in 1970. His dynamic leadership was instrumental for numerous capital project upgrades to facilities, the growth of the ministry into 63 countries and the development of a new generation of leadership around the world.
