The World Impact Board of Directors is pleased to announce Rev. Dr. Alvin Sanders as the new CEO and President.
World Impact Board chair, Carl LaBarbera, commented, “We are grateful that God has answered the prayers of all those who serve and support World Impact. The entire World Impact family has been praying for a leader like Alvin who has vision, strength, courage, and faithfulness. Alvin and the Executive Team have made significant progress during his short time as Interim CEO. Now in his permanent role, we are anticipating how Alvin’s gifts – as well as his heart for the Lord and for the urban poor – will unite our family to pursue our mission nationally and globally.”
Dr. Sanders follows the tenure of Rev. Efrem Smith who, along with the Executive Leadership Team crafted World Impact’s One Focus of Empowering Urban Leaders.
“Alvin Sanders is a proven urban church planter, reconciliation ministry leader, and executive. World Impact’s commitment to empowering indigenous urban leaders is in good hands under his leadership,” said Efrem Smith, Co-lead Pastor of Bayside Church Midtown and former CEO of World Impact.
Dr. Sanders has been involved with urban church planting and spent several years pastoring in Cincinnati, OH, where he still lives today with his wife, Caroline, and his two daughters. He also served as a denominational leader with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) for seven years. During his tenure the EFCA’s congregations classified as urban, ethnic, or multi-ethnic increased by 9%. He is the author of the book Bridging the Diversity Gap. With his passion for church leaders, his move to World Impact in 2015 was a natural fit.
World Impact has a 46-year legacy of serving and empowering the urban poor, transforming cities through indigenous leaders. Our greatest strength is our staff, who are committed and called by God to see the Gospel of the Kingdom proclaimed by the empowered urban poor to every people group through indigenous churches and movements.
