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Executive Director

Summit Missions International

Serving Eastern Europe | U.S. Headquarters in Green, OH

www.summitmissions.org

PRACTICAL HELP. SPIRITUAL HOPE. ETERNAL IMPACT.


Established in 1994, Summit Missions International is a Christian Organization that partners with churches and leaders across Eastern Europe.

OUR ORGANIZATION

Summit Missions International (SMI) is an approved 501[c] 3 nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Ohio in 1994. SMI is board-governed, nondenominational, and faith-based. It was established to provide spiritual hope and practical help to Christians and non-Christians in Eastern Europe. The organization exists to fulfill 1 Corinthians 9:22, "We have become all things to all people, that we might, by all means save some." SMI is an ambassador of hope and help. For additional information go to the SMI website www.summitmissions.org

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We believe every man, woman and child should have at least one opportunity to hear and respond to a clear presentation of the Gospel. We believe passionate, Spirit-filled Christian leaders residing in their native home country are essential to advancing Christ's kingdom on earth. They are familiar with their own culture, can communicate fluently in their native language and have greater understanding of what type of programs are most effective.

OUR VISION

  • Networking with global partners to bring men, women, and children to faith in Jesus Christ
  • Doing everything for the glory of God
  • Expecting the miraculous

OUR HISTORY

In 1991, Esley Patsch, founder of Summit Missions International (SMI), made his first trip to the former Soviet Union at the invitation of a local pastor. Exposed to the great need of people who had been under Soviet domination for 70 years, Esley returned to the U.S. determined to assist in whatever way possible. Thus, Summit Missions International was born.

Over the years, SMI has focused on specific regions in Eastern Europe, building long-term relationships with Christian leaders that have developed into working partnerships. Believing that national pastors, missionaries, youth leaders and other local believers are more capable, more readily available, and more economically feasible, the ministry has built a network of eight key partnerships. SMI provides financial support, materials, record-keeping, counsel, and encouragement to these partners, visiting them annually to provide encouragement and accountability.

In the fall of 2012, SMI purchased a building on a 3.5-acre campus in the growing community of Green, Ohio. By God’s grace and the generosity of God’s people, the building was completely paid off by February 2013. The facility has over 12,000 square feet of warehouse and office space. SMI continues to operate on a “no debt” policy.

In December 2020 Brock Kreitzburg was hired as the Executive Director for SMI. During Brock’s tenure, SMI broadened its relief programs, worked tirelessly to support its ministry partners who have been uprooted and displaced by the war in Ukraine, and expanded its network across the Northeast Ohio community in which SMI is headquartered. During the crisis in Ukraine, SMI was able to respond in a huge way providing aid to those who were fleeing the country. Through that experience, Brock felt God calling him back into his previous work in Disaster Response. While he will be missed, the board is supportive of him following the Lord's leading.

OUR PURPOSE

SMI comes alongside Christians in Eastern Europe with the intent of developing and maintaining partnerships with leaders who are committed to evangelism, discipleship, and church-planting. After evaluating their ministry, our staff and board consider whether to extend an invitation to the potential partner. Approved partners are eligible for financial and organizational assistance, training, and general support from SMI.

Additionally, we mobilize short-term mission teams to raise the visibility of partner churches and ministries and provide tools and resources for our partners. Serving together, we model God's love for every person while opening doors to present the Gospel.

OUR FIELDS OF SERVICE

Summit Missions is ministering in the following areas:

  • Moldova is the poorest nation in Eastern Europe and has 2.6 million people living in a country that is slightly larger than the state of Maryland. 4.7% of Moldovans are Evangelical believers.
  • Transnistria (Pridnestrovie) is a little-known landlocked, independent province of Moldova with 537,000 inhabitants. Less than 1% of the population there are Evangelical believers.
  • Ukraine borders the Black Sea and seven other countries. Prior to the war, there were 44 million people living in the country. Currently, over 7 million Ukrainians have crossed the borders into other countries. Less than 3.6 % are evangelical Christians.
  • Central Asia is a very difficult area of the world for sharing the Gospel. There are only an estimated .037% believers in this heavily Muslim populated region.

OUR PROGRAMS

During its 28-year history, SMI has developed, sponsored and assisted ministries that have proved effective to introduce people of all ages to Christ. Those programs include:

  • Children’s Bible clubs
  • English clubs
  • Construction/remodeling
  • Christian foster care
  • Sports outreaches and training
  • Business as missions
  • State-run orphanage programs
  • Adventure camps
  • Humanitarian goods distribution
  • After-school tutoring and meals
  • Short-term mission trips
  • Conferences
  • Family Food Packs
  • Disaster Relief

To support our work in Transnistria, SMI receives donated goods from the community and utilizes a dedicated team of volunteers to sort, prepare, package and load products.  These products are then shipped to our partner in Transnistria who has opened multiple Thrift Stores that provide both hundreds of jobs, affordable goods, and through their network of outlets, assist the needy. Locally, SMI partners with churches, community service groups and businesses to provide hands-on service projects.

Our Eastern Europe-Based Partners (supported by SMI)

  • Anna Dovgaliuc — Transnistria
  • Rustam Ibragimov — Ukraine
  • Lena Seletskaya — Transnistria, Moldova, & Ukraine
  • Pavel Tian — Ukraine
  • Sergei Titarenko — Transnistria
  • Igor Velicanenco — Transnistria & Moldova
  • Mark Fashevsky — Transnistria , Moldova, & Ukraine
  • Children of the Street —Transnistria

There are some really amazing stories on SMI's YouTube channel. Take a look!


TEAM & CULTURE

The dedicated staff at SMI is made up of passionate believers who are pouring out their lives to make an eternal impact. This small but powerful team is committed to praying about everything and relying on God's faithfulness and direction. They recognize that everyone is important to God and valuable to the mission of SMI. The culture of the office is informal, family-oriented, friendly, caring, interactive and flexible, with an emphasis on servant leadership.

USA-Based Staff (Ohio)

  • One (1) full-time Executive Director
  • Three (3) part-time employees (ranging from 20-32 hours per week), including a Director of Operations, Warehouse Manager, and an Administrative Assistant.
  • One (1) special part-time team member who coordinates children's and youth ministries for team projects.

The board consists of nine members, including the Executive Director. Board meetings are held quarterly, and they function at a "policy" level, though the Executive Director may also meet with individual board member(s) or sub-committees, as needed.

The board shares in the vision and purpose of SMI, relying on the Executive Director’s input and reports. They recognize their role as final authority and as being responsible for the mission, vision and fiduciary status of the organization. They also make themselves available—at the discretion of the Executive Director—to research and take ownership of a project or situation that needs attention or resolution.

BUDGET & REVENUE

FY2022 is projected to bring in $1,716,000 of income, of which $1,145,000 comes from shipping-related reimbursements.

Funding is provided through a handful of local churches and approximately 109 total donors, also very localized. They have about 800 on their mailing list. Funding has been in some decline over the years. This is attributed to a lack of solid strategy for donor development. Additionally, many faithful donors have retired, passed away or are unable to maintain the same level of support.

There has never been a systematic approach for ongoing fundraising. Despite this, God has been faithful to provide each need as it's been presented, and the organization has managed to remain debt-free.

STRENGTHS & CHALLENGES

STRENGTHS

  • Staff’s personal commitment to Christ and faith in His leading
  • Trusting in God’s provision and operating on a “no debt” policy
  • Their overseas partners' determination to serve, in spite of local challenges
  • Faithful volunteers and donors continued participation

CHALLENGES

  • Fresh vision and strategies for widening the mission’s territory
  • Expanding the donor base
  • Involving more churches (both locally and nationally)



LOCATION & DEMOGRAPHICS



Green, Ohio is located in Summit County between Akron and Canton. Green is a progressive, prosperous and promising city for residents and businesses alike. In recent years, Green was named one of the best places to raise a family by Businessweek.com because of their strong schools; ample parks and green space; access to health care and higher education; and affordable housing.

A long history of rubber and tire manufacturing, carried on today by Goodyear Tire, gave Akron (population 198,000) its nickname as the "Rubber Capital of the World". Its economy also includes manufacturing, education, healthcare and biomedical research; and it’s home to leading corporations like Gojo Industries, FirstEnergy, Huntington Bank, and Charter Spectrum. National events hosted annually in Akron include the PGA World Golf Championships/Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club, and the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship finals at Derby Downs.

Canton (population 70,872) is chiefly notable for being the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the birthplace of the National Football League. It is also home to the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum that commemorates his life and presidency. Canton is currently experiencing an urban renaissance, anchored by its growing and thriving arts district centrally located in the downtown area. Several historic buildings have been renovated and converted into upscale lofts, attracting thousands of new downtown residents into the city.


POSITION DESCRIPTION


The Executive Director is chosen and approved by the Board of Directors and reports directly to the board. The Executive Director is a non-voting member of the board. The Executive Director has overall strategic and operational responsibility for SMl's staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. The Executive Director will continually develop a deep knowledge of the field, core programs, operations, and business plans.

SPIRITUAL LEADER

  • Responsible for setting the spiritual tone of the mission
  • Ensures the mission remains on course spiritually
  • Acts in a pastoral capacity with SMI’s overseas partners; setting the tone, coaching, counseling, and supporting.
  • Leads staff devotions, volunteer devotions, and is occasionally available to provide pastoral guidance to SMI staff and volunteers
  • Encourages staff members and volunteers
  • Understands scriptures; capable of leading a small group or speaking in a church setting both locally and internationally
  • Relies on the power of prayer for direction

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Maintains an atmosphere of excellence in all phases of the mission, to include:

  • Consistent quality of financial administration and ensures the mission does not incur debt
  • Clear communication with national and international staff, partners and donors
  • Recommends timelines and resources needed to achieve strategic goals
  • Actively engages and motivates SMI board members, staff, volunteers, ministry partners and donors
  • Develops, maintains, and supports a strong board of directors
  • Serves as ex-officio member of any committees
  • Seeks and builds board involvement with strategic direction for both ongoing local and international operationS
  • Develops SMl's staff, mission team leaders and ministry partners
  • Tracks progress and regularly evaluates SMI programs to measure programs’ efficacy so that they can provide appropriate reporting to the board, donors, and others.
  • Expand the volunteer base

FUNDRAISING

Lead’s SMI’s fundraising and directs the fundraising strategy of the ministry to include:

  • Expanding relationships with the existing donor base
  • Increasing the existing donor base to diversify and grow the ministry

PLANNING & NEW MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

  • Designs strategic plans to build new relationships and establish partnerships with the long-term goal of expansion into new countries
  • Develops and refines SMI programs and activities that are transferable to multiple locations

EDUCATIONAL & EXPERIENCE BACKGROUND

  • Appropriate academic credentials (college degree ideally with a business or missions' emphasis)
  • Ten years of experience in professional leadership and credible organizational skills
  • Five years of experience with faith-based organizations

MISSION EXPERIENCE

  • Proven passion for international missions
  • Cross-cultural experience (short or long term)
  • Capable, experienced and willing to travel internationally

COMMUNICATION

  • Professional verbal and written communication skills
  • Confident in public presentations; capable of clear communications in grammatically correct English and able to generate clear concise letters and other materials with correct English
  • Strong presence and capability of motivating people to participate as a volunteer or donor
  • Build and insure execution of direct communication, social media, and web presence
  • Author significant portions of and oversee creation of mission electronic and print newsletters
  • Correspondence
  • Public relations, speaking and presentations

PROVEN EXPERIENCE

  • Developed and utilized strategies and tactics that took an organization to the next stage of growth
  • Quality programs candidate created, success rate and method of evaluation
  • Experience in leading and executing fundraising programs
  • Organizational and management skills candidate possesses
  • Recruiting, development and utilization of teams
  • Financial administrative abilities to include developing and managing a budget
  • Past success working with a board of directors
  • Marketing, communications, and public relations

OTHER

  • Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
  • Capable and comfortable working in cross-denominational settings in the USA and internationally
  • Physical endurance; able to travel and function on little sleep for 24-36 hours during international travel
  • Flexible and creative; can "think on their feet," quickly come up with creative alternatives when original plans are changed
  • Capable of lifting heavy objects (warehouse boxes, luggage, etc.)

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

  • Salary range:  To be discussed early in the process for qualified candidates.
  • Benefits package:  Medical stipend of up to $1,200/month towards health insurance; retirement contribution of 3%, simple company match
  • Vacation:  Three (3) weeks is standard
  • Relocation:  SMI will provide relocation assistance. They generally will choose the middle of three (3) cost estimates to reimburse
  • Travel expectations: Internationally 2-3 times annually (average of 12-14 days each trip)

MISSION & CORE VALUES


MISSION

To glorify God as international ambassadors of hope and help. We serve and support His church; mobilize people and resources to help the vulnerable; inspire hope through compassion ministries that proclaim God’s love for every person. We use all means that all people may know Christ.

CORE VALUES

  • THE BIBLE - The Bible is God's word, the final authority in all things, our code of conduct; relevant in all of life.
  • POWER OF PRAYER - Prayer is foundational and is woven into the fabric of all our plans, reflecting our dependence upon God.
  • HUMAN DIGNITY - Each person should be seen through God's eyes. We must declare their value, restore and maintain their dignity.
  • PASSION FOR PEOPLE - We share God's passion for people and strive to see them restored to a right relationship with God and others.
  • SERVANT LEADERSHIP, THE BIBLICAL EXAMPLE - We serve as co-laborers for the Gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit and authorized to be God's representatives around the world.
  • THE BODY OF CHRIST - Includes all who have put their personal faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is unique, diverse and can become unified by treating others and their churches with respect and equality.
  • PARTNERSHIPS - Central to our mission. We actively seek partnerships with churches, missions, and other organizations that are in agreement with our vision.


CONTACT

Ready to take the next step?


If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you sense this role and the mission and work of this ministry could be a good fit for you, please contact:


​Chesed Berry // [email protected]

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