Meet the new leaders of our three core areas of IFES ministry
As we work together around our new strategy, Tim Adams (IFES General Secretary) is introducing a new structure to help provide effective leadership and management of IFES and has appointed three new people to lead the three core areas of IFES ministry: David Bahena (Associate General Secretary), Olena Welch (Head of Global Resource Ministries) and George Ogalo (Chief Operating Officer).
David Bahena, IFES Associate General Secretary
David Bahena (IFES Regional Secretary for Latin America) has moved to a global role in IFES as an Associate General Secretary. He will have responsibility for helping Tim Adams (IFES General Secretary) support the regional secretaries.
David met the Lord at the age of 16 before he went to study Chemical Engineering at university. There he was part of Compa Mexico, first as a student leader, then for two years as a staff worker and then as a board member. He also served as Compa's General Secretary from 1998, before joining the IFES regional team in 2007.
David and his wife Claudia have three children, aged 23, 18 and 15. Claudia serves as the leader of a "Fundefam" community center serving people in vulnerable situations. David enjoys walking with his wife, watching soccer (he is a Rayados de Monterrey fan), and good barbecue meat. David holds a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing Biola University's Doctor of Intercultural Studies (DIS) program.
Tim Adams writes: “I am excited about the contribution David can make to our global network. David is a strategic thinker and a man of deep wisdom and humility. He brings strong ministry experience from his time in COMPA and in the Latin America region. I am thankful for all David has brought to Latin America and am grateful for his willingness to serve now as an Associate General Secretary.”
Olena Welch, Head of Global Resource Ministries
Olena Welch has been appointed as the Head of Global Resource Ministries. she will take responsibility for building a suite of training and ministry resources for our national movements. We want to support our movements in training people and building communities of practice within the IFES network. This will include bringing together our existing global ministries and listening to movements’ needs to identify new possibilities.
Olena has served student ministry in Ukraine for over 20 years – as a staff worker and then as co-General Secretary of the national movement – and for the last 10 years she has worked for IFES Eurasia as Training Secretary. In her regional role Olena led and co-led many IFES regional and global ministry programs, such as the Eurasia Staff Training Institute and Global Leadership Initiative.
Sergei (IFES Regional Secretary for Eurasia) writes: “Olena embodies what I may call a strategic passion. She keeps at heart the main aim of IFES activities - transformed students - and she has a clear plan in her head how to get necessary things done in the best and efficient way.”
Olena has a MA in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University and recently completed a MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. She and Brian live in the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine, with their three daughters, aged 17, 15 and 11.
Tim Adams (IFES General Secretary) writes: “Olena is the fruit of IFES ministry, she understands the realities of leading a national movement, and she has a long experience providing training and resources from the regional and international level. Olena is also a great person to work with, she is efficient, fun and reliable with a strong commitment to our ministry. I am thrilled that she accepted this new calling and look forward to seeing how God will use her to help us serve IFES national movements globally.”
George Ogalo, Chief Operating Officer
George Ogalo (who recently finished as National Director of FOCUS Kenya) joined the IFES staff team in June to serve as our Chief Operating Officer.
Over the previous six and a half years, George has led FOCUS Kenya, developing and implementing a five-year strategic plan, improving the administrative structure and capacity of the movement, and growing the size and depth of FOCUS ministry. When George was newly appointed as National Director in Kenya there was the Garissa terrorist attack where several Christian students were killed, and he had to lead through that crisis and frightening time. He also has theological strengths and is about to graduate from his PhD (Biblical Studies) which he has somehow managed to do alongside his leadership of FOCUS. George is married to Dr Mary Thamari and they have three children, aged 16, 14 and 10.
Tim Adams writes: “I am looking forward to George beginning his role with us, as he will be meeting a need in the fellowship, and I am grateful for the way that God opened the doors toward this appointment. George will take on oversight of International Services and will join the senior leadership of IFES. I believe his experience and perspective of national ministry will make an important contribution as we focus our operations on serving the movements and IFES ministry effectively, developing and implementing our vision and plan.”