Governance

Ian Smith (Chairman)

Ian is married to Rosemary, and they have two married sons and four grandchildren. They live in West Oxfordshire on the edge of the Cotswolds. A Chartered Engineer, Ian has more than thirty years in executive leadership roles in both corporate and non-profit sectors. His corporate experience spanned manufacturing, infrastructure maintenance and corporate governance sectors. In the non-profit sector Ian spearheaded growth in operations from the UK into eleven countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He is now director of Springbrook Partnership, a coaching and consulting practice.

Ian’s heart is to enable leaders to be authentic, courageous role models and ambassadors and to help them live out their core values. Also, to support leaders and teams as they navigate transition and uncertainty. He is committed to helping them make a difference to organisational health and culture, empowering individuals to flourish and realise their full potential.

Ian completed the Diploma in Biblical and Theological studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. He is a senior coach practitioner and qualified as a coach through Henley Business School. Ian serves on the board of three not for profit organisations and is a governor of the primary school in his home village

Sophie Adams-van Houtryve (Vice-Chair)

Sophie Van Houtryve is a Belgian citizen living in the UK. Currently she leads the Logos & Cosmos Initiative at IFES, a program which equips and funds young scholars from the majority world to lead Science & Theology projects. Funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, the program seeks to raise up a new generation of thought leaders from non-Western contexts. She holds a Masters in Translation and a BA in Biblical & Intercultural Studies as well as a certification in Prince2Agile project management. Sophie has experience of working for the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. As a multi-lingual professional, she is also a published translator and editor. Sophie has a track record of pioneering new initiatives in the community, in particular around nurturing prayer spaces in schools and welcoming internationals. In addition to her professional achievements, Sophie is a dedicated wife and mother of three school age children.

John Heyward

John was a UK based career clearing banker over 37 years, reaching executive level after a broad range of responsibilities including credit control, business relationship management, corporate planning and change management, and staff development. He has since automated the accounting function for a local retail business, been a School Governor including Chair, has led and participated in various Church PCC sub-committees including Finance, and remains on Investment Committee for Ulting Overseas Trust after 20 years as a Trustee, for much of which he was Treasurer. John lives with his wife in Buckinghamshire, with one son nearby and the other with family including two grandsons in Oxford. He sees involvement with OCMS as a further exciting opportunity to invest in the advancement of The Great Commission, by enhancing global capabilities for ministry, learning and communication.

Dr David Kasali

David is a Congolese national. He holds a Licence degree in Geography and Education from Congo, Master of Divinity from Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST) and PhD in New Testament (NT) from Trinity International University (TIU). He was awarded 2014 Scholar Leader of the year. David served as NT professor and Vice Chancellor of NEGST. He then helped found Congo Initiative and Christian Bilingual University of Congo to raise up Christian leaders for church and society. He now serves as President of Congo Initiative. David is passionate about hope in African Christianity and the role of the church in nation building. His calling resides in the development and mentoring of Christian servant scholars for Africa and especially for Congo. It is this passion that attracted him to the mission of OCMS, “Transforming mission through research and scholarship.” David and his wife Kaswera have three married sons and three grandchildren

Dr Jung-Sook Lee

Jung-Sook is a professor in church history at Torch Trinity Graduate University (TTGU) in Seoul, Korea, where she served as the 5th president until 2019. She has a PhD degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, US, and focused on research and teaching of church history with a particular interest in Protestant theology and practice and also works closely with Asia Theological Association as vice-chairperson since 2018. She also serves as a presidium member for International Congress for Calvin Research. She has become many of ‘the first woman…’ in the line of her work for theological education in Korea, and was awarded ‘distinguished alumni of the year’ in 2020 by her alma mater, Princeton Theological Seminary. She is ordained and married to a Presbyterian pastor and systematic theologian with two adult children. She joined the OCMS board in 2019 after having had strong collaboration between OCMS and TTGU during her leadership.

Dr Ruth Padilla DeBorst

Ruth is a US citizen born in Colombia. Having lived in Argentina, Ecuador and El Salvador, she currently resides in Costa Rica. She holds degrees in Education and Interdisciplinary Studies and a PhD in Theology from Boston University. Involved in theological education for integral mission in Latin America for several decades, she stepped onto the OCMS board in 2004, when she began leading the Latin American Theological Fellowship. She has served as a Trustee for a few periods since then. As Coordinator of INFEMIT, the International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation, she has sought to link gospel-centered theologian practitioners from across the globe into a fellowship of mutual support that will contribute to wholistic gospel witness and transformation.

Ivan Satyavrata

Ivan Satyavrata’s life work has been mainly in the areas of leadership training, pastoral ministry and theological reflection. He served as Senior Pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Kolkata, for sixteen years until 2022, and the Church has since named him Pastor Emeritus. He has served as Board Chair of World Vision International since 2022 and on a number of other Boards. He previously taught at the Centre for Global Leadership Development [SABC], Bangalore, for twenty-one years, where he also served as President from 1998-2006.

Ivan completed his Th.M. degree at Regent College, Vancouver, Canada, and his Ph.D. through the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, U.K. He has spoken and taught widely in India and abroad and has authored a number of articles and books. Ivan and his wife, Elizabeth [Sheila], are close partners in ministry and presently have an active teaching and mentoring ministry. Their sons, Rohan and Rahul, his wife, Phengsy, and grandchildren Maia, and Ayan Liam, are the pride and joy of their life.

Jane Overstreet

Jane Overstreet worked for several years as the Director of Legal Services for Youth with a Mission (YWAM) International while living in the Middle East and Europe. She joined Development Associates International (DAI) in 1996, working alongside DAI co-founders Jim Engel and David Fraser. She served as President/CEO from 1999 through 2024, and in 2025 became President Emeritus.  She continues to be passionate about Christian leaders growing wholistically through spiritual formation and skill building so they can effectively serve those they lead.

Jane serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Oral Roberts University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa, College of Law. Jane has been married to Harold for 45 years and they are grateful for their three wonderful children, their spouses, and eight amazing grandchildren.