S. Douglas Birdsall Biography

"The Bible offers the hope and encouragement that the world so desperately needs. American Bible Society has the sacred privilege of taking that hope across the nation and around the world." —Doug Birdsall

Doug Birdsall Quick Facts

• American Bible Society

• President and CEO since March 2013

• Prior posts:

• Executive Chairman of the Lausanne Movement (2004 - present)

• Founding Director of the J. Christy Wilson Jr. Center for World Missions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (1999 - present)

• President of Asian Access (1991 - 2007)

• Director of missionary staff with Asian Access (1985 - 1991)

• Missionary in Japan with Asian Access, formerly known as LIFE Ministries (1980 - 1985)

Doug Birdsall assumed the role of president and CEO of American Bible Society in March 2013. With more than 30 years spent pointing people to the message of the Bible, he is taking the reins of one of America's oldest charities. Under Birdsall's leadership, the 196-year-old American Bible Society will continue to maximize new opportunities to extend the reach of Scripture globally and encourage engagement with its life-changing message.

Birdsall has an extensive background in missions. Prior to his appointment as president of American Bible Society, he served as the executive chairman of the Lausanne Movement and the founding director of the J. Christy Wilson Jr. Center of World Missions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. As the chief executive of the Lausanne Movement, Birdsall led efforts to mobilize leaders, equipping them to face the most pressing challenges to biblical Christianity around the globe. The most recent gathering in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2010 drew more than 4,000 attendees representing 198 countries and another 100,000 leaders linked in through remote sites in 92 countries. Christianity Today called it the most representative gathering of Christian leaders in the 2000-year history of the Christian movement. As director of the J. Christy Wilson Jr. Center for World Missions at Gordon-Conwell, Birdsall has been integral in leading efforts to assist the local church in fulfilling its mission to see new churches extended in each of the unreached people groups of the world.

Birdsall holds a bachelor's degree from Wheaton College, a master of divinity from Gordon-Conwell and a master of theology from Harvard University. He is currently pursuing his doctorate from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.

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