Mission Encounters International recently called a new Executive Director to help lead the organization in their task to make disciples around the globe. On May 18th, the MEI Board of Directors approved calling James Langston of Wynne, AR as Executive Director.

“I am so excited about the future of MEI,” said Senior Executive Director, Larry Benson, “We have always had a strong emphasis on making disciples, but this move will help us grow in influence as our organization recently committed to a vision and strategy of making disciples around the world.”

Benson, who helped found the organization in 2010, said that he will continue to serve as Senior Executive Director for a time, while Langston transitions into the new role.

“James and I will work together during this transition time, and when the time is right, I will step down and support him in developing new opportunities for MEI along with fundraising,” Benson said.

Langston grew up on the mission field in Zimbabwe and Kenya. He, his wife, Marci, and their three children, served for 11 years with an unreached people group in southern Zambia with the International Mission Board. 

“Marci and I are excited and eagerly looking forward to working alongside the missionaries and board members of MEI to make disciples,” Langston said.

Langston and MEI missionary, Reed Dillahunty, were responsible for casting vision and strategy to MEI leadership at the organization’s mission base on the island of Helene, Honduras in 2021. The Heart and 4 Fields (H4F) strategy is used by missionaries around the world to minister cross-culturally and assist disciples in multiplication. The strategy focuses on reproducibility in the areas of entry, evangelism, discipleship, church planting and leadership development.

Dillahunty and Langston also trained MEI partner, David Cheni, a Kenyan church planter working in Uganda, in the organization’s vision and strategy piece.

“I have left a foundation and legacy for James and now it is time for him to build upon it,” Benson said. “Sheila and I have loved our life and ministry together for over 47 years now.” He made sure to clarify that he is not stepping out of mission work with MEI, but is inspired to keep working towards seeing disciples multiply around the world.