ORLANDO, FL — The Missionary Church USA elected its seventh president this week, marking a new era for the evangelical denomination based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Rev. Rodney Arnold of Knoxville, Tennessee was elected by delegates representing churches from across the country at the biannual SHIFT National Conference held in Orlando, Florida. At 40 years old, Rev. Arnold becomes the youngest president ever chosen by the denomination and the first from a southern state.

“I am beyond humbled to have been given this opportunity to lead this incredible family of churches into the future,” said Rev. Arnold, who was inaugurated yesterday at the conclusion of the four day conference. “The willingness of this body to elect a younger leader from one of our newest regions underscores a vision of advancement and innovation that has been at the heart of the Missionary Church since its formation.”

The Missionary Church USA was founded in 1969 with the merger of two like-minded denominations whose roots go back more than 140 years. The denomination, which focuses primarily on church planting and world missions, has nearly 500 churches in the United States with more than 220,000 members, more than 70 missionaries across the world, and Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Rev. Arnold has served the Missionary Church USA as its vice president for the past year while he is also the lead pastor of OneLife Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, a church he planted in 2009. He has also been part of the denomination’s board, the General Oversight Council, for the past four years. As president, he will oversee the national office staff while leading the various ministries and initiatives throughout the many regions of the organization.

“We have an incredible opportunity to enter a new era of mission as we move into the future,” said Rev. Arnold. “Whether its through church planting, church revitalization, microchurches, international missions, or Bethel University, I am excited to work with our leaders and teams to innovate while staying true to the one thing that has guided us to this point, multiplying disciples who multiply disciples all around the world.”

About Missionary Church USA

Missionary Church USA has grown significantly through church planting, with 60 percent of its member churches being less than 30 years old, and 40 percent of its churches are now Spanish speaking congregations. For more information, visit MCUSA.org.

CONTACT: Rodney Arnold, 865-850-2807, rodney@onelifeknox.com

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