Life Action Ministries names new Executive Director and CEO: Donny Vanker will succeed Byron Paulus, Life Action Ministries leader since 1989.
October 1, 2020. Life Action Ministries, a house of Christian revival-focused ministries, has named Donny Vanker as its next CEO. A growth platform specialist, Donny most recently served as the Chief of Staff and COO for the BARWIS Companies, an international human performance conglomerate recognized mostly for its transformative work with pro and Olympic athletes as well as its award-winning, groundbreaking treatment for individuals with neurological injuries and disorders. He succeeds Byron Paulus, the organization’s leader who oversaw the 30-year growth of ministry brands which now include: Revive Our Hearts, calling women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ; Life Action, church experiences and family camps for church and family revitalization; The Lodge, for leadership renewal and development; and the OneCry international prayer network. Byron will transition immediately into his new role in Strategic Partnerships, as well as continue leadership in OneCry and on the Board of Directors.
“Byron Paulus’ decades of tireless effort and faithful adherence to our values of presenting both timeless and timely biblical truth with utter dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit have empowered our teams to assist hundreds of thousands of believers as they experience genuine revitalization of their relationship with God and reconciliation with others in their lives,” states Donny Vanker. “I am blessed to join a team that has seen the legitimate spiritual renewal of individuals, marriages, families, church bodies, and communities over the last fifty years. It is an incredible foundation to build upon. This ministry has phenomenal staff, innovative partners, and motivated investors in the shared vision of catalyzing movements of authentic Christianity in every sphere of human life, here and around the world.
“Globally, we are in a period of extraordinary turmoil. People are not only looking for answers—they are even more fundamentally asking who can be trusted to provide them. If our media-saturated environment has proven anything, it is that every celebrity, politician, or religious leader inevitably disappoints us. Jesus is the only hero of the story, and it’s time to reset our expectations accordingly. Only then can we rediscover the Christian vision of humility and repentance to form communities of ordinary people who learn from Jesus how to give and receive love and extend it sacrificially to others. This kind of ‘Jesus revolution’ provides hope—a hope we can and must experience powerfully in our lifetimes through seeking and obeying God.”
Donny has previously served on staff at several churches as a Student Ministries and Associate Pastor, beginning his career in finance and commercial construction both in the service industry and as an entrepreneur. He received his BA in History with a minor in Theology from Wheaton College and has been married for nearly 20 years to his college sweetheart, Kristi. Together, they have four beautiful teenagers and have relocated near the Life Action Ministries National Ministry Center in Niles, Michigan. Donny’s earlier transition, from pastoring to the BARWIS Companies, was originally motivated by their search for treatment (and subsequent miraculous progress) of one of their children who suffered from cerebral palsy. His background in the business sector uniquely shaped the skills and experiences he now brings in his return to Christian nonprofit leadership.
Donny Vanker begins his tenure at Life Action Ministries on October 1, 2020.
Life Action Ministries Leadership
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
President | Revive Our Hearts
Nancy grew up in a family deeply committed to Jesus and to the mission of world evangelization. At an early age, she surrendered her life to Christ and to His call to full-time service…
Since 1980, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has served on the staff of Life Action Ministries, sharing revival truths with women in various churches. She has touched the lives of millions of women through Revive Our Hearts and the True Woman movement, calling them to heart revival and biblical womanhood. Her love for Christ and His Word is infectious, and permeates her online outreaches, conference messages, books, and two daily nationally syndicated radio programs—Revive Our Hearts and Seeking Him. Nancy and her husband, Robert, live in Michigan.
DONNY VANKER
CEO | Life Action Ministries
Donny has previously served on staff at several churches as a Student Ministries and Associate Pastor, beginning his career in finance and commercial construction both in the service industry and as an entrepreneur…
He received his BA in History with a minor in Theology from Wheaton College and has been married for nearly 20 years to his college sweetheart, Kristi. Together, they have four beautiful teenagers and have relocated near the Life Action Ministries National Ministry Center in Niles, Michigan. Donny’s earlier transition, from pastoring to the BARWIS Companies, was originally motivated by their search for treatment (and subsequent miraculous progress) of one of their children who suffered from cerebral palsy. His background in the business sector uniquely shaped the skills and experiences he now brings in his return to Christian nonprofit leadership.
John Avant
President | Life Action
John was most recently Senior Pastor of First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, TN, since March of 2013, a church with 8,000 members. He earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southwestern Seminary…
It was while earning his Ph.D. at Southwestern that he learned about spiritual awakening and revival. He has a deep love and compassion for people and believes that the only hope for our nation is to experience a mighty movement of God. John has pastored churches in Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Louisiana. He was also the Vice President of Evangelism and Spiritual Awakening at the North American Mission Board. John and his wife, Donna, fell in love on the campus of Baylor University and married in 1980. They have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Donny Vanker
CEO | Life Action Ministries
Donny has previously served on staff at several churches as a Student Ministries and Associate Pastor, beginning his career in finance and commercial construction both in the service industry and as an entrepreneur…
He received his BA in History with a minor in Theology from Wheaton College and has been married for nearly 20 years to his college sweetheart, Kristi. Together, they have four beautiful teenagers and have relocated near the Life Action Ministries National Ministry Center in Niles, Michigan. Donny’s earlier transition, from pastoring to the BARWIS Companies, was originally motivated by their search for treatment (and subsequent miraculous progress) of one of their children who suffered from cerebral palsy. His background in the business sector uniquely shaped the skills and experiences he now brings in his return to Christian nonprofit leadership.
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
President | Revive Our Hearts
Nancy grew up in a family deeply committed to Jesus and to the mission of world evangelization. At an early age, she surrendered her life to Christ and to His call to full-time service…
Since 1980, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has served on the staff of Life Action Ministries, sharing revival truths with women in various churches. She has touched the lives of millions of women through Revive Our Hearts and the True Woman movement, calling them to heart revival and biblical womanhood. Her love for Christ and His Word is infectious, and permeates her online outreaches, conference messages, books, and two daily nationally syndicated radio programs—Revive Our Hearts and Seeking Him. Nancy and her husband, Robert, live in Michigan.
John Avant
President | Life Action
John was most recently Senior Pastor of First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, TN, since March of 2013, a church with 8,000 members. He earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southwestern Seminary…
It was while earning his Ph.D. at Southwestern that he learned about spiritual awakening and revival. He has a deep love and compassion for people and believes that the only hope for our nation is to experience a mighty movement of God. John has pastored churches in Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Louisiana. He was also the Vice President of Evangelism and Spiritual Awakening at the North American Mission Board. John and his wife, Donna, fell in love on the campus of Baylor University and married in 1980. They have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Ministry Outreaches
Life Action, Revive Our Hearts, and OneCry are divisions of Life Action Ministries. Life Action Ministries was founded in 1971 to spark spiritual change in families, churches, and nations. This is why we call people to authentic Christianity—so the gospel light can shine brightly out of lives transformed by the presence and power of God.
