Wycliffe USA Names New President

Wycliffe Bible Translators
Friday, 2 May 2003

Wycliffe USA's board of directors announced a new president today-Robert M. Creson, who has served as associate executive director of SIL operations with SIL International (Wycliffe's sister organization). Creson replaces President Roy Peterson, who has served Wycliffe USA for the last six years.

President Creson has many plans for Wycliffe USA-plans that align it strategically with Wycliffe's Vision 2025, which is to see Bible translation in progress in every language that needs it by the year 2025: "My wife Dallas and I are excited about this opportunity that God has given us in this new role. We have a great deal of work left to do. May the Lord give us wisdom to understand the times in which we live and serve in ways that bring honor and glory to Him."

In 1983 Creson and his wife attended SIL classes in Norman, Oklahoma. They then began working for the vice president of development in Dallas, Texas. Within 18 months they received a permanent assignment at the SIL Cameroon/Chad branch serving in various administrative and support roles. During the last four years of that assignment, Creson filled the position of branch director and served a term on the Wycliffe and SIL International boards.

Returning to the U.S., Creson accepted the position of international vice president for personnel. Two years ago he began his role as part of the executive director team.

Creson holds a bachelor of science degree in political science from Pepperdine University. He is a certified teacher and is a member of Crisis Consulting International. He and Dallas will reside near the Wycliffe USA headquarters in Orlando, Florida. They have four children-Emily, Scott, Jeff and Tim.

As he plans new strategies for Wycliffe USA, Creson looks forward to building on what Roy Peterson began. On November 7 Peterson was elected president of The Seed Company. Both Creson and Peterson anticipate a close, ongoing relationship between the two organizations. Peterson expects that The Seed Company will play a very strategic role in making Wycliffe's Vision 2025 a reality. "The vision that God is giving us is one of incredible collaboration between Wycliffe USA and The Seed Company. I don't think it's unreasonable to think about seeing a thousand language groups rapidly opened through the strategies that God seems to be bringing into place."

There are more than 6,800 language groups in the world today. 3,000 of these languages are still without a translation of the Bible. It is Wycliffe's purpose to assist the Church in making disciples of all nations through Bible translation.

For more information, or to contact Wycliffe Bible Translators, see their website at: www.wycliffe.org