The Board of General Superintendents elected Mark Louw to the position of Eurasia regional director, effective 1 July 2024. He will continue in his current role as director of the Asia-Pacific Region until his successor is elected.

The Church of the Nazarene's General Board ratified the election with an email vote coordinated by General Secretary Gary Hartke. Carla Sunberg, jurisdictional general superintendent for Eurasia, and Jim Ritchie, Global Missions director, prayerfully led the nomination and election process.

"I am thrilled with the election of Dr. Mark Louw to the role of regional director in Eurasia,” Ritchie said. “Mark is a great leader with a passion for mission, an abundance of leadership experience, strategic insight, and strong pastoral gifting. He and his wife, Linda, will bring such love and joy to Eurasia as they work with the wonderful team there.”

Louw succeeds Ritchie, who was elected Global Missions director in February 2024.

"It has been the most incredible four years for me as RD of Eurasia and for Maggie and me to work with this team, so we are excited to be handing the baton on to trusted friends and colleagues," Ritchie added. "We also pray for the Asia-Pacific team as they lose a great leader and long-time friends, and we trust the Lord will provide who they need next in leadership for this new season."

Sunberg echoed Ritchie’s sentiments, noting the Louws’ vast missions experience.

"We are grateful that Dr. Mark Louw has answered the call to serve as the next regional director for Eurasia," Sunberg said. "He and his wife, Linda, bring nearly 30 years of missionary experience to the role, having served in very diverse settings. Their love for the Lord and missions is evident in all that they do."

Louw and his wife, Linda, have served as global missionaries since 1999, spending five years in Cote d'Ivoire, seven years in Senegal, and ten months in South Africa before moving to Singapore when Mark was elected regional director for Asia-Pacific in 2012.

While still in Africa, Mark served as regional education coordinator and Africa West field strategy coordinator, while Linda worked in key roles to support the ministries of Africa West field leadership. Prior to answering the call to missions, the Louws were youth pastors on the Sacramento District (USA).

Upon hearing of his election to the role of director for the Eurasia Region, Louw responded, "It is with excitement and a sense of deep humility that Linda and I accept this call to transition from the Asia-Pacific to the Eurasia Region.

"For 12 years, we have been honored and blessed to serve the people of the amazing Asia-Pacific Region, making friends with people who were strangers when we first arrived. We look forward to similarly meeting and interacting with the people of the Eurasia Region, learning and growing with each other in our love of God and each other. We are humbled by the invitation and confidence placed in us by the Church and come committed to serving the region in a manner that builds on the positive foundation laid by our predecessors. Our simple desire is to reflect Christ and be true to the persons that he created us to be. May he be glorified."

Mark, originally from South Africa, holds a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Pennsylvania State University (USA) and a master's degree in theology from Nazarene Theological College (University of Manchester). Korea Nazarene University conferred upon Mark the Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of his contribution to global church development and expansion.

Together, the Louws are proud parents to four adult daughters and even prouder grandparents to two young grandchildren.