RRI Announces New Director–Designate and Assistant Director

AGWM Missionary Jeff Cooper

 The Executive Committee of the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) has named missionary Jeff Cooper to be the next director of Royal Rangers International (RRI). This decision was made after much prayer and consultation with the RRI Council.

Jeff’s official title is RRI Director-designate. Doug Marsh, the commander of Royal Rangers USA and RRI founder, will continue to guide the ministry for the next 2 years while Jeff prepares to assume the position in August 2009. Doug Marsh said of Jeff, “Personally, I am very excited and believe that Jeff is the man for this position and that he will do an outstanding job leading the charge to expand, strengthen, and serve Royal Rangers around the world.”

Jeff and his wife Danette, along with their 3 children, have served as AGWM missionaries to Costa Rica. Jeff is the RRI Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean and Director of Camp Summit, and brings with him years of experience in promoting the Royal Rangers ministry in the Spanish-speaking world. He has also served as a member of the RRI Council, which meets annually to make important decisions for the ministry and is comprised of regional coordinators and key people from around the world. Currently Jeff and his family are in the United States itinerating to ready their missionary finances for the directorship he will assume.

FIDA Missionary Jukka Piirainen

Jukka Piirainen, the RRI Coordinator for Europe, has been asked to serve as the Assistant RRI Director during this preparation period. Jukka gladly accepted the challenge and Doug Marsh noted, “I appreciate Jukka and am pleased he has agreed to serve the Council in this way. He will help me shoulder some key responsibilities over the next two years.” Jukka has served as the National Royal Rangers Commander of Finland for about 10 years. Jukka, his wife Maarit, and their son are recognized as missionaries by the FIDA organization of Pentecostal Finnish missionaries, which has long cooperated with the Assemblies of God on a number of fields.

Doug Marsh asks that everyone please pray for the Cooper family and Piirainen family during this exciting new era in their lives and pray for the whole RRI team as “we continue to move forward together as a Council committed to reaching, teaching, and keeping boys and girls for Jesus Christ all around the world.”