He was created for a purpose—and now he’s retiring for a purpose.
Ron Post, founder of Medical Teams International and co-founder of Mission Increase Foundation has retired from ministry after 34 years.
In 1979, Post started Northwest Medical Teams with his wife, Jean, in a borrowed office space in Salem, Ore., in response to the atrocities in the Cambodian “Killing Fields.” Post recruited and led a volunteer medical team to the Cambodian refugee camps in what he thought would be a one-time experience.
That experience, chronicled in Post’s book Created for Purpose, turned into a 34-year mission of helping people around the world and at home. In that time Post led volunteer medical teams to some of the greatest natural and man-made disasters and oversaw Medical Teams’ growth into a volunteer-driven major international organization.
Post retired from Medical Teams in 1999 and devoted his time to help other Christian ministries grow. “I had seen small Christian ministries struggle over the years to raise the funding they needed to serve people. I realized I could pass on the knowledge I had gained,” says Post.
Sharing this vision with close friend Dale Stockamp, they realized they could effectively leverage their time and money by giving small Christian ministries fundraising training along with strategic grants, and together established Mission Increase Foundation.
Post began offering free training and matching grants on all the facets of fundraising and board governance to Portland, Ore., area ministries. After seeing hundreds of ministries transformed in Portland, the Mission Increase Foundation board expanded the model to other Christian ministries across the country.
In 2003, Post turned over operations of Mission Increase Foundation to longtime colleagues: Dave Farquhar, now president and CEO, and Dan Davis, Mission Increase Foundation’s CFO.
“These two men are guiding the foundation and seeing great growth in Christian ministries all over the U.S.,” says Post. Post continues to serve Mission Increase Foundation as an active board member.
Post’s ultimate vision is that thousands of ministries will receive free training and grow so that countless lives will be served and come to Christ. “These Christian nonprofits are like mini Billy Graham Associations—the next ‘crusade’ bringing the Word of God to their communities,” Post says.
Reflecting on the past 34 years Post says: “I want to thank all those who volunteered and supported the great work that still continues around the world. I thank the Lord, Jesus Christ, for His leadership and allowing me to accomplish His work, and I would encourage the next generation to continue the work. Until Jesus returns, the work He has called us to in Matthew 25 must continue.”
