AFM is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcus Jacob as its new Development Director, effective January 12, 2026. In this vital leadership role, Jacob will oversee donor ministry, fundraising, development and partner engagement to advance AFM’s global mission of reaching unreached people groups.

A Multigenerational Heritage of Service
Jacob’s background is deeply intertwined with the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He comes from a multigenerational lineage of service; his grandparents were UK missionaries for the General Conference who served in India and Singapore, and his father was a pastor and director for Adventist World Radio (AWR). Jacob describes his upbringing as being a “caddy” for his father’s ministry, often traveling by motorbike to remote villages to assist with sermons.

This heritage aligns seamlessly with AFM’s core goals. Jacob notes that AFM’s commitment to building solid gospel foundations in resistant areas “resonates deeply” with his personal calling. He brings firsthand cross-cultural ministry and evangelism experience from remote regions in India and Thailand, having witnessed the transformative power of the gospel in frontline settings.

Professional Expertise and Leadership
Jacob transitions into this role with a robust professional background in finance, real estate and international education. Most recently, he served at Andrews University, managing complex financial workflows, policy compliance and organizational training. His experience as a program coordinator and teacher in Bangkok, Thailand, further refined his ability to mentor diverse groups and build meaningful relationships across cultural boundaries.

A graduate of Andrews University with an MA in Education and a Bachelor of Commerce from Pune University in India, Jacob has held numerous leadership positions, including president of the Student Christian Movement of India and a Grow Group leader at Pioneer Memorial Church, among others.

In His Own Words
Reflecting on his new appointment, Marcus Jacob stated: “I am primarily here because of God’s answered prayers. It’s Jesus first and everything else second. My desire and dream is to serve in the mission field in some way, shape or form. I can proudly say that I think I found my calling…. God is the Master Orchestrator of everything. Reaching the unreached is what this ministry is all about.”

“We are super excited to welcome aboard Marcus Jacob in his new role,” said Brad Mills, AFM President. “His love for missions, combined with his leadership education and financial background, will provide strategic value to the AFM leadership team.”

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