JAARS Inc.'s New President, David Reeves, Brings Vision to Advance Bible Translation

Reeves assumes role in leading Bible translation support efforts October 1

For more information, contact:
Arthur Lightbody
JAARS Media Relations Officer
1-704-843-6048
arthur_lightbody@sil.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WAXHAW, N.C. — September 26, 2008 — JAARS Inc. recently announced that David Reeves will succeed Jim Akovenko as the president of JAARS on October 1.

JAARS provides technology and support services to speed Bible translations for languages that do not have them.

When asked about filling his role as the leader of JAARS, Reeves said, “I am courageously confident that the Lord is using Bible translation to change the face of His Church and His kingdom. We need to expand our comfort zones and to open our minds to new perspectives.”

Wycliffe members for 24 years, David and his wife Jane initially served from 1984–1988 at JAARS in Waxhaw, NC, where David worked in the radio department and avionics shop. They then called Indonesia home for more than 18 years, as Reeves helped provide communication and aviation services for Bible translators and literacy specialists. It was there he learned first-hand of the invaluable impact JAARS has on the lives of people impacted by Bible translation.

Although educated and trained in the technical arena, Reeves' experiences propelled him into multiple management and supervisory capacities while in Indonesia working with SIL International—a linguistic, literacy and translation partner to JAARS. There he chaired the SIL Indonesia Executive Committee and served as general manager of YAJASI, a national partner organization to JAARS that provides aviation and communications and is located in Papua, Indonesia.

Jim Akovenko and his wife Sue will serve with The Seed Company, a Wycliffe partner organization in Arlington, Texas. Akovenko, who initially joined Wycliffe as a pilot in 1976, and also served in Indonesia, will assume a senior leadership role with The Seed Company. He was president of JAARS for the past 12 years.

Before returning to JAARS in June 2006 with David, Jane Reeves served as head librarian at Hillcrest International School in Sentani, Papua. She will serve as a special projects coordinator at JAARS. The Reeves have two children, Naomi, 21, who is recently married; and Josiah, 17.

JAARS speeds the Bible translation process by providing quality technical support services and resources. These include air, land and water transportation; information technology; and nonprint media options in vernacular languages. These services support the Wycliffe Bible Translators family of organizations in their dedication to providing Scriptures in the languages of all the world’s people groups who need it.

Information on visiting JAARS, serving in long- or short-term service opportunities, or supporting JAARS ministries can be found at www.jaars.org.

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