ABOUT US

Our Story

Compel International was founded by Mark Renfroe, Dr. Joshua West, Richard Grangard, and Andreas Steffensen—ministry leaders with decades of combined experience in global missions. Though our paths began in different parts of the world, we came together through church planting work at World Challenge, where our collaborative approach was sharpened, tested, and forged in real-world ministry.

World Challenge, founded by David Wilkerson (The Cross and the Switchblade), played a formative role in our journey. Under the leadership of Gary Wilkerson, David’s son and current president of World Challenge, a new vision for community development and transformation was birthed—laying the groundwork for the integrated ministry model we follow today. That vision gave rise to the strategic partnership, fieldwork, and church planting focus that defines Compel International.

After years of working together, World Challenge extended a generous grant and blessing, launching Compel International in 2025 as an independent ministry dedicated to planting the Church where it doesn’t exist.

Today, our global team of 15 is based in the Colorado Springs region and across the Middle East, Central Asia, South and Southeast Asia, and Europe. This includes a network of seasoned regional leaders and field coordinators, each serving from within their own cultural context—working in places like Egypt, Albania, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. With an average of over 25 years of ministry experience, our team brings deep maturity and long-term commitment to training church planters, strengthening local believers, and multiplying Gospel movements where Christ is not yet known.

We remain united by a single passion: equipping believers to make disciples and plant Christ-centered churches among the world’s least-reached peoples.

OUR VISION

Planting the church where it doesn’t exist.


OUR Mission

Bringing glory to God by making disciples through church planting, giving priority to people and places without the Gospel, resulting in Christ-centered, multiplying, transformed communities.

Our Values

  • Our Theological Foundation

    Everything we do begins and ends with Jesus. He is the source of our message, the model of our ministry, and the aim of our mission. We are not driven by strategy alone—we are compelled by His love and lordship.

    “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things… by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

    — Colossians 1:15–20 (NIV)

  • Our Strategic Direction

    Our calling is clear: plant the Church where it doesn’t yet exist. We go to unreached people groups—because every tribe, tongue, and nation must have the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.

    “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.”

    — Romans 15:20 (NIV)

    “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

    — Revelation 7:9 (NIV)

  • Our Core Methodology

    The Church flourishes when local believers lead. That’s why we invest in equipping indigenous leaders to plant and shepherd churches in their own regions—resulting in Gospel movements that are sustainable and multiplying.

    “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

    — 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)

    “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

    — Ephesians 4:11–12 (NIV)

  • Our Vision for Impact

    We pursue Spirit-led transformation rooted in Scripture—restoring lives, families, and entire communities. As disciples make disciples and churches multiply, the Kingdom impact expands far beyond what we could imagine.

    “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

    — Matthew 13:31–32 (NIV)

Our BELIEFS

We work with Protestant churches from a variety of evangelical traditions, and we affirm the Nicene Creed as our shared foundation of faith. This historic confession unites believers across cultures, denominations, and generations in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel.

  • I believe in one God,
    the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all things visible and invisible.

    I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
    the Only Begotten Son of God,
    born of the Father before all ages.
    God from God, Light from Light,
    true God from true God,
    begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
    through him all things were made.
    For us men and for our salvation
    he came down from heaven,
    and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
    and became man.
    For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
    he suffered death and was buried,
    and rose again on the third day
    in accordance with the Scriptures.
    He ascended into heaven
    and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
    He will come again in glory
    to judge the living and the dead
    and his kingdom will have no end.

    I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
    who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
    who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
    who has spoken through the prophets.

    I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
    I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
    and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
    and the life of the world to come. Amen.

WHY CoMPEL?

Close-up of a red and white arrow pointing upward, part of the logo for 7-Eleven.

The name COMPEL comes from the 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 passage, where the Apostle Paul describes the ministry of reconciliation entrusted to all believers. At the heart of it is this: “For Christ’s love compels us…” (v.14). We are driven—not by duty, guilt, or ambition—but by the overwhelming love of Christ. That love moves us to action: to proclaim the Gospel, to make disciples, and to plant churches where none exist. COMPEL is not just a name—it’s a declaration of Gospel urgency, rooted in love, entrusted with a mission.

Meet the Team

  • A smiling older man with white hair and a beard, dressed in a navy suit jacket, light blue dress shirt, and a plaid tie, standing against a dark gray background.

    Mark Renfroe

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    Mark Renfroe serves as Executive Director of Compel International, where he leads the organization’s mission to plant churches among unreached people groups, particularly across the 10/40 window. With 30 years of field experience, including 15 years in organizational leadership, he previously served as a missionary and regional leader with the Assemblies of God, gaining extensive experience in global ministry and cross-cultural leadership. Mark is passionate about equipping indigenous leaders to multiply sustainable, disciple-making movements through a “train and release” model. He works closely with in-country and near-country partners to advance the Gospel in some of the most spiritually underserved regions of the world.

  • Close-up portrait of a middle-aged man with blonde hair, a beard, and a mustache, smiling, wearing a dark suit and light-colored collared shirt, in an indoor setting.

    Gregg Cheshire

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Gregg Cheshier – Fractional COO/CFO – former 20-year senior partner with PwC. Diversity of experiences in six PwC offices and three major service sectors. Extensive experience with Fortune 500 clients. Oversight of teams more than 150 professionals. Select clients include First Data, Dell, Chesapeake Energy, Shell and Teradata. Former operations leader for Firm’s Energy Practice. Formed Cheshier Consulting LLC in 2024 after retirement to work exclusively with non-profit Christian ministries. Serving Compel since separation from World Challenge in the Spring of 2025. Married, one adult daughter. Reside in Dallas.

  • A smiling man with blue eyes, short dark hair, and a goatee, dressed in a dark plaid suit jacket, a navy blue shirt, and a striped tie, standing against a gray background.

    DR. JOSHUA WEST

    SPEAKER & DIRECTOR OF CHURCH ENGAGEMENT

    Dr. Joshua West serves in a key leadership role with Compel International, helping shape ministry strategy and expand global outreach among unreached people groups. He brings a strong background in theology, discipleship, and leadership development, with a focus on equipping believers to live out and multiply their faith. Dr. West is also a widely recognized Bible teacher and communicator, reaching a broad audience through digital platforms and teaching ministry. He is passionate about mobilizing the global Church and supporting indigenous leaders to establish sustainable, disciple-making movements in spiritually underserved regions.

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    Richard Grangard

    REGIONAL DIRECTOR, ASIA

    Richard Grangard serves as Asia Regional Director for Compel International, bringing more than 20 years of missions experience focused on advancing impactful ministry in some of the world’s most needy and unreached regions. Born in Norway, he is passionate about developing leaders, building strategic partnerships, and equipping teams for sustainable and effective outreach. His work centers on strengthening leadership capacity and creating long-term strategies that foster transformational impact across Asia and beyond.

  • Close-up of a man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a beard, wearing a gray jacket and light blue shirt, outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    ANDREAS STEFFENSEN

    REGIONAL DIRECTOR, EURASIA & NORTH AFRICA

    Andreas Steffensen serves as Regional Director for Eurasia & North Africa at Compel International, partnering with local leaders to equip disciple-making movements and plant churches among unreached people groups. Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Andreas has spent three decades in global missions, traveling to more than 80 countries. Inspired by his parents’ missionary work, he developed a lifelong passion for sharing the Gospel with those far from God. He is passionate about equipping indigenous leaders, strengthening sustainable church planting efforts, and mobilizing the global Church to reach spiritually underserved regions.