Kelvin Page Named Director of Operation Compassion
Cleveland, TN—The board of directors for Operation Compassion, an independent benevolent organization with roots in the Church of God, has unanimously named Kelvin Page as its new executive director.
The announcement came in a joint statement from Raymond Culpepper, first assistant general overseer, and liaison to the Division of Care for the Church of God, and Gerald McGinnis, chairman of the board for Operation Compassion and the Division of Care. The appointment is effective immediately as of April 23, 2020.
Kelvin Page
The naming of Page comes following the untimely death of OC’s previous leader, David Lorency, on April 3. Lorency had spent 48 years in ministry with the Church of God, characterized by reaching the poor and underprivileged. Lorency became executive director of Operation Compassion in 2000.
“No one was prepared for the passing of Dave Lorency who led Operation Compassion so faithfully and passionately,” Culpepper stated. “He was a champion, head and shoulders above everyone else in challenging times, and he will be sorely missed.”
Page, who has been a member of the board for Operation Compassion, will lead Operation Compassion while continuing as pastor of the Westmore Church of God, where he has been senior pastor since 2000.
“Westmore is a leading church in the denomination and this arrangement offers a unique opportunity to take Operation Compassion to a new and different level,” Culpepper explained. “Dave Lorency was due to retire later this summer, so the conversation about transition has been in the works for several months. It will now just happen a bit sooner.”
In an email to Westmore leaders following the announcement Thursday, Page said, “This will be a strong partnership with the Westmore family…to make world impact; to perhaps be a part of solving a world water crisis…to be able to plant churches in places that have never heard the gospel…and to be a bigger support system for our world when crisis is experienced… My commitment is that our Westmore vision will be guarded and protected as we move forward into our future with big expectations.”
Culpepper went on to praise Lorency’s widow, Laura, and her contributions to her husband’s ministry, as well as Lorency’s daughter, Lisa Boen, who will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the warehouse and distribution at OC.
“For decades, Operation Compassion has been on the front lines of hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, and health crises,” Culpepper continued. “Dave Lorency helped bring Operation Compassion to the top echelon of relief organizations around the world and we have full confidence that Kelvin Page is the one to guide this organization into even greater days.”
