David Chakranarayan
Jacksonville,FL
Summary
Seasoned missions strategist with over 15 years of experience mobilizing awareness and support for the needs within the 10/40 Window. Proven track record of engaging individuals and church partners across the U.S. to advance global missions, with a particular focus on church planting movements among unreached people groups. Successfully led a collaborative research project between Mission India and the Barna Group, culminating in the publication of The Great Disconnect—a data-driven exploration of U.S. churchgoers' beliefs and motivations regarding the Great Commission. Brings extensive expertise in fundraising, vision casting, and strategic partnership development.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Church Engagement & Partnerships
Mission India
09.2020 - Current
- Strategic Leadership: Partnered with the Executive VP of Development to lead and support fundraising efforts across Regional Teams, driving engagement and revenue growth through strategic planning and execution.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked closely with Marketing and Communications to expand the network of engaged partner churches, resulting in increased visibility and alignment with Mission India's vision.
- Prayer Support Network: Established and cultivated a dedicated foundation of personal prayer supporters, fostering spiritual backing and deepening engagement with Mission India's mission.
- Church Engagement Consulting: Advised Team Leads on church engagement opportunities such as donor tours and speaking events, enhancing outreach impact and strengthening church partnerships.
- Lead Nurturing & Activation: Cultivated relationships with unengaged church leads in the East Region generated through marketing, converting passive interest into active participation through one-on-one dialogue, events, and regional tours.
- Public Speaking & Advocacy: Delivered compelling monthly presentations on the Great Commission and indigenous church planting, effectively mobilizing strategic relationships and increasing donor commitment.
- Portfolio Management: Maintained a dynamic caseload of 25–40 Tier 1 church partners and 25–40 Tier 1 major gift partners, ensuring consistent stewardship, cultivation, and donor satisfaction.
- Donor Pipeline Development: Applied a full-cycle fundraising model—including research, relationship-building, solicitation, and donor upgrading—to maximize donor lifetime value and mission impact.
- CRM & Data Integrity: Regularly documented donor interactions in Salesforce, ensuring up-to-date and accurate data for relationship tracking and performance analysis.
- Tour & Event Promotion: Promoted donor trips and immersive tours, driving participation and deepening partner commitment to Mission India's mission.
Church Planter/Teaching Pastor
Cross Point Church
01.2007 - 09.2020
- Shepherding and equipping the body of Christ through preaching and teaching at weekly services.
- Leading weekly small group Bible studies.
- Mentoring church staff and leading the church board in setting and executing spiritual and financial goals for the church.
- Providing biblical counseling and discipleship for church members.
- Guiding the church through initial phase of church planting and promoting healthy growth, which led to purchase of church property and church building.
- Planning and marketing community-wide events as part of local outreach and evangelism strategy for church.
Regional Manager
Compassion International
01.2019 - 08.2020
- Personally interacting with large church pastors and other key decision-makers to foster effective relationships and growth in increased giving potential.
- Established and cultivated church relationships, generating sponsorships and varied revenue streams in order to meet annual goals and budget requirements for a wide variety of ministry needs.
- Communicated the mission and vision of Compassion International locally and globally at leadership gatherings.
- Organized and led vision trips for the purpose of cultivating church relationships to Africa and Latin America.
- Reported to donor churches on the use of funds through stewardship reports, maintaining strong communication related to project follow-up and a personalized affirmation program for prior gifts and involvement.
- Operated within the approved budget, maintained accurate database of accounts in SalesForce and Tableau, documented activities and opportunities and followed existing process and business rules and requirements. Provided required reports summarizing achievement of assigned objectives in accordance with approved processes.
Director of International Events/Speaker
Answers in Genesis
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Develop relationships with missions agencies and global ministries to implement and execute annual conferences, curriculum distribution, translation of resources and leadership training for pastors and Christian leaders worldwide.
- Teach internationally at conferences, Bible colleges, seminaries and Christian schools.
- Facilitate the establishment and expansion of four international offices (Canada, Australia, Latin America and United Kingdom) by providing financial and administrative support from US offices.
- Guide international offices in conference planning and logistics for national conferences through weekly communication with executive leadership.
- Utilize social media to promote international conferences.
- Write chapters in ministry resource publications and periodically author blogs for ministry website and Facebook page.
Donor Engagement Manager
Answers in Genesis
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Utilized CRM and Studio Enterprise to manage donor engagement. This included generating donor lists for monthly support letters and ministry newsletters, comprising over one hundred fifty thousand mailings monthly.
- Participated in donor events during initial phases of fundraising for Ark Encounter project and ongoing fundraising for Creation Museum.
- Prepared donor and analytical reports and other activities as assigned by the Vice President of Advancement.
Events Scheduling Coordinator
Answers in Genesis
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Partnered with domestic churches through social marketing campaigns, exhibiting at pastors' conferences and annual church conventions, which resulted in hundreds of apologetics conferences annually.
- Frequently met with pastors and Christian leaders to share ministry vision and encourage them to host conferences and use apologetics resources to equip the church in defending the Christian faith.
Warehouse Events Manager
Answers in Genesis
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Supervised all logistics pertaining to events, bookstore and book distribution center orders.
- Trained and supervised warehouse employees and volunteers in the execution of AIG speaker events, bookstore and book distribution orders.
- Communicated with warehouse manager, bookstore manager, event coordinators, administration staff, and customer service regarding the timely pulling, packaging and delivery of ordered product.
- Assisted the warehouse manager in daily maintenance of warehouse equipment and inventory logistics.
- Maintained contact with delivery company and host churches regarding time-specific delivery of product shipment.
Education
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
01.2007
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
Lynchburg, VA01.2006
Bachelor of Religion - Biblical Studies
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA01.2004
Skills
- Cross-cultural leadership
- Extensive international travel
- Languages
- Time management
- Thrives in high-pressure environments
- Self-starter
- Speaking to live audiences
- Team work
- Decision-making
- Verbal and written communication
- Strategic planner and thinker
- Servant Leadership
- Conflict Resolution
- Networking
Global Travel
Mexico, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Uganda, Kenya, UAE, India, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan and South Korea.
Timeline
Director of Church Engagement & Partnerships
Mission India
09.2020 - Current
Regional Manager
Compassion International
01.2019 - 08.2020
Director of International Events/Speaker
Answers in Genesis
01.2014 - 01.2018
Donor Engagement Manager
Answers in Genesis
01.2012 - 01.2014
Events Scheduling Coordinator
Answers in Genesis
01.2010 - 01.2012
Warehouse Events Manager
Answers in Genesis
01.2008 - 01.2010
Church Planter/Teaching Pastor
Cross Point Church
01.2007 - 09.2020
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
Bachelor of Religion - Biblical Studies
Liberty University
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