The Rev. Julian Linnell PhD, Executive Director

Julian Linnell: Executive DirectorAs a freshman student at Cambridge University, Julian came to faith in Christ and to an awareness of world missions. He heard speakers like George Verwer of Operation Mobilization, John Stott from the UK, Helen Roseveare from Africa and Hudson-Taylor III of China fame at various student worship meetings. Those seeds bore fruit after graduation when Julian went to the Peoples Republic of China to teach English (1985-87). His plan was to learn about the house church movement, but the Lord had other plans. In central China, Julian met his future wife, Kim Miller, an American who was similarly motivated to serve overseas. Together, they sensed a call to the Chinese people and returned to the US for further training.

Both enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of Pennsylvania and helped in international student ministry. After Julian received his doctorate in Educational Linguistics, he taught graduate courses and conducted research. Three daughters (Gabrielle, Madeline, and Sophie) were born in Philadelphia during that time and all of them went to Taiwan in 1997 to serve in a campus ministry at Tunghai University in Taichung. During their overseas’ service, the Lord redirected their path to pastoral ministry and they enrolled in seminary at Trinity School for Ministry in Pittsburgh, PA (2000-2003). Julian’s interests in biblical preaching, mission, and outreach were fanned into flame during his service as a missions pastor in Virginia Beach, Virginia (2003-2007). Now, as Director of Anglican Frontier Missions, he’s over-awed by the privilege of serving those who’ve never heard of the gospel. Julian and his wife have four daughters (Gabrielle, Madeline, Sophie, and Phoebe) and live in Richmond, Virginia.