Reverend Johanna Rugh, former executive director of Education and Clergy Development (ECD), and Reverend Dr. Ed Love, former executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship (CMAD), are transitioning into new roles following the 15th General Conference. Each executive director has faithfully led and served The Wesleyan Church (TWC) by equipping leaders and churches in planting, discipleship, education and caring for clergy.
Rugh was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. From a young age, the Lord has been calling her to serve in diverse ways. She has served as a Christian school principal, assistant pastor in children’s ministry, assistant district superintendent of the former Distrito Hispano del Suroeste of TWC, associate director for Spanish Ministry Preparation, and director of Spanish Ministry Education and Formation for TWC’s ECD team before serving as ECD’s executive director. Rugh also served on the Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy’s board.
Rugh was recently awarded the Willard J. Houghton Medal by Houghton University in May 2026. A Houghton University news article said, “Today, we celebrate a leader whose ministry is defined by the breaking of barriers, the building of tables, and an unyielding commitment to the formation of those called to serve. We honor Reverend Johanna Rugh—a daughter of Costa Rica, a scholar, a pastor, and a history-maker within The Wesleyan Church.”
Rugh is thankful for her time serving The Wesleyan Church clergy, universities and ministerial students and leaves “with a heart full of gratitude for serving The Wesleyan Church as the first female, Hispanic, immigrant to hold the office of executive director of Education and Clergy Development.”
“I am here because God brought me here,” shared Rugh. “And now I feel released to do what God is calling me to do next.” She is transitioning from denominational service into a season focused on local prayer ministries. In addition, Rugh will finish her dissertation on “Leadership Development in the Hispanic Congregations of The Wesleyan Church” and thus earn her doctorate in ministry specializing in organizational leadership from Asbury Seminary in May 2027.
Love served as the executive director of CMAD, mobilizing healthy, multiplying churches and ministries that reach the lost, least and leaders of all generations, communities and cultures with the hope of Jesus Christ. Previously, he led a student ministry, planted two multiplying churches, daughtered and coached multiple church plants, developed a church planting network and served as an adjunct professor of Church Planting and Multiplication for Wesley Seminary. Love is passionate about seeing lost people found, disciples making disciples and churches multiplying churches until every man, woman and child has a relationship with Christ and the church. He also loves raising up emerging leaders.
Through Love’s dedicated effort, The Wesleyan Church is in the process of obtaining an Eli Lilly grant for $5 million to be awarded to selected denominations for church planting initiatives in North America. This grant will be finalized August 2026.
Love’s leadership of the Church Multiplication and Discipleship team helped TWC to live as a movement of Acts 1:8 churches — multiplying disciples, leaders and congregations and helping communities “experience the transforming hope and holiness of Jesus Christ.” He is grateful to have resourced “local churches while cultivating relational networks allowing the Holy Spirit the move through ordinary Wesleyans in extraordinary ways.” Love is excited that TWC has “momentum toward becoming a multiplying denomination.”
During the 2026 Exponential Conference, Love experienced a releasing moment as he reflected on 1 Cor. 3:6, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” The Holy Spirit confirmed this truth by whispering to his heart, “the seeds have been sown.” He plans to continue serving the multiplication movement at large and raising up leaders wherever he goes.
Beth Gormong is administrative assistant for Wesleyan Publishing House.
