ABWE is excited to announce that Dr. E.D. Burns has joined us as our Executive Director of Training and Development.
As a seasoned missionary and theologian, Dr. Burns brings more than two decades of cross-cultural ministry experience, having served in the Middle East, East Asia, Alaska, and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Burns is the author of The Missionary-Theologian, Great Commission Spirituality, and numerous other works that reflect his commitment to grounding missions in sound theology and spiritual vitality. As he shared in a recent conversation with ABWE President Paul Davis, “Missions methodology must be driven by biblical convictions. Before we can discuss strategy, we need to anchor ourselves in the foundational truths of the gospel.”
Dr. Burns is passionate about creating training that equips missionaries with practical skills and spiritual depth. “I want to help missionaries think through issues of cultural adaptation without hyper-contextualization—remaining faithful to the deposit of the gospel,” he said. His vision includes addressing personal and spiritual resilience, which he sees as crucial for combating attrition and discouragement on the field.
In addition to leading ABWE’s training initiatives, Dr. Burns will remain on the mission field, continuing to serve as a practitioner in cross-cultural ministry. Reflecting on this, Dr. Burns shared, “I live in a small remote village of about a thousand speakers, and it’s the privilege of a lifetime. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.” His commitment to staying on the field ensures that the training he develops will come from firsthand experience, equipping missionaries with tools and insights that reflect the real challenges and opportunities they face globally.
Paul Davis expressed his excitement: “E.D. isn’t just an academic—he’s living out his missionary calling now, and his experience and passion for training the next generation of missionaries will help ABWE continue to lead the way in theologically grounded missiology and pioneering practice.”
Dr. Burns’ leadership will shape ABWE’s training programs to equip missionaries and sending churches for long-term, gospel-centered impact. From biblical foundations and theology of missions to cultural adaptation and interpersonal skills, ABWE is committed to creating accessible, lifelong learning resources under his guidance.
Explore Dr. Burns’ insights in his writings for ABWE here.
Join us in welcoming Dr. E.D. Burns to ABWE as we press forward in our mission to reach the nations with the gospel.
