Danny Rumple was elected executive director-treasurer of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists (WVCSB) by the WVCSB Executive Board at its Sept. 13 meeting at the state office in Scott Depot.
Rumple, who has served for more than a decade in West Virginia after years with the International Mission Board (IMB) and North American Mission Board (NAMB), was unanimously recommended by the WVCSB Executive Director Search Team following a season of prayerful discernment.
“God is a missionary God, and we are called to be a missionary people,” Rumple said after the vote. “I am humbled and excited to build on the missionary legacy of West Virginia churches and to see it grow in impact—both across our state and to the nations for Christ.”
Respected by pastors and leaders
Josh Waybright, pastor of Faith Baptist in Mason and chair of the nine-member search team, noted Rumple’s long service in the state. He said Rumple “has worked closely with our churches, partners, and convention staff, earning the respect of leaders across our state. His passion for reaching the lost, equipping churches, and advancing God’s kingdom in West Virginia is evident and inspiring.”
Rumple currently serves as teaching and discipleship pastor at Cross Lanes Baptist Church and as church planting catalyst for NAMB’s Send Network West Virginia, where he has helped build strategies to mobilize pastors and train church planters.
A vision for gospel advancement
WVCSB president Ryan Navy, pastor of River Valley Church in Boyd County, Ky., described the state office directors and staff as leaders who “embody servant leadership and dream boldly for gospel advancement.” He added, “I’m confident Danny will thrive among them as our convention locks arms together to pursue our mission of making Jesus known in and through West Virginia.”
Before serving in West Virginia, Rumple spent 15 years with the IMB, leading a 20-member team in East Asia, focused on cross-cultural ministry and small business development. He also mentored other leaders in ministry strategy and cross-cultural effectiveness.
He earned a doctor of ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a master of divinity in church planting from Southeastern, and a master of arts in intercultural studies from Southeastern College. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Rumple has served as a trustee of Southeastern Seminary and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Continuing momentum
Seth Polk, interim executive director-treasurer and pastor of Cross Lanes Baptist Church, called Rumple “a man of high integrity” who has served Southern Baptists faithfully for decades through both the IMB and NAMB. He emphasized that “the WVCSB is unified and in a great position to continue to advance the mission of God in our state and to the ends of the earth.”
Rumple succeeds Eric Ramsey, who served from 2020 to 2025, and Polk, who has led the convention in an interim capacity since April. He will be the ninth executive director since the WVCSB was constituted in 1970.
Rumple and his wife, Beth, have three children: Caleb and his wife, Lexi; Joseph; and Anna.