Trustees affirm Soh as Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Chu Soh, who joined GuideStone^® in June 2020 as chief insurance officer, was unanimously elected chief operating officer by GuideStone trustees during their regular meeting February 27–28.

Prior to coming to GuideStone, Soh served as chief operating officer of Christian Care Ministry, growing it from 23,000 households in 2013 to more than 150,000 in his final year. He is also a retired U.S. Air Force officer.

“I could not be more excited about Chu Soh joining us as chief operating officer,” GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck said. “I thank God for equipping Chu for this role. He is passionate about our ministry assignment and he is passionate about our mission.”

Soh succeeds John R. Jones, who has served as chief operating officer for 25 years. Jones will become Special Assistant to the Executive Office and will retire fully at the end of 2023, having served 35 years at GuideStone.

“I hand this torch to Hance and Chu, totally confident in the future of GuideStone, and excited with what God will do through you” Jones told Soh during the trustee meeting. “I’m going to be cheering from the sidelines and relishing and observing what God will do in the future.”

Trustees affirmed Soh in his new role by laying hands on him and voiced prayers for wisdom and discernment in his new role.

Soh earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in sports medicine from the University of Florida College of Medicine and a doctorate in physical therapy from Baylor College of Medicine. He retired after 21 years in the Air Force; in his last role, he served as deputy group commander — equivalent to a civilian vice president — where he led 115 professionals in 10 departments at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. In addition to serving at Patrick AFB, Soh served in Germany, Japan and South Korea.

Soh came to Christ as a fifth-grade student. After moving to Kansas from South Korea as a 4-year-old boy, he began attending a Southern Baptist church each Sunday and on Wednesday evenings through its bus ministry, as his parents, Buddhists, thought it would be a good way for their children to learn English. A fifth-grade Sunday school teacher provided him with his first Bible and prayed over him and encouraged him to give his life to Christ. Ultimately, Soh’s parents came to know the Lord as their Savior as well.

Soh and his wife Karyn have four children, ranging in age from 24 to 8.

“I am excited to join with Hance in leading GuideStone into its next era of service,” Soh said. “Our members and ministry partners can rest assured of our commitment to them, to the Lord and to this ministry we have received through Southern Baptists from Him.”

Roy Hayhurst is the director of denominational and public relations at GuideStone.