Energy and Innovation for a New Era
Andy Schick, who has spent his career at the intersection of executive leadership, faith-driven initiatives, and technological innovation, officially begins as TWR president in August.
Early in 2005, a "godly, attuned woman" in Phoenix, Arizona, told Andy Schick that she believed he would be married within the year. Schick thought, “Oh no,” since it hadn’t crossed his mind that he might marry someone he hadn’t even met yet. “And everyone I had met, I was absolutely not interested in!”
At the time, Schick was involved in itinerant preaching, church planting, and street witnessing with Christian friends in Phoenix. But then, on what was supposed to be a short visit home to New Zealand, the 21-year-old met Kate – someone he was definitely interested in.
“I said to her a couple of weeks after meeting, ‘Look, I’m due to go back to the States, but you seem worth sticking around for. Do you think there’s a shot of us getting married?’” She, “either stupidly, bravely, or both” replied, “I reckon. Let’s see where this goes.”
Where it went was to the altar: the couple married on Dec. 31, just squeaking into the same year as the woman’s bold prediction. Only later did Schick realize it had all been a divinely orchestrated sign, God demonstrating his presence and authorship over his life.
Schick sensed that same divine orchestration again in April 2025 when TWR’s international board invited him to become the global media ministry’s next president and CEO, following a rigorous executive search.
“I can see how things God placed on my heart and stories in Scripture that have long weighed on me are all pointing to now,” Schick told the board. “When we began this process, I said to Kate: ‘This needs to be an enthusiastic, godly yes, or it needs to be a definite no.’ God has been pointing toward this for such a long time that, while I’m not filled with confidence that I can do this job exceptionally well, I am filled with confidence that God is in this conversation.”
Harnessing tech’s transformative power
Schick, who has spent his career at the intersection of executive leadership, faith-driven initiatives, and technological innovation, officially begins as TWR president in August. He succeeds Lauren Libby, whose impactful 16-year tenure helped shape TWR’s global influence.
From nimble startups to legacy enterprises, Schick has led organizations through transformation, leveraging emerging technologies without losing sight of identity. Most recently, he served as a board member and adviser to TWR partner ministry Reach Beyond and led revenue and technology transformation work at World Vision, the world’s largest Christian humanitarian organization.
Raised in rural New Zealand not far from the “Hobbiton” filming location of The Lord of the Rings, Schick grew up in a Christian home. His grandfather was a mathematics, Bible and Greek scholar, and his mother co-founded a Christian school – one Andy attended. He was introduced early to missions, joining family trips and later participating in short-term outreach in Thailand, the Philippines and Fiji.
Rather than follow a conventional university path, Schick attended Hillsong Leadership College in Australia, focusing on ministry and leadership development, and launching street outreach teams.
Shortly after marrying, he transitioned into business and tech with a strong entrepreneurial bent. He taught himself programming, networking, and cybersecurity; built a tech company from the ground up; and later sold it to a large internet provider, who kept him on as marketing director. From there, he helped lead New Zealand’s $200 million Network for Learning initiative, providing fiber internet to every school in the country. He has since held executive roles at several tech companies and became managing director at a leading digital and creative agency.
A direct answer to prayer
TWR Board Chairman Jeff Jones described Schick’s appointment as “nothing less than a direct answer to prayer.”
“The board decided early that we needed a leader who could leverage new technologies to expand TWR’s ability to reach ever-growing audiences,” Jones said.
Interim President Cassius Smith added:
“Andy is creative and brilliant. He uses tools I didn’t even know existed to analyze and build understanding. He brings fresh energy and perspective, and I believe he’ll bring exciting innovation to a ministry that must keep its eyes on the future.”
Though the Schick family will remain based in New Zealand, Andy will travel extensively and work in close partnership with a strong COO based in Cary, North Carolina. The board sees this COO role as essential for continuity and central leadership at the corporate office.
When a board member asked Schick why he believes missions-minded believers should partner with TWR, his answer was immediate:
“TWR was pushing the boundaries of how to reach unreached people groups over 70 years ago, and it’s still pushing those boundaries. It remains entrepreneurial and innovative, technically savvy yet deeply rooted in the heart of God. It strives not just to be good, but to be effective. And from what I can see, TWR does a really good job at both.”
Thru the Bible founder Dr. J. Vernon McGee once said, “God has raised up the medium of radio to get the Word of God out to the ends of the earth.” How relevant is radio in world missions now?
I'm a real fan of radio, and I believe it remains really relevant for a whole bunch of people all over the planet. From what I’ve read and heard, especially the engagement statistics I've seen, radio is still doing heavy lifting work to reach underserved and unreached audiences.
Could you please speak to the importance of new and emerging technologies to help share Christ’s hope with the world?
As I said earlier, I’m a real fan of radio, but I’m also a fan of using whatever works to get the job done. I look forward to helping lead TWR in navigating the dynamic intersection of traditional and digital media to advance the gospel and create lasting spiritual impact.
What are your hopes and prayers for TWR’s global ministry in the days ahead?
My hopes and prayers are for us to develop a sense of bravery and trust in each other as we go forward. There are a small number of people who think change for the sake of change is exciting. For most of us, it's terrifying. When you are scared, you're likely to be irritable and nervous, and that can cause division and tenseness in the culture of an organization. My hope is that in the face of nervousness around change, we can choose bravery and trust and forge a great sense of community even when hard times come.
I also pray for wisdom when it comes to developing relationships with TWR leaders and staff members. Reaching the unreached and seeing lives transformed is vitally important, but so is the health, heartbeat and direction of TWR. I see my role as an enabler for people to care deeply about reaching others for Jesus. Success for me involves people waking up every morning thinking about the audience that God has entrusted to them and feeling like they are completely supported and empowered to do their job well.
Images: (top, banner) Andy Schick, TWR's newly appointed president., (top, right) Kate and Andy Schick with their daughters, from left, Lucia (11), Mila (7), Sadie (9) and Scarlett (13); Scout (2) poses in front.
