Hello Friends,
I was at a Good Friday service when a stranger prayed over me and shared a prophetic word from God. Here was my situation: As a Canadian, I had come to Wheaton College for graduate school and was on a temporary work permit for 1 year following that degree. The job? Working as a therapist for kids in foster care and their families. My work permit was expiring in a couple months, and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I had been praying that God would “make it clear what I should do – head back to Canada or stay here.” During the Good Friday service, two strangers approached me and asked if they could pray for me. When they finished praying, the gentleman praying over me said 2 sentences that would change the trajectory of my life. “I feel like I’m receiving a vision from God. I see your feet in concrete blocks and He’s telling you to stay put.” Replanted was born 3 months later and we launched our first support group in June 2013.
I have led Replanted for 14 years now. It has been the most exciting and God-appointed ride of my life. This ministry was born out of my experience working as a therapist for kids in foster care, and I felt like God was calling me to help churches and communities rally around foster and adoptive families and support them in their journey of parenting kids from hard places. I have loved that work and my time as Executive Director.
After much prayer, thinking, and discussion with others who know me deeply, I have decided that it is time for me to take a next step. At the end of the year, I will be stepping down from my role as Executive Director. At that time, I will transition into the role of Chair of the Board, where I will continue to cast vision for this organization that I love so deeply.
The reasons for this change are both organizational and personal. At an organizational level, I have felt in my heart like the time is probably right for someone else to step in and lead the day-to-day functioning of the organization. I have loved leading Replanted… and I also think there is something good and healthy about inviting new people with fresh ideas into leadership. I get excited when I think about the future and consider what new ideas and growth can come from this leadership transition.
This sense that it might be a good time for an organizational leadership change is also related to some personal reasons for wanting to shift my role with Replanted. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a stay-at-home mom with my children. The time that I can be at home with my kids is shrinking as my kids grow older, and now felt like the right season for me to make that transition. Part of what makes this transition possible is the fact that I now have such an incredible team of staff, donors, and volunteers carrying this mission forward. Thank you for that.
I have walked alongside many of you for several years, and I’m grateful to call you friends and kindred spirits in this journey. I know leadership transitions can sometimes be unsettling and anxiety-provoking, but I want to assure you all that I’m not going anywhere, I’m just changing my day-to-day involvement within the organization. I, along with the board, have worked with a coach that specializes in succession planning to ensure a smooth transition and I’m happy to announce that Todd Ranson, our current AVP of Operations, will be serving as Interim Executive Director.
This ministry is not about one person or leader. It has always been about Jesus and bringing support and encouragement to foster and adoptive families. We are excited to continue to carry this vision forward and are excited to see what God does next.
If you have any questions about this next season, please reach out. I’d also invite you to participate in our State of the Ministry on Monday, Nov 2, 2026 at 7:30pm CST.
In Christ,
Jenn Hook
Founder & CEO
A Note From Our Board
Honoring the legacy of Jenn is easy for us. For 14 years, she has selflessly led our organization, shaping it into the incredible, impactful ministry that it is today.
Most of us have worked alongside her for years, and we’ve had the gift of watching her pour her whole heart into this work. Lives have been changed, ours included, because of her faithfulness. We are truly so grateful.
And as grateful as we are for the first 14 years of our ministry, we are equally excited for the years to come! Jenn will continue serving alongside us on our board, and we will continue supporting and encouraging foster, adoptive, and kinship families in this beautiful work.
We can’t wait to see what God has in store for Replanted!
With deep gratitude,
Brandon Stiver, Currey Blandford, Greg Brenneman, & Stephanie Kirk
Meet Todd Ranson, Interim Executive Director
I’m delighted to fill in as Interim Executive Director for Replanted as Jenn steps into her new role. As an adoptive father of 4, my family has been blessed by Replanted since we first encountered it in a support group in 2017.
My career started in para-church ministry, working for World Vision for 9 years until I moved into the tech space after my wife and I adopted our daughter in 2013. While working in tech, we went to our first conference for adoptive and foster parents and I was transformed.
I joined the Replanted staff in December 2025. The opportunity feels like both a dream and a calling. I’m humbled to bring my 20 years of experience in para-church ministry and the corporate world to extend support to more foster and adoptive families. I look forward to meeting you virtually at our State of the Ministry on November 2.
Blessings,
Todd Ranson
AVP Operations
