Esther Joy King has been named the new executive director of the YouthHope Christian ministry in Moline.
She replaces Mark Drake, who is retiring after 37 years. Ms. King, a former U.S. congressional candidate, is just the fourth executive director in the history of YouthHope’s service to the Quad Cities.
“We had no idea the story God had planned for us when I started with YouthHope 37 years ago. We could never have imagined the full, exciting, challenging, and blessed life God has given us and our family,” Mr. Drake said in a news release. “I am confident in the structure, board, staff, and new leadership in place for the future.”
Ms. King was raised by Christian missionary parents, even living homeless in a converted school bus on the U.S.-Mexico border. She worked as an aid worker in Kabul, Afghanistan, and as an Army Reserve captain in the U.S. Army’s JAG Corps.
“Through my political endeavors, I learned the needs of our community. It’s amazing how God worked to bring me to YouthHope where we see ‘need’ as an opportunity to show God’s love to kids and teens,” Ms. King said in the release.
YouthHope was known as Christian Friendliness Association (CF) and has been serving the Quad Cities for 88 years.
YouthHope’s mission is to bring children and teens from low-income areas into a life-changing relationship with Christ by encouraging, equipping, and empowering them through community outreach, youth centers and Camp Summit Programs. It serves more than 350 kids and teens at the Moline and Rock Island youth centers each week.
