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Meet the YouthHope team
Staff Photo Christmas 2009
First Row: Lexus Berry, Alexia Ross, Mary Copeland, Alex Garrett, Onna Drake, Krystle Gascoigne, Alexis Dupree, Lakkenn Ruark
Second Row: Jessica McCracken, Kylee Clovin, Trisha Britton, Jordan Britton, Chris Britton, Jada Britton, Kiwi Porter, Sarah Drake, Rachel Perrine, Aubrey Drake, Debi Allison, Barb Montgomery
Third Row: Renae Mohr, Cory Holloway, Steven Clayburne, Willie Burpo, Mark Drake, Ryan Lawrence, Caleb Drake, Dave Hodge, Kevin Perrine, Don Smith
Mark Drake, Executive Director
Who are you?
Mark Drake has been working at Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPE since 1988. He is married to Sarah and they have three children.What is your job?
Executive Director of Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPEWhere do you work?
Moline Youth Center Administrative officeWhen do you work?
Primarily Monday through FridayWhy do you work?
“I feel called by God to lead YOUTHHOPE and to share the life changing message of having a personal relationship with Christ.”How do you measure success?
“I succeed when I hear and witness children/youth coming to Christ and growing in that relationship. Practically speaking, I measure that in hiring and equipping Christ-centered staff, and helping to oversee the growth of our centers and camp.Renae Mohr, Office Manager
Who are you?
Renae Mohr has worked at Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPE since January 2009. She is married to Rich Mohr and they have one son, Eddie.What is your job?
Office Manager for Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPEWhere do you work?
Moline Youth Center Administrative officeWhen do you work?
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and FridayWhy do you work?
“I felt led by the Lord to take the Office Manager position. Since then, I have been blessed by the work and by my co-workers.”How do you measure success?
“Success in my job is when I can adequately assist the Directors to further their ministries. Success in my job is when I see the growth of their ministries and when I see their stress levels drop because I have been able to help them in some way.”Barb Montgomery, Director of Children’s Outreach, Moline Youth Center
Who are you?
Barb Montgomery has been with Christian Friendliness since October 2007. Barb has two children; her daughter, Beth, is married and has two children. Christopher is married and is in Afghanistan.What is your job?
Children’s DirectorWhere do you work?
Moline Youth CenterWhen do you work?
Tuesday through SaturdayWhy do you work?
“God has called me to impact and transform children’s lives through the knowledge and power of the Lord Jesus Christ and to demonstrate the love of Christ to children and families.”How do you measure success?
“I measure success by change lives and souls saved. This is exhibited by children’s improved behaviors , and their hunger for the Word.”Dave Hodge, Director of Teen Outreach, Moline Youth Center
Who are you?
Dave Hodge has been at Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPE since March 2003. Dave is single.What is your job?
Director of Youth OutreachWhere do you work?
Moline Youth CenterWhen do you work?
Dave leads junior and senior high Bible studies on Monday and Tuesday nights, oversees a student-run 7th -12th grade teen outreach night on Saturdays, runs an afterschool open-center program 5 days a week on Monday through Friday, conducts group meetings on Wednesdays and chapel on Sundays at Arrowhead Ranch. He trains teen leaders and works with a guys’ small group.Why do you work?
“My desire is to share the hope of Christ and to help teens take responsibility and walk with God. I am passionate about teens understanding and accepting God’s love, and His plans for their lives.”How do you measure success?
“We plant seeds of hope and truth in the hearts of youth. When that seed begins to grow and we are able to be there and show Christ’s love and encouragement, it is an amazing thing to see. Success is found in sharing Christ’s love, not necessarily in the results we see.”Chris Britton, Director of Rock Island Youth Center
Who are you?
Christopher Nathan Britton started on the first teen staff at the Rock Island Youth Center in 1994. He has been on staff full-time since 2005. Chris is married to Trisha and they have two children, Jada, 2 years old, and Joran, 10 months.What is your job?
Rock Island Youth Center Director/Youth Outreach DirectorWhere do you work?
Rock Island Youth CenterWhen do you work?
After school and in the evenings, 5 days a week.Why do you work?
“I work at Christian Friendliness YOUTH HOPE because I believe in the ministry. I work here because I am a product of what happens when you give youth hope and vision through godly leaders and volunteers. I passionately feel called to do the same.”How do you measure success?
“I truly believe that we are successful whenever children and youth engage in any of the activities that we offer. It is during these moments that each student experiences Christ’s love through authentic relationships. By participating, each student gets closer to discovering who they are in Christ.”Kevin Perrine, Camp Director
Who are you?
Kevin Perrine has worked at Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPE since May 2008. He is married to Rachel.What is your job?
Director of Camp YOUTHHOPEWhere do you work?
Moline Youth Center and Camp YOUTHHOPEWhen do you work?
Usually found in the office during most business days and one night during the week. During the camping season, Kevin is at the camp most of the time.Why do you work?
“I love creating experiences in nature that communicate the love of God to students. I love this area and the people who live here, so working for YOUTHHOPE gives me the best of both worlds.”How do you measure success?
“I measure success by the quality of the experience campers have while they are at camp. If we have created an experience that draws people closer to God, then we’ve done our job.”Willie Burpo, Assistant Director of Rock Island Youth Center & Camp
Who are you?
Willie Burpo has been at Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPE since 2007. He is married to Meagan and they have two children, Tori and Aryanna.What is your job?
Rock Island Youth Assistant and Camp YOUTHHOPE Program DirectorWhere do you work?
Rock Island Youth Center and Camp YOUTHHOPEWhen do you work?
Tuesday through Saturday during the school year and many hours at Camp YOUTHHOPE during camping season.Why do you work?
“I work at YOUTHHOPE because through YOUTHHOPE, God changed my life and I want to be here and ready to be used by Him to help someone else.”How do you measure success?
“That’s a good question and there’s only one answer…. when a child or teen comes through these doors and knows that they are not just loved by the staff, but that God loves them.”Don and Missy Smith, Camp Caretakers
Who are you?
Don (Bub) Smith has been with Christian Friendliness YOUTHHOPE since June 2008. He is married to Missy and they have three children, Kyle age 22, Taylor age 20, and Clair age 17.What is your job?
Camp Caretaker.Where do you work?
At Camp YOUTHHOPEWhen do you work?
Monday through Friday / Saturday.Why do you work?
“I had been working in a management position for twenty years and I knew God was starting to call me to serve Him in fulltime ministry. He opened the door for me to serve Him as caretaker at Camp YouthHope. ESV Philippians 3:7 “ But whatever gain I had, I count as loss for the sake of Christ.”How do you measure success?
“I measure success not by the amount of grass I mow or how much paint goes on the walls. My success comes from the smiles, hugs and joy of the Kids and Teens at camp, when you see them experiencing God’s amazing love for them.”
