Mitch Hescox, President/C.E.O., EEN, ex officio
The Rev. Mitchell C. Hescox serves as President/C.E.O. of The Evangelical Environmental Network and speaks nationally on creation care, especially on the environmental life threatening impacts on the poor and defenseless. Rev. Hescox co-authored Creation Care: The Evangelical’s Guide to Climate Change and a Healthy Environment with Paul Douglas, published numerous articles and contributed to Sacred Acts: How Churches are working together to Protect Earth’s Climate by New Society Publishers. He has testified before Congress, appeared on CNN, NPR, PRI and numerous radio programs both Christian and secular. Named one of the ten Environmental Religious Saints in the Huffington Post, Mitch lead the 300 mile Creation Care Walk from West Virginia to Washington, DC and the 80 mile Gulf Coast Prayer Walk during the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill. Mitch led EEN to successful championing of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and guided the EEN team to inspire comments for various rules and regulations. He serves on the National Association of Evangelicals Board of Directors.
Prior to joining EEN, Mitch pastored a local church for 18 years, and before the call to ordained ministry served the coal and utility industry as Director, Fuel Systems for Allis Mineral Systems. He is married to Clare with four (4) grown children and four (4) grandchildren.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Ball, Executive Vice President for Policy and Climate Change
The Rev. Jim Ball (Ph.D., Drew University) is the Senior Advisor for Policy and Climate Change at the Evangelical Environmental Network and author of the award-winning book, Global Warming and the Risen LORD: Christian Discipleship and Climate Change. Jim has testified before Congress and appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, Fox, CNN, and NPR. He has been profiled in the New York Times, and honored by Rolling Stone magazine as one of their environmental “Warriors and Heroes,” and by Time magazine as one of its climate change “innovators.” His Ph.D. dissertation focused on how evangelical Christians have responded to environmental issues.
-Contact Jim at [email protected]
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action
Kyle serves as the National Organizer and Spokesperson for Y.E.C.A. and has been a steering committee member since 2013. Kyle holds an undergraduate degree in religious studies from Calvin College (B.A. '12) and a masters of divinity degree from Western Theological
Seminary (M.Div. '16). Before coming on staff at Y.E.C.A., Kyle served for four years as the Creation Care Coordinator at the Office of Social Justice for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, where he worked to educate and equip individuals and congregations to learn and act at the intersection of creation care and Christian faith. Much of his professional experience has involved the integration of theology, science, and action toward a deeper awareness of our Christian responsibility to care for God's earth and to love our neighbors, both at home and around the world.
Kyle has received numerous awards both as a student and for his work, including being named in 2015 to Midwest Energy Group's inaugural 40 Under 40 cohort for his work on climate change education and advocacy. He is married to Allison and resides in Ann Arbor, MI. In his free time, Kyle enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time outside in God's beautiful creation.
-Contact Kyle at [email protected]
-Follow Kyle on Twitter
-View Kyle's full professional profile on LinkedIn
Tori Goebel, Communications Director
Tori serves as the Communications Director for the Evangelical Environmental Network and Young Evangelicals for Climate Action.
She attended Gordon College (B.A. ‘16) where she studied communication arts and political science. Tori’s work experience includes leading digital strategy for an advertising agency and serving as Communications Manager for an educational organization. During her senior year of college, Tori developed a passion for using communication skills to help her community and create change while serving as Commencement Director for her class and helping to raise funds for the class gift. Tori has long had a passion for defending the environment as an act of stewardship for God’s creation, and she sees her role at EEN and Y.E.C.A as the perfect intersection of her communications background, passion for improving communities, and defending creation against the threat of climate change.
Tori was born and raised in New England and currently lives in the D.C Metro area. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring local parks and finding new coffee shops.
-Contact Tori at [email protected]
-Learn more on Tori’s LinkedIn
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Beth Bond, Women's Ministry Director
Before joining EEN, Beth was the Curator of Green and Sustainable Business News at her blog, Southeast Green.