Thomas R. Yeakley

Tom has served with Oaks International as the Executive Director since January 2024. Oaks International’s mission is: To proclaim Christ and multiply disciplemakers for the glory of God and the joy of all nations. Oaks staff serve on U.S. college campuses, military bases, and internationally.

Tom previously served with the Navigators from 1978 to 2023. He recently served as a Staff Equipper and a U.S. Field Director, giving oversight to the U.S. based ministries serving cross-culturally.

Tom and his wife Dana previously served in a collegiate couple’s ministry at Purdue University from 1973-1981, church discipleship ministries in the greater Chicago area from 1981-1983, and then moved to Indonesia where they served in collegiate and community ministries from 1984-1994.

After returning to the U.S., Tom joined the U.S. Collegiate Leadership Team and moved to Colorado Springs in 1995. In February 1998, he was selected to lead the U.S. Campus Ministry was the Director of the U.S. Collegiate Ministry until 2003. He also served the U.S. Navigators in Leader Development which involved internationally coaching and developing Kingdom leaders.

Tom’s primary passion is helping leaders live and lead like Jesus. He frequently speaks at conferences, leadership gatherings, and is actively involved in mentoring other Kingdom leaders. He has authored several books and booklets including: "Growing Kingdom Wisdom" (NavPress 2019), "Growing Kingdom Character" (NavPress 2011), "Praying Over God’s Promises" (NavPress 2015), "The Nuts and Bolts of One-To-One Discipling," "Living for the World to Come," and "The Four Alls." Tom and Dana were the general editors of the "Collegiate Devotional Bible" (Zondervan 1998). He is also the author of a bi-weekly leadership blog – "Developing Kingdom Leaders."