My life has been shaped by faith, ministry and cross-cultural experiences. Before I turned one, I arrived with my parents in Thailand. While we were living by the Burmese border, I survived a near-death experience that left me always wondering what plans the Lord has for me.
After our family returned to the U.S. when I was two years old, I grew up in Alabama, where my father pastored a church and worked as a roofer. He preached the sermon that led to me dedicating my life to Christ when I was in third grade. He baptized me when I was in fourth grade.
We returned to Asia when I was nine years old. My adolescence was spent in the Philippines, where I developed a deep love for the culture, formed lasting memories, and completed my education through high school. I watched my father work with local Christian leaders treating them as equals as they worked together to share the Gospel and establish churches.
As an adult living in Chicago, I graduated from college, married, and raised two children. I devoted nearly a decade to working in nonprofit leadership roles, supporting adults with developmental and mental health challenges.
Following a clear calling to ministry for the Church, I left a job I loved to continue my education at Moody Theological Seminary, earning a master’s degree in Ministry Leadership. I thought I might pastor a small church or lead youth ministry, but God soon made it clear that He needed me elsewhere.
I never assumed I would work with Bob Craft, my father, or thought I would follow in his legacy. I began working with him at Reach A Village (RAV) in 2017 and later returned to the Philippines on my first field assignment. In 2019, I accepted the role of International Ministry Director of Southeast Asia for RAV and have cherished every moment!
In December 2025, RAV’s Board extended an offer to me to become Interim President of RAV. I am stepping into this leadership assignment with humility, trust in God, and commitment to continuing and strengthening the organization’s growing international ministries and our U.S. team.
In His Service,
Ellis Craft
Interim President
