Leigh and her husband Trevor live in Bettendorf, Iowa! They moved to the Quad Cities in 2025 to join the YouthHope team! Leigha was born in New London, Connecticut and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended Concordia Nebraska, where she studied Christian Education Leadership and Theology to receive her LCMS Director of Christian Education Certification along with a minor in Youth Ministry. Prior to moving to the Quad Cities, Leigha and Trevor lived in Williamsburg, Virginia.
"My parents have given me an incredible blessing, they raised me as a Christian. There has never been a moment in my life where I have not known who God is, and how much Jesus loves me. As a child I was (still am) fascinated by the Bible, what the Word of God says, the historical context, and the present context. I knew I always wanted to be active in a religious capacity, but I never dreamed I would be so blessed to be in ministry as my career."
In highschool during a conversation with my Pastor, the Holy Spirit planted the seed of becoming a Director of Christian Education. At first I was resistant to the idea- I didn’t think I was qualified. However, after spending time in prayer and mentorship I realized that I was 100% correct. I wasn’t qualified, no sinful human being is. God equips the called and uses them as His vessel. He wasn’t calling Leigha Toft into solo ministry- but into a deeper relationship with Him to allow Him to work more fully in every avenue of my life, and the lives of those around me.
I do not know what all God has in store for my life, but I am committed to following Him wherever He may call me. I am blessed to be in the Quad Cities at YouthHope! My ongoing, and life long goal is to fully and openly submit to His will and way for my life, knowing that He will continue to guard, bless, and work in my life as a result. I pray God uses me and my husband Trevor as a light here in the Quad Cities to bring Youth Hope!
"Trevor and I landed at Youth Hope through one of our very good friends who volunteers with Kids Club! He heard that YouthHope had open positions and thought we would fit in very well with the culture and ministry. It just so happened that YouthHope needed a Youth Director and a Children’s Director- the exact age ranges Trevor and I specialize in respectively! God’s presence was/is mighty in the journey to bring us to this place."
Fun Fact about me- I love the arts! I can play 6 different instruments, have participated in 25+ theater productions, and in my free time you can catch me working on a plethora of different crochet projects and DIYs!
