The Team
Who We Are
Ryan Highley
Founder
Ryan Highley is the Founder and Director of Destiny Sports Mission, INC. Destiny began as of dream of Ryan’s when he was 14 years old. Since that time Ryan has been all around the world hosting camps, leading mission trips, and training others in sports evangelism. Ryan and his beautiful wife Deminy live in Lubbock with their three children- Rhett, Deacon, Addie. Ryan holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Lubbock Christian University where he was part of the Chaparral baseball program. Ryan has coached high school sports for 20 years in baseball, volleyball, and tennis. Ryan is an ordained minister and works with coaches and players on many levels daily. In addition to his responsibilities with Destiny’s teams, camps, leagues, lessons and trips, Ryan also travels for speaking engagements and evangelistic trainings.
David Francis
Director of Camps
Born and raised in Pearland, Texas, David Francis grew up attending church in nearby Friendswood. He met the woman, Rebekah, who would become his wife, and began to grow in relationship with the Lord. Throughout college, David served the local church through youth ministry during the summer. In 2018 he graduated with a degree in Sport Management from Texas A&M University. About a year after graduation, David felt the Lord call him to serve as the Destiny Sports Director of Camps. David has a deep passion for athletics, and a deeper passion to see the Lord move through himself and others.
Steven Thompson
Director of Missions
Steven Thompson was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan but in February 1998, 1 year after receiving Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior the Lord called him to move to Houston, Texas. A couple of years after moving to Houston, Steven met and married his wife Vivian Thompson. Since accepting the invitation to a personal relationship with the Lord, Steven’s passion & heart has been to know the Lord Jesus (Philippians 3:7-11) and to tell others the good news (Romans 1:15-16). Steven is a member of the Brook Church Community located at 11416 Spring Cypress Rd where he serves in the Jr High Youth Ministry as well as a Small Group leader along with his wife Vivian. Steven works full-time with Destiny Sports Mission, INC leading mission trips, as point of contact for international mission trips, booking travel for international mission trips, connecting/ working with trip leaders, staffing trips, creating devotionals for trips.
Bob Highley
Director of Advancement
As a founding member of the Destiny Sports Mission board, Bob has been with Destiny from the beginning. Bob has over 30 years of high school coaching experience winning multiple Texas State Championships. Along with his storied coaching career, Bob also has over 20 years of experience in ministry serving in roles of lead pastoring, youth minister, campus minister and area director. Currently, Bob serves as the Pastor of Northwestern Baptist Church in Midland, Texas alongside his role at Destiny. Bob and his wife Shellye have 3 kids and 6 grandkids.
Taylor Bertrand
Director of Development
Taylor joins Destiny as the Director of Development after spending the last 6 years as a teacher and coach. Taylor and her husband Phillip live and minister in Lubbock, Texas with their growing family. Taylor and Phillip have served in youth ministry for over ten years and currently are on staff at VictoryLife Church. They love working in ministry and using sports to teach students about the love of Jesus Christ.