Before accepting the role as part-time Director of Women4Women, Grace Point’s women’s ministries program, in 2007, Joan served in and led Grace Point’s AWANA children’s program. She calls the chance to lead women’s activities “truly a gift from God.”

Joan was saved as a young teenager, but did not have the home support to nurture and grow in the Holy Spirit. She continued into adulthood “doing” church but without a personal relationship with Jesus. “I’m thankful that the Lord got my attention,” she says, “through my friend Karen and my mom (also now a believer in Jesus) and the popular book, The Purpose Driven Life. From the moment I picked up that book to the present, God has given me an enormous hunger to know Jesus personally and to grow deeper and deeper in my faith.” Joan studied early childhood and elementary education and taught in the public schools for a number of years. More recently she has traveled all over the United States as well as Mexico and Canada training teachers and professors in strategies to make the learning process more active. She currently teaches workshops in local school districts.

Joan met her husband Curt while living in North Carolina. They have three children.

Her favorite verses are Psalm 62:1-2: My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

JOAN'S FAVORITES:

• Loves: Spending time with my husband, children, and family and friends
• Books: I’m a MAJOR book-a-holic, and prefer Christian non-fiction
• Movies: Braveheart...and of course many of the animated movies...Madagascar, Happy Feet, Incredibles, etc.
• TV Shows: The Closer and (don’t laugh) American Idol
• Foods: Anything Curt cooks for me… “He’s an awesome cook!” and I consider chocolate a food group!