Snapshot

Denomination: Inter-denominational

Total summer campers:  1,764

Location: Greencastle, PA

The Role: CEO

Meet Joy El Ministries: 

In 1938, Joy El Ministries began in Pennsylvania under the name of Children’s Bible Mission, also known as CBM. Miss Mildred McEvers was CBM’s home missionary assigned to South Central PA. She began teaching the Word of God to boys and girls in Franklin and Perry Counties in public schools. Then in 1965, the U.S. Supreme Court declared it illegal to have Bible reading and prayer in public schools. Guided by the Lord in their effort to reach children, the local CBM Committee discovered that Pennsylvania had a law lying dormant, which permits students to be released from public school for the purpose of religious instruction.

With this knowledge, CBM developed the Released Time Bible Program, which allowed students to be released from their classrooms once a week to go to an offsite location to receive Bible teaching. Released Time began in two elementary schools in 1967. The program met with favor from parents, churches, the community and the students. Soon “Released Time” became a familiar phrase. In the succeeding years, it has expanded into more than 100 schools in  28 school districts, reaching over 3,000 students weekly with the Word of God, and the program is still growing today.

From its inception, Released Time included scripture memorization. To encourage students to memorize verses, incentive awards were offered for various levels of points each student accumulated. The maximum award was a free week of summer camp. Initially, CBM held its summer camps at a rented summer facility local to Greencastle, PA. However, as more and more students earned free summer camp, CBM considered building its own facility. A search began for a piece of land that was located in central Franklin County, had water (stream or pond), and some flat land for the buildings. The students involved in Released Time shared the prayer request of the ministry with their parents and one parent offered the first parcel of land, followed later by a second donation of land. The two parcels together were not sufficient for the camp and the prayers continued until a third farmer donated the final acreage. The three area farmers donated nineteen acres of land, which began the site of Camp Joy El.

Camp Joy El held its groundbreaking for the new Christian retreat center in PA on March 17, 1974, and was soon off and running to become its own significant ministry to area young people. CBM Ministries needed to raise $200,000 for the original buildings: a dining hall/chapel and ten cabins. The local community provided a majority of the labor. Local churches and businesses donated their time, talents, and tools to erect the buildings and the first camp opened on July 7, 1974.

Over time, Camp Joy El became the identity focus of the ministry and the name by which the whole of CBM Ministries was most widely known. Responding to that, in 2004 the Board of Directors took action to rename the entire organization “Joy El Ministries,” which is who we are today.

Today at Joy El Ministries, we exist to provide opportunities for people to experience life-change through personal encounters with God. Our operation is dependent on the Lord’s provision through the gifts and support of its contributors. At Joy El Ministries, we want people to know that God showed us how much He loved us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for our sins. And because Jesus paid the price for our sins, we now have the opportunity to have our sins forgiven and to live a victorious, peace-filled life. 

About the CEO:

The position of CEO of Joy El Ministries represents an outstanding opportunity to train a host of young leaders on how to lead well while impacting greatly a new generation of young people with the unsearchable riches of Christ. Joy El Ministries is a product leader in its field who partners with many churches and ministries to strengthen local churches and families in their commitment to following Christ wholeheartedly. 

The ideal candidate will be a person who has a God-sized faith and an ability to exercise that faith to continue to help Joy El Ministries reach those that it already serves and to expand its reach in the future. He or she will bring a variety of ministry and/or business experiences and a demonstrated commitment to advance Joy El in the future. 

The next CEO will also need to understand the complex cultural challenges facing the next generation and be firm in his or her commitment to a biblical response to the culture. We expect that this individual will re-cast Joy El in an inspiring way to engage the board, staff and ministry partners as the camp moves into a new phase of ministry. 

While Joy El is a ministry, there is also a serious business acumen that is required to lead forward. There must be an understanding that to do great ministry - great business needs to exist and therefore this person will need some business understanding to succeed.

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the CEO:

Education & Experience

• Undergraduate Degree - Required

• Graduate Degree - Strongly Preferred

• Seminary degree - Strongly Preferred

• 5 - 7+ years of organizational and team leadership

• 10+ years of ministry or camp experience

• Experience overseeing growth in a ministry

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills to all ages and stages - both verbally and written

• Able to identify problems and bring them to a positive conclusion

• Business acumen

• Track record of hiring, training, and solving hiring issues

• Experience leading multiple departments

• Understands Millennial and younger generations

•  Able to cast vision to current donors and connect with a  new season of donors

• Ability to manage complex projects

• Teaching experience

• Culturally aware but not culturally controlled

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Vital growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ to ensure that the direction he/she provides is for the advancement of God’s purpose at Joy El Ministries

• Clear established theological beliefs in harmony with the Joy El Ministries Statement of Faith

•  A heart for God and people

• Passion to see people’s  hearts changed 

• Positive driven energy

• Sense of humor

• A spirit of humility

• Humble, Hungry, Smart

• Already showing the Fruits of the Spirit in their life, relationships, and ministry

• Godly discernment

• Team Builder

• Winner of Hearts

• Voracious reader

  

What it's Like to Live in Greencastle, PA: 

Greencastle, Pennsylvania, offers an inviting and family-friendly environment, making it an excellent choice for families looking to settle in a safe, welcoming community. Known for its small-town charm and tight-knit neighborhoods, Greencastle provides a slower pace of life, ideal for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of larger cities. With low crime rates and a strong sense of community, families can feel secure while raising their children in a place where neighbors know and support one another. This close-knit environment helps foster strong relationships and a supportive atmosphere for family life.

The quality of education in Greencastle is another significant draw for families. The Greencastle-Antrim School District is highly regarded for its commitment to academic excellence, offering a range of programs and extracurricular activities that cater to students' diverse interests and talents. Smaller class sizes allow for more personalized attention, ensuring that children receive the support they need to succeed. Additionally, the district emphasizes character development and community involvement, preparing students not just academically but also for life beyond the classroom.

Beyond education, Greencastle offers a variety of recreational activities and green spaces that promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Families can enjoy nearby parks, walking trails, and outdoor sports facilities, providing plenty of opportunities for children to play and explore. The town also hosts several community events and festivals throughout the year, such as Old Home Week, which celebrates the town’s history and brings residents together. These gatherings allow families to participate in local traditions and create lasting memories, reinforcing the strong community bonds that make Greencastle unique.

In terms of location, Greencastle is conveniently situated near larger cities like Hagerstown, MD, and Chambersburg, PA, offering easy access to more extensive shopping, dining, and employment opportunities while maintaining its peaceful, small-town character. Families can enjoy the best of both worlds: the tranquility of rural living with the convenience of nearby urban amenities. With affordable housing options and a range of family-oriented services, Greencastle provides an ideal balance of community, education, recreation, and accessibility that makes it an attractive place for families to call home.

Think you're a great fit for this role? Become a candidate below.