Our Director
It's a new year with a new leader at Ministries of Jesus! At the beginning of 2023, Dr. Joe Pierce took the reins as the fourth Executive Director in the 21 year history of the ministry. God made it clear to the Board of Directors, who voted unanimously at the September board meeting that Dr. Pierce is the right leader for MOJ at this pivotal time. With the most recent fundraising campaign and building expansion now complete, Ministries of Jesus is beginning a new chapter and is poised to reach more individuals than ever who need help and hope through the ministry services that MOJ makes available to heal the whole person.
Looking back through is journal and recalling prayer conversations with the Lord, Joe shared how God's hand was apparent in leading him to this leadership role at MOJ. He had been praying and looking for God's will for his future plans. A friend recommended a book called Halftime by Bob Buford, which resonated deep within. Buford re-tells his own journey navigating through the second half of a very successful career then pivoting into a second career that allowed him to contribute to the Kingdom and its work in new, yet significant ways.
Having been in public education for 40 years of his career, Joe had wild success winning many awards, accolades, and climbing the ladder, but he no longer needed or longed for more achievements. Halftime left him questioning how he could use his God-given abilities and talents in new ways for the Kingdom. Praying and seeking, God began to answer. First, God showed Joe this would be his last year in education. Next, God impressed upon him to be prepared to act when the time was right. Eager, with two clear words from the Lord, Joe continued praying to discover how God's plans would unfold.
Out of a sudden tragedy last summer, Joe called Kim Swyden at Ministries of Jesus for help. Not long after, Joe asked Kim if they could meet for coffee. At that time, there was no conversation about his interest in the Executive Director job opening at Ministries of Jesus. Joe says, "It wasn't clicking that this is what I would be doing in the future!" The following Sunday while Joe and his wife, Joy, were volunteering in the Hillside Kids department at HHBC, a dear friend and ministry leader who is a strong prayer warrior said to Joe, "You should apply for the opening to lead Ministries of Jesus." Joe discounted it, but she persisted and pulled up the job description on her phone and read aloud the whole job description to them.
After further discussion with his wife, additional confirmations continued to emerge along the way. Joe continued praying and reached out to Kim once again to explore and gauge his interest. From there, God moved fast - and Joe was prepared to act fast, just as the Lord prompted him. At the same time, he also began what would become his last semester as a school district administrator. It was only 3 weeks from the first stirring and inquiry to a job offer from the board. Joe says, "I was just being obedient and took a leap of faith." In that obedience, God showed himself faithful and ordered every step that led Joe to this new chapter in which he prays he can be used by God in a new, yet significant, way to impact the Kingdom.
Joe spent the last few months of 2022 learning from his predecessor and digging into the nuts, bolts, and mechanics of MOJ. He has read countless documents, met with board members and talked to all the staff. Most of all, he has continued to ask God for wisdom beyond his ability and God has been faithful in answering. Joe is ready to get started with the fresh vision God has given him, while still keeping the gospel at the heart of the ministry. Joe says his prayer now, "is to be able to take the experiences and leadership abilities I learned over the course of my career in education and repupose them to further the work of the Kingdom at Ministries of Jesus."
Joe has been married for 31 years to his wife, Joy, a registered nurse. They reside in Edmond and are long-time members of Henderson Hills Baptist Church. They have a daughter, Clara, at home who is a junior at Edmond Memorial High School. Their son, Harrison, is a coach and teacher at Crossings Christian School. The Pierces welcomed a new daughter to their family last summer when Harrison married Riley (Rohrer) Pierce, a teacher at Oklahoma Christian School.
Having been in public education for 40 years of his career, Joe had wild success winning many awards, accolades, and climbing the ladder, but he no longer needed or longed for more achievements. Halftime left him questioning how he could use his God-given abilities and talents in new ways for the Kingdom. Praying and seeking, God began to answer. First, God showed Joe this would be his last year in education. Next, God impressed upon him to be prepared to act when the time was right. Eager, with two clear words from the Lord, Joe continued praying to discover how God's plans would unfold.
Out of a sudden tragedy last summer, Joe called Kim Swyden at Ministries of Jesus for help. Not long after, Joe asked Kim if they could meet for coffee. At that time, there was no conversation about his interest in the Executive Director job opening at Ministries of Jesus. Joe says, "It wasn't clicking that this is what I would be doing in the future!" The following Sunday while Joe and his wife, Joy, were volunteering in the Hillside Kids department at HHBC, a dear friend and ministry leader who is a strong prayer warrior said to Joe, "You should apply for the opening to lead Ministries of Jesus." Joe discounted it, but she persisted and pulled up the job description on her phone and read aloud the whole job description to them.
After further discussion with his wife, additional confirmations continued to emerge along the way. Joe continued praying and reached out to Kim once again to explore and gauge his interest. From there, God moved fast - and Joe was prepared to act fast, just as the Lord prompted him. At the same time, he also began what would become his last semester as a school district administrator. It was only 3 weeks from the first stirring and inquiry to a job offer from the board. Joe says, "I was just being obedient and took a leap of faith." In that obedience, God showed himself faithful and ordered every step that led Joe to this new chapter in which he prays he can be used by God in a new, yet significant, way to impact the Kingdom.
Joe spent the last few months of 2022 learning from his predecessor and digging into the nuts, bolts, and mechanics of MOJ. He has read countless documents, met with board members and talked to all the staff. Most of all, he has continued to ask God for wisdom beyond his ability and God has been faithful in answering. Joe is ready to get started with the fresh vision God has given him, while still keeping the gospel at the heart of the ministry. Joe says his prayer now, "is to be able to take the experiences and leadership abilities I learned over the course of my career in education and repupose them to further the work of the Kingdom at Ministries of Jesus."
Joe has been married for 31 years to his wife, Joy, a registered nurse. They reside in Edmond and are long-time members of Henderson Hills Baptist Church. They have a daughter, Clara, at home who is a junior at Edmond Memorial High School. Their son, Harrison, is a coach and teacher at Crossings Christian School. The Pierces welcomed a new daughter to their family last summer when Harrison married Riley (Rohrer) Pierce, a teacher at Oklahoma Christian School.