About Evangelical Seminary

“I’ve been given the ministry of reconciliation – helping people to be reconciled to God, to others, and to themselves, as well as to encourage the brokenhearted and help free those who are bound. At Evangelical it’s an honor to teach and equip others who are also called to this same ministry.”

Joy came to Evangelical in 2003 from Crown College where she served as associate professor of psychology and directed the psychology program. Joy began ministry with the Christian & Missionary Alliance as a youth pastor in Chatham, NJ in 1979. She also served with the C&MA as a missionary to Gabon, Africa for 11 years. Upon returning to the United States, Joy received training as a psychotherapist, then became licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapist and worked in several counseling/mental health agencies prior to teaching. Joy served as the clinical director for the counseling centers of the Marriage & Family Therapy program at Evangelical until 2009. She assumed the leadership position of this program in 2008. One of her passions is helping hurting missionaries and their families, which she does as opportunities come her way. To this end, Joy spent half of her sabbatical (July – October 2009) working at Tumaini Counseling Center in Nairobi, Kenya, ministering to and counseling missionaries as a short-term missionary with African Inland Mission. She enjoys speaking in churches and for groups as opportunities come her way, and is actively involved in her local church, where she is part of the worship ministries team, and heads up the counseling ministry there. Joy is also invigorated by teaching and training those who feel called to minister to people who are hurting and broken. She is a clinical member and an approved supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Joy is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Joy is a contributing author to the book, Missionary Voices, edited by H.R. Cowles, K.N. Foster & D.P. Jones (CPI, 1996). She coauthored: (2002) Alternative methodologies in research literature review: Links between clinical work and MFT effectiveness, The American Journal of Family Therapy, 30, 339-371, and wrote: (2006) Yearnings of the soul, Evangelical Journal, 24, 68-76.

“Spiritual formation” and “soul care” became a priority in Joy’s life a number of years ago. She enjoys reading books that “spur her on” to greater spiritual contemplation and experience. Joy enjoys music, sports, kayaking, biking, travel, flower gardens, reading, and especially spending time with her friends, since she believes that relationships are what is most important in life.