Christian Job Corps Delivers Hope
Through life and career skills, CJC offers individuals the opportunity to reach their full potential.
CJC of Madison County
Our Mission: Equipping individuals with life and career skills through mentoring, education, and spiritual growth.
We provide intensive courses that include Bible study and computer classes, completely free of charge. Each student is assigned a mentor, and each mentor is committed to a one-on-one relationship to help build the student’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and skills essential to success in life and work.
Learn more about CJC, becoming a student, and how you can get involved to make a difference!
The History of CJC
Christian Job Corps
In 1994, the Women’s Missionary Union® (WMU), an organization with a rich history of missions and ministry, held a planning meeting to discuss the development of a program to address the needs of women in poverty. The inspiration for Christian Women’s Job Corps® (CWJC) came as a group of women visited ladies in the Appalachian region of the United States. They discovered that when women help women by mentoring them, both experience a life change. They felt this pattern could be replicated and expanded by a larger group of women helping women.
These events led to the birthing of CWJC, which now spans 200 sites over many US states. The National CWJC program was recognized by the White House in 1999 as a viable program for assisting women in transition from welfare to work.
In 2004 the first Christian Men’s Job Corps site opened in San Angelo, Texas to address similar needs of men.
CWJC of Madison County, Alabama, Inc., began officially in 1998, when four local women attended the first national training in Birmingham sponsored by the WMU of the Southern Baptist Convention. Many people from this county were involved in opening our local site, which started with one class serving nine students in September of 1998. CWJC of Madison County, Alabama, Inc., has been in continuous operation since that time, and since adding a men’s program, has changed its name to Christian Job Corps (CJC) of Madison County, Alabama, Inc.
From its beginning, CJC of Madison County has operated as a church and community model, incorporating Christian churches from throughout the county as well as community organizations and facilities. We are supported by a number of churches, as well as health, educational, government, and business organizations throughout the county. Our program is made possible by support from many individuals and groups throughout Madison County. CJC is dependent on and grateful for volunteers from these support groups. We hope to grow and expand our ministry and our legacy for years to come and always welcome new support in the form of donors, mentors, and community partners. We would love for you or your organization to become a part of our story!
Board of Directors
CJC of Madison County, Alabama, Inc., operates under the direction of a Board of Directors, consisting of church and community representatives.
- Jeanne Rizzardi, Chair
- Toney Massey, Vice-Chair
- Tanisha Smith, Secretary
- Beth Faulkner, Treasurer
- Beth Bice
- Denise Long
- Holly Manigan
- LaDonna McCann
- Brett Milde
- Gordon Porter
- Linda Readus
- Nick Rockhill
- Donna Rogers
- Anne Stone
- Xavier Thigpen
- Todd Westbrook
- Fred Whisnant
Staff Members
Christian Job Corps
Nancy Eckhardt
Executive Director
A native of Huntsville, Nancy graduated from Lee High School and studied accounting at UAH and the University of Texas at San Antonio. She started volunteering with CJC several years ago, which included mentoring, board membership, mentor training, and accounting. When the chance came to become recruitment director she jumped at it.
Nancy is a member of Asbury UMC in Madison and has been trained as a Stephen Ministry leader and Samaritan’s Purse disaster missions leader. She’s been active in missions both locally and internationally and has served in a variety of ministries. And while crochet and sewing are her favorite hobbies, her passion is her eight grandchildren.
Missy Logan
Development & Site Coordinator
Originally from Cherokee, Alabama, Missy has a bachelor’s degree in communications from The University of Alabama and a master’s degree in human resource development with a training and development concentration from The University of Tennessee. Missy moved to Huntsville 14 years ago with her husband and daughter. Since that time, she has primarily been a stay-at-home mom while also working as a travel agent and volunteering at her daughter’s schools.
Missy and her family are active members of Willowbrook Baptist Church (Huntsville campus) where she is a member of the welcome team. When not spending time with her family, Missy enjoys playing tennis, traveling, working as a ticket taker/usher for the Rocket City Trash Pandas during baseball season, and pulling for the Crimson Tide.
Debbie Looper
Site Coordinator, FBC
Debbie’s passion in life is helping women fulfill their God-given dreams by becoming the women of God that He created them to be. Originally from Waterford, Michigan, Debbie has taken somewhat of an unconventional and unique way of fulfilling her own God given journey. It is because of this she is qualified to in turn help, encourage and walk life with the women here at Christian Job Corps. She bases her approach off of Hebrews 3:13 which says “We ‘exhort’ or ‘encourage’ one another daily”, which is her heart’s desire. Along, with her husband David of 36 years they have been involved in Ministry together for over 20 years doing just that. They have a beautiful daughter Kalley and an awesome grandson Garion who both add blessings to their lives every day!
Jacqueline Takow
Recruitment Coordinator
Jacqueline is responsible for recruiting participants and mentors as well as managing the CJC Mentor Training Program. Originally from Cameroon, West Africa, Jacqueline and her family moved to Huntsville over eight years ago. With three children, Jacqueline and her husband stay busy with school activities and sporting events. Jacqueline also holds an Associate degree in Administrative Personnel Assistance and Secretariat Duties, a Higher Diploma in Administrative Management, Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource management, Masters degree in Psychology and is currently working on her PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She brings to this position; extensive administrative and human resources experience along with a passion for non-profit service.
Our Sponsors
Christian Job Corps is supported by a number of churches as well as health, educational, government, and business organizations throughout the county.
Corporate Sponsors
4M Research, Inc.
Adtran
Bentley Automotive Group
Cintel
Clear Channel, Huntsville, AL
Cook’s Pest Control
Corporate Selections
Crestwood Medical Center
Gayle Milton, Eagle Strategies
Hill Technical Solutions, Inc.
Huntsville Hospital
Industrial Properties of the South
Inline Lighting and Electrical
Investor’s Resource/RFG Advisory
Jason Landers/Kyle Findlay – Keel Point
Madison Baptist Association
Myles Associates, LLC
Parker Griffith Family Foundation
Penta Research Inc.
Pinnacle Behavioral Health
QED Analytics
Redstone Federal Credit Union
Renasant Bank
Servis First Bank
The Surgery Center of Huntsville
Truist
Van Valkenburg & Wilkinson
Wavelink, Inc
Whitesburg Animal Hospital
Woody Anderson Ford
Grant Donors
Asbury Thrift Store
Debley Foundation
DuMidi Women’s Club
Trideum Foundation
Wells Fargo
Pathways to Sustainability
Church Sponsors
Asbury Church Harvest
Asbury United Methodist Church
Church of the Nativity, Episcopal
CrossPointe Church
First Baptist Church of Huntsville
First Baptist Church of Meridianville
First Missionary Baptist Church
First United Methodist Church
Jackson Way Baptist Church
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Restoration Church
Trinity Baptist Church
Trinity United Methodist Church
Union Hill Primitive Baptist
Weatherly Heights Baptist Church
Whitesburg Baptist Church
Willowbrook Church
Affiliates
Chamber of Commerce Huntsville
Junior League of Huntsville
Wheels4Working
Women’s Missionary Union
