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.
- Toney Massey, Chair
- Donna Rogers, Vice-Chair
- Tanisha Smith, Secretary
- Beth Faulkner, Treasurer
- Beth Bice
- Denise Long
- Holly Manigan
- LaDonna McCann
- Brett Milde
- Gordon Porter
- Linda Readus
- Nick Rockhill
- Jeanne Rizzardi
- 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
Site Coordinator, Gurley
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.
Keith Williams
Coordinator of the Men's Site, West Huntsville Baptist Church
Originally from Decatur, Alabama, Keith has a bachelor’s degree from the North Carolina College of Theology, and a Masters in Biblical Studies from the same Institution.
Keith brings a plethora of life experiences that help men in the transformation process, including teaching men how to discover their purpose and how to create a vision for their lives through his own transformative curriculum entitled “The Metamorphis Curriculum” which has three main instructional stages for mind redirection. Strategies include, the realities of life, the will for life and a changed mindset to achieve life. As men learn and experience this curriculum, the anticipated results are that they live a transformed life characterized by empathy, active listening, strong communication skills, resilience and adaptation, and goal setting.
Keith has taught bible study in Morgan County Jail for 18 years, and is currently teaching adult fatherhood and co-parenting classes for the City of Decatur. He has been a foster parent for Morgan County for ten years. An Alabama Mentors Agent, Associate Pastor for 22 years. He brings to this position a heart full of love and determination to help men attain their full God-given potential.
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.
