Joash Thomas - CV                                                                                                               

WORK EXPERIENCE:

International Justice Mission Canada                                                                                         (September ’21 – Present)

National Director, Partnerships

·       Leads IJM Canada’s growing Mobilization & Advocacy Team in building institutional partnerships with the Canadian Church and Government culminating in a growth of Church & Christian audience revenue from $250k / year to $1.4 million / year in three years.

·       Speaks at churches, conferences and artist partner tour engagements for IJM in Canada and internationally resulting in over 1000 new monthly donors and hundreds of new one time donors being added to IJM Canada’s donor file.

·       Serves on IJM Canada’s Executive Leadership Team and leads the vast majority of the organization’s new donor acquisition efforts by providing leadership to teams managing live fundraising events.

International Justice Mission – United States                                                                             (June ’17 – September ‘21)

Regional Mobilization Manager – Southeast

·       Led IJM’s US Advocacy & Mobilization Strategy across 9 southeastern states and Washington, DC

·       Managed and led 10 IJM Volunteer Teams (comprising of 100+ high capacity volunteer leaders) in mobilizing their cities to pray, give and advocate to fuel IJM’s work in the field

·       Built and managed IJM’s relationships with political grasstops influencers in Washington, DC

Patriot Public Affairs, LLC – Atlanta, GA                                                                                                   (April ’16 – June ’17)

Managing Partner & Founder

·       Served as Campaign Manager and General Consultant to multiple state, local and congressional campaign clients across Metro Atlanta, overseeing hundreds of thousands of campaign budget dollars

·       Lobbied on behalf of prominent 501 c (4) advocacy nonprofits at the Georgia State Capitol and provided legislative advisory services with federal elected officials

·       Acted as Communications Director / Spokesman on behalf of a nationally watched Congressional campaign with state, local and national media outlets in America’s “most expensive congressional race”

International Justice Mission – New Delhi, India                                                                                   (June ’15 – April ‘16)

Government Relations & Communications Intern

·       Advised IJM India’s Director of National Advocacy on advocacy campaigns and strategic communications around the issues of bonded labor and labor trafficking

·       Collected input and developed strategic frameworks for the team around stakeholder messaging and engagement

·       Led strategy for all digital / social media platforms and managed national-level social media campaigns by managing a team of 12 national graduate student interns

Rep. Timothy Barr – Atlanta GA                                                                                                                 (April ’14 – April ’15)

Chief of Staff, Georgia House of Representatives

·       Led legislative staff and supervised them in conducting policy research, constituent services and legislative communications during legislative session

·       Acted as the Representative's chief advisor on legislative affairs, media relations and constituent services

·       Loaned out to Governor Nathan Deal’s successful re-election Campaign to draft speeches and press communiques for the Governor’s campaign engagements

The Coca-Cola Company – Washington, D.C.                                                                                      (June ’14 – August ’14)

Federal / Diplomatic Government Relations Associate

·       Represented The Coca-Cola Company at meetings with congressional offices, contract lobbyists, Obama administration officials and trade associations

·       Suggested revisions to the Company’s Digital Crisis Communications Toolkit and presented the same to The Coca-Cola Company’s Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer

Rep. Michael Caldwell & Rep. Scot Turner – Atlanta GA                                                                    (Feb ’13 – March ’14)
Legislative Aide, Georgia House of Representatives

·       Advised the state representatives on policy and constituent relations

·       Conducted policy research and compiled summaries, briefing memos and reports for the representatives to advise their votes / co-sponsorships

EDUCATION:

Dallas Theological Seminary                                                                                                                                    Class of 2025

Master of Christian Leadership & Master of Christian Studies

Current GPA – 3.70 / 4.00

The George Washington University                                                                                                                       Class of 2017

Master of Professional Studies in Political Management; Advocacy & Electoral Politics

GPA – 3.95 / 4.00; Summa Cum Laude

Georgia State University                                                                                                                                          Class of 2015

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science – International Affairs; Minor in Public Policy

GPA - 3.82 / 4.00; Magna Cum Laude, Departmental Distinction

FOREIGN LANGUAGES: Fluent in English, Hindi & Marathi; basic reading proficiency in French, Greek, & Russian

MINISTRY RESUME

International Justice Mission Canada                                                                                         (September ’21 – Present)

National Director, Partnerships

·       Leads IJM Canada’s church partnerships team in mobilizing the Canadian Church to pray, give and advocate in partnership with IJM’s programmatic teams globally

·       Speaks at churches, conferences and sponsored worship tour engagements for IJM in Canada, USA, and Europe, resulting in over 1000 new monthly donors and hundreds of new one time donors being added to IJM’s donor file annually globally.

·       Serves on IJM Canada’s Executive Leadership Team and leads IJM Canada’s spiritual formation and spiritual care / nurture efforts.

International Justice Mission – United States                                                                             (June ’17 – September ‘21)

Regional Mobilization Manager – Southeast

·       Led IJM’s US Advocacy & Mobilization Strategy across 9 southeastern states and Washington, DC.

·       Managed and led 10 IJM Volunteer Teams (comprising of 100+ high capacity volunteer leaders) in mobilizing their cities to pray, give and advocate to fuel IJM’s work in the field.

·       Led 100+ volunteer leaders organized in 6-8 city teams in hosting annual, ecumenical prayer gatherings in their cities across the US Southeast including Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Charleston, and Orlando.

Philosophy for ministry: Jesus-centered leadership in line with the Nazareth Manifesto (Luke 4:18) that embodies Christ’s self-sacrificing love (Philippians 2).

Preparation for ministry: Small group leader with the Union of Evangelical Students in India (Mumbai), InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Atlanta), and Passion City Church (Washington, DC); Church Planting Intern at Parkside Church Atlanta; Ordination as Deacon in the Diocese of St. Anthony (in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches).

Ministry Passions: Preaching / Teaching, Executive Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Justice, Writing, Fundraising, etc.