JRC’s history includes a life-transforming story of founder and president, Pat Thompson. Pat’s childhood trauma of domestic abuse by an alcoholic father includes many of the same problems that women face today who are in abusive relationships and living in poverty. Her personal story turned very tragic when a domestic incident resulted in her brother murdering her mother in 1990. At the tragic loss of her mother and brother, she felt like Humpty Dumpty who shattered into a hundred pieces with no one to put her back together again. By God’s grace and a spiritual journey of healing through a personal relationship with Christ, Pat emerged from that tragedy. With a dream in her heart to build a safe haven for abandoned women and their children, she created the Joshua Resource Center in 2004.

As a former Business Systems Analyst she brings many years of business experience as well as creative and administrative talents to the Center. As an ordained World Ministry Fellowship minister, Pat serves abandoned women and children with much faith and compassion.

Pat has completed her third year of non-profit management training and technical assistance through the Knoxville Leadership Foundation’s Center for Communities project. Knoxville was one of only four cities to be provided a grant from the government to provide mentoring and technical assistance to faith-based organizations. Joshua Resource Center was one of twenty organizations selected and served through this unique opportunity.

Accepting women of all religious faiths, JRC's New Beginnings Program served its first client in August 2004 and is now celebrating four years of service and helping over 140 women and their families!

JRC is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of directors located in Maryville, TN. The board has over 20 years of non-profit management experience and combined with its advisory board, extensive business management experience. JRC is staffed by Executive Director, Emily Hyden, and Program Director, Kathy Kagley, 20 Volunteer mentors and instructors who dedicate hundreds of combined hours annually.

Joshua Resource Center 2008 Board Members

Pat Thompson, President
Jennifer Moore, Secretary
Phyllis Hood, Vice President
Bobbie Carpenter, Treasurer
Judy Rice, Program Advisor and Community Liason
Kelly Sterling, Community Liason
Phyllis Hood
Lee Snider
Susie Bledsoe
Mary Baker
Christine Bailey

JRC is proud to be a part of the national CWJC(R) organization, which has been serving women of all faiths for over 10 years.

Organizations providing on-going consultation:  Knoxville Leadership Foundation, Knoxville, TN and Richard Howard, President, The Foundations Company, Jacksonville, FL.

P. Cooper
 She left a 13 year marriage that was very abusive. Being a mother of one handicapped adult daughter, they both lived through horrible circumstances during her marriage. However, one morning in Jan. 2005, she picked up a paper and called JRC. She was ready to learn how to get out of that relationship and begin a better life for herself and her daughter. She now speaks to the public about domestic violence and stresses the importance of women getting out of abusive relationships.