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Rev. Joan Stewart
The Rev. Joan Stewart is a 2003 graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. Joan has been involved with WV Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps since 2003, and has been the Executive Director since 2006.
Born in WV, she spent most of her adult life in NC (Fayetteville and Wilmington) Note: she swore to never return to WV. A mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico with St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington changed her life. She became involved in mission and mission coordinating, and soon realized that her life as a banker was not what she wanted to be. Having sung the song “Here I Am Lord” one too many times, she finally gave in and went to seminary. Her plans to get a Masters in Christian Education evolved into adding a Masters in Divinity. Despite telling God she had no plans to preach or be the pastor of a church, Joan soon found herself called to West Virginia as a pastor. So much for telling God what you will not do! “Here I Am Lord” is a dangerous song.
Mission was her heart’s calling and she became involved with WVMAW in 2004. She became Executive Director in 2006.
Joan and her husband Tim, a Project Manager for WVMAW since 2004, live in Nettie, WV on a small farm with a cat, dogs, and chickens. Joan is also a full-time pastor of Summersville Presbyterian Church.
"Everything I have been is who I am-that is what God has used. I always say that we GET to do this! It still takes my breath to ponder the promise from Joel: God said I will repay you for the years the locust has eaten….”
Peyton Ballard, MS, SHRM-CP
Background
Peyton Ballard joins WV MAW to train to become the organization’s next executive director. Peyton has forged a career in entrepreneurship, business consulting, and capital acquisition. He's a double graduate of Marshall University and currently owns and operates his own consulting company, Ballard Consulting Group.
“When the opportunity to serve WVMAW came to my attention, I knew it was God calling me to use some of the grit and experience he’d given me through my career to participate in this work. This ministry aims to bring those who come from different cities, states, or even countries to live into Jesus’ example of serving the less fortunate in their time of need. While backgrounds and experience vary from work camp to work camp, the crews that come to West Virginia are the hands and feet of the gospel.”
Though a certified workaholic, Peyton enjoys his time away from work by spending time with his growing number of nieces and nephews, his church, and his friends. An avid hiker, you’ll often find him somewhere lost in West Virginia’s mountains - no matter the weather. Still a twenty-something, he is lovingly referred to as ‘Pawpaw Peyton’ by those who know him best. He loves to get to know people on a ‘soul-level’ and values his relationships above all else.
“I really believe that God’s plan for our lives often plays out right in front of our faces. Sometimes we don’t see that all the struggles, the joys, and the uncertainties are all brought together to stir us into loving God deeper than we ever thought we could.”