The Executive Director position of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks has some striking characteristics:

The Executive Director role is clearly a leadership position. The Executive Director will embody the ACMNP vision to all audiences, purposely guide ACMNP into the future, make crucial decisions in the face of challenging circumstances, and will conscientiously serve others by providing leadership where it is needed.

The size of this organization requires that the Executive Director be a generalist in their gifting and “hands on” in their work. The “general practitioner” nature of this role can be compared to the rural GP (General Practice) doctor who manages the business side of a medical practice, hires the staff, stays current in skills and knowledge, and provides medical care ranging from delivering babies to managing the medication issues of the elderly. Strong candidates for the ACMNP Executive Director will need to thrive in an environment where they will be responsible for all facets of the ministry and be able to provide direction to and mentoring of all the ACMNP staff.

The Executive Director needs to be highly relational, a good study of people, and able to discern and navigate thoughtfully the changing political, theological, and culture currents where the ACMNP operates. A Christian Ministry in the National Parks accomplishes its specific calling by means of long-term partnerships with government agencies, church denominations, business people with concessionaire contracts, foundations, individual donors, and local groups of volunteers. With God's help, the Executive Director has to strive to “become all things to all people … for the sake of the gospel,” without compromising the gospel or the specific mission of ACMNP.

And in a real sense, the Executive Director is the spiritual shepherd of ACMNP's flocks. These flocks include the people who attend the seasonal ACMNP worship services, ACMNP's office and park staff, and even a few churches at the parks who are formally and primarily affiliated with ACMNP. As such, the Executive Director must be a person who loves God and his Word deeply, follows Jesus faithfully, and is sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They must be able to feed the movement with biblical truth and teaching, protect the movement's right to minister in the parks, and be present at the right times and places to comfort and lead.

In all these things, the Executive Director must thoroughly enjoy our country's national parks, be committed to the good stewardship and sustainability of these natural resources, and have a great affection for the young students and seminarians who grow in their faith, character, and leadership while serving in the parks with ACMNP.