Before being called into the ministry, Joe was employed with a large chemical firm for seventeen years as Supervisor of the Analytical Laboratory and then as a manufacturing Production Supervisor.

  In 1972, after 12 years of being involved in various lay activities, Joe began conducting youth revivals and other evangelical crusades.

  In 1973 this brought him in contact with Maranatha Christian Church. In 1974, he became associated with this ministry to establish churches that would minister to university campuses around the world. And in 1975 he became VP and Dean of their Leadership Training School.