Meet Religious Freedom Coalition (Heart for the Persecuted Church)

Since its inception in 1982, the Religious Freedom Coalition has remained steadfast in providing humanitarian relief and enduring care for the persecuted church. The ministry was pioneered by William J. Murray, whose unique journey of faith followed the historic 1963 Supreme Court decision involving his mother removing prayer from school. Today, that personal legacy of transformation continues to drive the organization's mission. From its early mission work in Eastern Europe to its current reach into the most volatile regions of Africa and the Middle East, RFC exists to champion those suffering for their beliefs. Today, the organization continues to expand its global impact through targeted, hands-on relief. Signature initiatives include supporting an orphanage in Nigeria, providing essential hygiene supplies and diapers for vulnerable children and seniors, and delivering Christmas hope to displaced refugee families.

About the Executive Director

The Executive Director role is a unique succession opportunity to lead an established, founder-led ministry into its next chapter. Operating under a "President-Elect" transition model, this position is structured to ensure absolute continuity and operational alignment while honoring four decades of impact.

Initially, the candidate will serve as Executive Director to master RFC’s operations, international programs, and development engine. Following a structured onboarding and overlap phase, the leader will assume the role of President/CEO. To preserve multi-generational donor trust, founding President Bill Murray will step back gradually, providing direct mentorship and co-signing key communications to warmly introduce his successor to longtime donors and supporters. 

The ideal leader will bridge honored traditions with modern growth by focusing on three key priorities:

• Narrative & Direct Marketing: Serve as "Author-in-Chief," mastering and producing RFC’s high-touch direct mail strategy—including 13 newsletters and 8 appeal campaigns annually.
• Digital Expansion: Lead the ministry’s digital evolution by introducing modern online donor acquisition tactics and a dynamic social media presence.
• Governance & Scale: Expand the ministry’s reach and overall giving while partnering with the Board of Directors to elevate its capacity as a proactive, resource-generating body.

The Executive Director's responsibilities include:

• Strategic Operations: Formulate and execute operational plans that seamlessly align international field activities with the core mission and values of the Religious Freedom Coalition.
• Team Leadership: Guide the Fredericksburg-based staff (6 team members), fostering a high-performance culture rooted in mission alignment and accountability.
• Narrative-Driven Fundraising: Master and execute RFC’s flagship donor communications strategy, personally authoring 13 direct-mail newsletters and 8 fundraising appeals each year.
• Digital Expansion: Architect and lead a comprehensive digital strategy to drive revenue diversification through online donor acquisition and modern social media engagement.
• International Program Management: Vet and manage mission partnerships across high-risk regions in the Middle East and Nigeria, ensuring rigorous fiscal accountability, program efficacy, and field safety.
• Field Reporting & Travel: Conduct on-the-ground field visits to high-security operational zones and developing nations to assess project impact firsthand and capture compelling, donor-ready storytelling.
• Board Development: Strategically recruit and engage members of the Board of Directors, transitioning the board from an advisory posture to an active, resource-generating body capable of scaling ministry impact.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Oversee annual budgeting and financial operations with uncompromising stewardship, ensuring total compliance, transparency, and alignment with donor intent.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Executive Director:

Education and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree in Theology, International Relations, or Non-Profit Management is highly preferred.
• 5–10 years of senior leadership experience (e.g., Missions Pastor, NGO Director, or International Development Executive).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Signature Copywriting: A proven ability to write compelling, high-volume narrative content that drives donor response.
• Financial & Growth Literacy: The ability to manage budgets and apply a "businessman" mindset to scale a non-profit toward growth.
• Digital Aptitude: A strategic understanding of how to translate traditional success into modern online and social media donor acquisition.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Leadership Mindset: A commitment to long-term legacy leadership rather than a short-term career stop.
• High Cultural Intelligence: The acuity to navigate the geopolitical and socio-economic complexities of volatile regions in the Middle East and Africa.
• Passion for the Persecuted: A deep, demonstrable love for advocating for displaced and persecuted Christian families.

What it's like to live in Fredericksburg, VA

Fredericksburg offers a strategic lifestyle that balances the professional prestige of the Washington, D.C. region with the charm of a historic river town. Residents enjoy a walkable downtown, local chef-driven restaurants, and a lower cost of living than the capital. For the frequent traveler, Fredericksburg provides easy access to major hubs like Dulles (IAD) and Richmond International (RIC).

The office culture at RFC is "relaxed but mission-focused"—a tight-knit, ethnically diverse family environment where doors are always open. To balance the high intensity of international mission work, the team enjoys a permanent Monday work-from-home policy, serving as a strategic "recharge" period. The staff also gathers for communal team lunches every Tuesday and Friday to foster the relational trust necessary to lead a global humanitarian effort.