I came to faith in Christ as a young man and was immediately drawn to youth ministry. I began serving at a local church in Mobile as a youth leader and eventually served in children’s ministry and Sunday school settings as well. After some time I began serving as a youth pastor at a small church plant while working at a local credit union during the week.

Jenn surrendered to Christ while she was still in middle school and served in several ministries after graduation. She led Baptist campus ministries at the college she attended, worked as a Barefoot Believer in the Orange Beach area, led kids’ camps at RV parks and hosted at an inner-city after-school program among other ministries. She also served in several mission trips in Europe and Central America, including living in Portugal for six months where she ministered to a local children’s home.

Jenn and I met in late 2013 through sharing the common interests of youth ministry and missions. Within a year we were planning our wedding and serving together at the same church in Baldwin County, where she oversaw all youth and children’s ministries from nursery through college and career. Together we led the youth group, as well as taught college and career Sunday school, served in the nursery and led children’s church weekly.

The year after we were married we were blessed to welcome our little boy Luke into the world and began to transition into local teen girls’ house parent ministry. We continued for several months to serve the local church while beginning our journey as house parents.

Since then we have worked in children’s home ministry for four years with most of our experience being with teenage girls.

We love to explore the Word of God, cook, lead educational and nature outings, do projects and crafts and play board games with the girls. We love the beautiful Jasper area and are settling into the foothill region well. We’re thankful for the supportive staff that God has placed us in and are super excited for the chance to do life with the young ladies at The Joy House!

We believe that the call in house parenting is to model the basic Biblical principals as described in Micah 6:8, to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Our hope is to see young ladies’ lives transformed by the Gospel and families made new through the mercies of God.