Jeff was born and raised in NE Ohio, just outside of the rubber capitol of the world, Akron.  Jo was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA.  They met in a tiny college in NE North Carolina, began dating in their 2nd semester and concluded their courtship with graduation from college on a Saturday, May 10th and marriage on Sunday, May 11.  Jeff never wanted to become a preacher, and Bible College was to be a one year event.  But God had other plans. Jo, however, had wanted to be a preacher's wife since age 9. 

    They were blessed with a son, Ben in 1981, and a daughter Suzanne in 1984.  The family has lived in 11 different homes, while serving with 9 churches, over the past 35 years, in North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Kansas has been home since August of 2000.  Jeff served in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC and then completed the MDiv degree in 1992 at Ashland Theo Seminary, in Ohio.  Jo has worked in data entry in construction, payroll for a factory, as a Middle School Treasurer, at a credit union and in the finance department at St. Catherine Hospital.  They filled the empty nest with 3 Scottish Terriers and have been blessed with a grandson, Camden Alan Hamilton, whose NC accent is thicker than his shock of blonde hair