Jess grew up in a Christian school and knows the value of a Christ-centered education and being surrounded by adults who point children to the Father. This passion led her to Sacred Journey Academy. Her experience includes several years as an IT recruiter, 13 years of property management, over 20 years as a wife, mom of six, and homemaker, three years homeschooling her youngest, ten years co-leading a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group, and leading numerous women’s Bible studies.

After graduating from a Christian school in Kansas City, she completed YWAM’s Discipleship Training Program in Colorado and spent several months in ministry in Mauritania, Africa. She later studied early childhood education and computer science at Johnson County Technical College. Jess and her family attend River of Life Church where she serves on the prayer team, helps in the nursery, assists with weekly cleaning, and has also served as a Life Group leader with her husband.

She and her husband, Aaron, have six children: Kate (25, married to Ryan, with a baby on the way), Kelly (24, married to Brady, with daughters Kirby (3) and Lindy (1)), Adrian (21), Jay (20), Adam (18), and Ali (11). Outside of ministry and family, she enjoys sports—a love she shared with her three older brothers—and has been a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan since childhood.