We grew up in vastly different cultural settings - Dan in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Ann in Vancouver BC. Our shared story began in the summer of '87, when we met each other on a missions trip to Mexico. In January, 1989 we married, and shortly thereafter, we moved to the Netherlands to continue missionary work under a large international Missions agency. 

In the early 90's Dan split his time between seminary studies and working with a new international church plant just outside Amsterdam.  During that period, we were blessed with two lovely daughters, and both of us began working with a church planting organization called Communitas International (formerly Christian Associates International).  Under this Mission and with Ann's help, Dan eventually led a team to plant an international church in The Hague (crossroadschurch.nl), which he then pastored for 7 years.  During that season, Ann took on the role of Human Resources Director on Communitas' Europe Team, an oversight body for all Communitas' projects in Europe. Dan eventually joined this Europe Team as well, where both he and Ann worked with other experienced pioneers to recruit, train and develop church planters in major urban areas across Europe.  

In 2006, after nearly 18 years of living and ministering in Europe, we relocated our family to Portland, OR.  As we re-engaged North American culture, we found our experience in post-Christian Europe to be highly applicable to the trajectory of the church in both the US and Canada.  In our ongoing work with various mainline denominations, "exvangelicals," and progressive-evangelical groups (including Communitas), we continue to focus our attention on recruiting, assessing, equipping and supporting missional leaders and church starters.