JD was called in 2010 to serve as an associate pastor at Countryside Baptist Church in Olathe, KS. He served in various capacities at Countryside, learned from the other pastors there, and prepared for church planting. In 2014 Countryside sent JD and his family to Lawrence along with a committed team of members to begin laying the groundwork for a new church. They began formally meeting as a church in January of 2015, and in January of 2017 Redemption Hill was officially released to operate as an independent congregation.

JD has a bachelor's degree in biblical languages and is currently working on a graduate degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. JD has been married to his wife Sara since 2005. They love being parents to James, Grace, Olivia and Elijah.