While Ken was growing up surrounded by Florida orange groves, Kathie was growing up in Western New York dairy country. Even so, the Lord was preparing both their hearts for overseas missionary service together. At the age of nine, Ken made a commitment to serve Jesus in Africa. At the same time, Kathie was challenged by missionaries who frequently visited her home.
As teens and college students, both spent time overseas. They saw the needs on those fields, and the Lord continued to keep their hearts tender toward Him and His work. The Lord led Kathie to Florida for her first full-time teaching position, and Ken and Kathie met on her first Sunday evening in Sebring.
In 2007 the doors opened for them to serve one year in Niger. The Lord gave them a love for the African people and the ministries there. They saw office workers using their expertise, allowing other missionaries to stay at their posts, as well as MK school teachers evangelizing the lost and discipling the next generation of missionaries. God impacted their hearts and gave them a desire to be used in reaching people for Christ while in Niger as teacher and accountant.