Rev Joel Allen Hess is the son of Dennis and Leslie Hess. He was born October 27, 1969 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was baptised at Bethel Lutheran Church, Howard City, Michigan. There, he was raised by his parents in the Christian Faith. In 1992 he graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and German. From 1993 to 1997 he worked for Right to Life of Michigan. Pastor Hess, In May of 2001, received his Masters of Divinty from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and has recently begun his work on a Masters of Sacred Theology. He spent his vicarage year at Faith Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Indiana under Pastor Lawrence Mitchell. On May 18, 1996 Joel married the former Julie Lynn Kosmatka of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They have been blessed with two children.