Rev. Joey Essex grew up in West Virginia where he met Crystal as a child. They married in 2011, and in 2016, felt God leading them to Fairbanks, Alaska. The Essex's served in ministry in Fairbanks for 7 years before feeling the call to Sitka.

They enjoy the outdoors with activities like hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, cross country skiing, riding ATVs in the bush, and capturing their adventures with photography.