John was born in Dallas, grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and has lived in Birmingham since 2005. He received an undergraduate degree from The University of Alabama and earned his Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School; he is also a licensed and ordained minister and holds certifications specializing in addiction recovery and mental health. Before founding Unbound Grace, John was a minister in Birmingham at a local church for 11 years.

Unbound Grace was founded out of John’s struggle with alcohol and substance abuse. Unbound Grace develops relationships with individuals, families, and ministries that are trying to make sense of the suffering and pain created by addiction, with the goal of helping all to experience grace, healing, and restoration. Its primary purpose is to help individuals find hope in the wilderness of addiction through counseling, discipleship, and community. Their niche focus is recovery in the context of real life through relationships and the Word of God. 

John and his wife, Heidi, have been members of Faith since 2017. They have two daughters: Elizabeth Ann (7/2013) and Kate (3/2020), and a dog named Bear.