Janna grew up in Southeastern Oklahoma. Her dad owns a rock business and also raises Brahma bulls.
Janna attended a Methodist church. When her cousin was killed in a car accident at age 16 (same age as Janna was) she decided to take her faith more seriously. She and her mother even convinced a Methodist minister to baptize them by immersion in a creek!
She went on to attend East Central Univeristy in Ada, Oklahoma.
After that she taught high school for a couple of years.
She then attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and earned her Masters degree in Communication.
Janna then moved to Norman to work on her doctorate in Communication. It was then that she was invited by a fellow graduate student to our church.
She was a little creeped out when realized that the pastor wanted to date her. However, they began dating and were married a year later on June 5, 1993.
For years Janna had a goal of teaching at the university level. Once she received her PHD however, she instead went to work at the church. She helped Russ with his speaking skills, she started a small group ministry that eventually had over 500 people in groups and she served on our drama team.
Then Janna was asked to teach at the University of Oklahoma, where she has been for the past ten years. She teaches in the Human Relations and Women's Studies Departments.
Being a huge football and basketball fan, over the years she has enjoyed having many athletes in her classes - including Courtney and Ashley Paris, Landry Jones, Gerald McCoy, Ryan Broyles, Sterling Shepherd and Buddy Heild.
Currently, Janna is heading up the Children's Ministry at The Seeker Church, proving once and for all that she will do anything for the Kingdom!
These days she enjoys speaking at the church, teaching at OU and being the mom of Michael (18), Megan (16) and Matthew (11).
