They attended Princeton Theological Seminary together, where they both received the Master of Divinity degree in 2005. She continued pursuing her call to ordained ministry, while Jake served as a full-time camp minister and youth minister at Crossroads Outdoor Ministries in New Jersey (director), Good Shephered Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania (Youth Minister), and one more time at Sugar Creek in Wisconsin (Program Director). He returned to academia at Luther Seminary in 2012, determined to expand the research and deepen theological thinking in camping ministry. He received his PhD in Practical Theology in 2016. During and following his studies, he has participated in numerous research projects, including the Confirmation Project, the Effective Camp Research Project, the Lutheran Campus Ministry Research Project, and the Camp2Congregation Project. He continues his work on scholarly research, education, and consulting. He has published numerous articles on camping ministry and ministry with young adults, and he is a contributing author to the book Cultivating Teen Faith. His newest book is Sacred Playgrounds: Christian Summer Camp in Theological Perspective. He has trained summer camp staff, presented to full-time camp ministers, and consulted with camp boards at more than thirty camps in a dozen states and many denominations. He resides in western Wisconsin with his wife Anna, who serves as pastor of an ELCA congregation, and their two boys, Elijah and Nathanael. In addition to spending time with his wonderful family, Jake enjoys running, gardening, and most outdoor recreational activities.