John Couch

John was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and grew up as a member of the Center Street Church of Christ. His training for preaching began in his early childhood, preparing lessons for his congregation as well as the Lads to Leaders convention. In 2009 he enrolled at Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee, with plans to study Television Broadcasting with a minor in Bible. His next four years proved to be life-changing. Not only were those the years during which he decided to devote his life to ministry; they were also the years during which he met and fell in love with Karissa Knight. 

Karissa was from Tulare, California, and grew up as a member of the West Visalia Church of Christ. John fell for her immediately, though it took him several months to gather enough courage to ask her for a date. John and Karissa grew over the next four years, and their relationship blossomed into an engagement. 

After graduating in 2013, they married, and John immediately began his work in ministry as an intern at Karissa’s home church in California. He served there for four years before accepting the job at Newland Street Church of Christ in Garden Grove, California. 

He has worked with the same congregation ever since. During that time, John and Karissa have had four beautiful children: Luke, Charlotte, Kaleb, and Abigail. 

John was extremely excited when the possibility of merging two congregations presented itself, and believes that the SoCal Church will have many great years so long as they continue to heed God’s word and follow His Spirit.

As hobbies, John loves reading, writing, sketching, and painting. He also enjoys football, comic books, and videogames (when he’s not chasing around four kids). 

John especially loves studying the four gospel accounts, as well as 2 Peter 1:3-11.