Jarvis Wipf grew up in a Christian home in South Dakota. Accepting Christ at an early age, church, Sunday School, AWANA, and Bible camp were a big part of his growing up years. He graduated from a Christian high school and attended a Christian college for a year before transferring to Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

At NSU he was heavily involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) serving as a student leader. Jarvis met his wife Crystal at NSU, and they were married in 2001. Jarvis graduated with a degree in social science and secondary education in 2002, after which he and Crystal served on staff with IVCF for three years at NSU.

In 2005, Jarvis chose to pursue a Masters of Divinity degree at The Master’s Seminary in California. After coming back to South Dakota, he taught and coached at a Christian school in Aberdeen for two years. Since then, he has worked in agriculture industry, as well as continuing to be involved in the ministry of his local church. As a life-long South Dakotan, he has a heart for the leaders of the state.

Jarvis and Crystal have four children and enjoy the rural life and outdoors of South Dakota.