The Rev. John Crimmins was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a youngster he enjoyed hiking and camping in the hills of that area and swimming and skiing in the lakes. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In the same year he married his wife, Debra. Together they attended The Graduate School of Bible and Missions at Columbia Bible College for one year.

Upon completion of the certificate program there, John and Debbie returned to Chattanooga where John worked for several years with his father in the family's business. In 1977 John and Debbie moved to Virginia where John went to work for Higgerson-Buchanan Construction Company. There he worked as a surveyor helping the company build highways and bridges for the Virginia Department of Transportation and earthworks projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Debbie became an insurance agent and also volunteered as a Child Evangelism Fellowship leader.

In 1981, John and Debbie moved to Chicago where he entered seminary at Trinity Divinity School. He graduated in 1984 with the Master of Divinity degree. During their seminary years Debbie and John celebrated the birth of their son, John IV. Since finishing seminary John has served churches in Michigan and Florida. In April of 2000 he accepted the call of Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church to serve as their pastor. John, Debbie, and John IV now reside in Houston, Texas.