Tom grew up in Texas and earned a degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, a ThM degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Texas.

Tom and Iris have been married almost 25 years and have two sons, Lewis, a sophomore at university in the U.S., and Logan, currently a Sr. in high school. The family lived in Hong Kong for 3 years and have lived in Beijing for the past 12 years.

Iris grew up in Arkansas and earned degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and Dallas Theological Seminary, and serves as staff manager of the women's ministry at Capital Community.