Bill Welsch, known to some as Willy, grew up in dairy farm in picturesque Amish Communities near Massillon, Ohio. Bill attended Ashland University in Ashland Ohio when he was drafted into the United States Army in September 1968. 21 years later,  after faithfully serving his country, Bill retired.  After his  retirement from the Army he returned to work as a civilian for the Army as the Program Manager for  Antiterrorism Plans and Operations  for Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following his medical retirement in February 2010 from the Department of the Army Civilian Force,  he and Sharon were married in October 2010, and he moved to Mars Hill. They began The Lord's Harvest in 2011.

Sharon Howell Welsch, grew up near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Sharon attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with further study at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Sharon received her Doctorate in Worship Studies from  the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies in Orange Park, Florida.   She presently serves as the Associate Pastor, the Minister of Music,  and the Minister of Christian Education at Mars Hill Baptist Church on the campus of Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, North Carolina.

Bill and Sharon have three children: Melissa Welsch Durham, of Johnson City, Tennessee; Will Welsch, of Harrisburg, North Carolina; and Melody Updyke, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  They also have eight grandchildren.  They make their home and minister together in the beautiful mountains of Mars Hill, North Carolina where they share their home with five,(yes, five) cats.