Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Joel received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Samford University. He and his wife Holly are long-time members of Briarwood Presbyterian Church and were on the staff of Campus Outreach for 18 years, in the US and abroad.

Joel later served as the full-time director of Briarwood’s special-needs ministry for five years before joining the staff of Engaging Disability With The Gospel in 2011. They have two adult children, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.

With Engaging Disability, Joel is involved in training families and churches, overseeing the ministry’s operations, and in discipleship and outreach of kids, adults, and families living with disability. The Wallaces reside in Hoover, Alabama where they volunteer with Briarwood’s disability ministry.