About Us

Meet the Starkey Family

Hi, we’re Peter and Kim! Along with our four kids, we’ve made it our life’s work to help young people discover the incredible adventure of following Jesus.

Our journey started long before Great Exchange Ministries. Peter spent six years as a youth pastor in Cincinnati, and together we invested eleven years in Bulgaria—first on short-term mission trips, then as full-time missionaries. Those years overseas taught us something important: kids thrive when faith becomes an adventure. Whether we were playing sports, making music, or hiking through the wilderness, we watched young people come alive when they experienced God’s love in tangible, exciting ways.

In 2018, life brought us back to central Ohio when our son Finn was diagnosed with spina bifida before he was born. We settled onto the family property Peter grew up on—60 acres of woods, fields, and a pond that’s perfect for summer days. His parents and brother’s family live here too, and together we all share a heart for reaching kids with the Gospel.

Starting GEM in 2021 felt like coming home in more ways than one. We get to combine everything we learned overseas with the beauty of this land that’s been in our family for three generations. The name “Great Exchange Ministries” comes from 2 Corinthians 5:21, which captures the heart of the Gospel in one beautiful transaction: Jesus took our place so we could take His. It’s the greatest trade in history, and it’s the foundation of everything we do here.

Today, GEM is a labor of love for our whole family. When you bring your kids to camp, you’re not just signing them up for a program—you’re joining our family for a week of fun, faith, and memories that last a lifetime. We can’t wait to meet you!