John Spatig, Jr. was born in Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania, and attended First Baptist Church of Bethlehem from birth until the beginning of middle school. John moved to First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, where he was baptized and became a member. While at FPC, he participated in choir, youth group and missions trips.
After graduating from Liberty High School, John joined the United States Army. John completed basic training at Fort Sill, OK and the Advanced Individual Training (91B Combat Medic and 91X Mental Health Specialist) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. John met his wife Melanie at his first duty station, Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. It was at this time that John and Melanie decided to deepen their faith and they committed to attending church regularly and to make God the foundation of their marriage. John and Melanie continued to attend chapel services on post while serving at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany until John deployed to Iraq.
Following his military service John attended Kutztown University and completed a degree in Social Work. John interned and later worked for Valley Youth House at the shelter for run away and homeless youth, the home for Pre-Adolescent Sex Offenders (PATHS), and Street Outreach program. John began working for Northwestern Human Services (NHS) as a caseworker for adults with mental illness.
Thanks in large part to a relationship developed in small group study, John currently works part time with people struggling with addiction at Mid Atlantic Rehabilitation Services. During his time at MARS, John felt moved to attend a Master’s program, and currently attends Palmer Theological Seminary at Eastern University.
John and Melanie have two daughters, Martha Grace and Susan Kahlan.