John and Marshelle Killian met at the Faith Training Center, a mission school located in Wahalla, South Carolina; in 1997, John and Marshelle married, and Sledgehammer ministries was born.  The ministry experienced a full scale launch in 1999.  For seventeen years, the Killians have ministered on five continents and in more than 20 countries.  They have served in England, India, Guyana, Peru, Canada and in many other nations.  In England, they worked extensively for one year with drug addicts.  They partnered with Betel, a drug restoration program; there, they lived with and created relationships with these drug addicts.  They have also ministered extensively on the domestic front, conducting services and youth camps all over the United States. 

John grew up in a military family, and as a result, spent more than half of his childhood overseas.  As a result, John became an Army Ranger in the prestigious 2nd Battalion, 75th Regiment for two years.  Thereafter, he joined the Presidential Honor Guard, 3rd Infantry, Old Guard in Ft. Meyer, VA.  There, he worked at the Arlington Cemetary, and as a sentinal for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  After his eight-year military career ended, John was addicted to drugs and alcohol for more than 16 years.  During that time, John lived a life in and out of jails and mental institutions, and jumped from job to job. In 1993, during a Howard-Browne revival in Louisville, John gave his heart to Jesus.  After his "mack truck" encounter, John has committed his life to ministry.  He began by ministering to drug addicts with Betel ministries on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, New York.   Since then, he has spent the last 19 years traveling and ministering around the world and in America.

Marshelle grew up in a methodist family in Westminster, South Carolina.  She accepted the gift of salvation at the age of twelve.  Marshelle had a desire to work with elderly and young people, doing both at her childhood church.  Marshelle earned a B.A. in Sociology, with a minor in psychology from Clemson University.  Early on in the ministry, Marshelle traveled around the world with John, and now she works full-time.  She does the logistics of the ministry, and she does all of the behind the scenes work when she is not traveling.  She has worked Stephens County Family and Children Services as a Social Services Case Manager in the Child Protective Services Department. Marshelle also worked a Service Coordiantor with Oconee Disabilities and Special Needs Board in Seneca, SC.  Now, she holds a similar position in Elizabethtown, KY.  Marshelle enjoys traveling with John; she has traveled to and ministered in India, England, Guyana, and many other places. 

John and Marshelle have lived in the Westminster, South Carolina for many years, and are now moving to Elizabethtown, Kentucky to be closer to John's mother.  Despite the move, John and Marshelle will continue to travel and minister.  Please pray that God continues to work in their lives, and that God continues to bless the ministry.  Please pray for continued health and protection for John and Marshelle.