Meet Joe and Jane Oliver
Founders of Stories of TOV
Joe and Jane Oliver have spent the past 24 years walking side by side in ministry, marriage, and mission. Their story began in Boise, Idaho, where they met in 2000 and married in 2002, united by a growing love for Jesus and a shared desire to create something different than what they had experienced in traditional church settings.
Jane was raised in a large, loving LDS family, but from a young age, she wrestled with deep questions that didn’t always have space in the religious context she grew up in. After almost giving up on God entirely, she walked through the doors where her longing for honest, curious exploration eventually led her to grow to love Jesus even more and went all in on His kingdom.
Joe didn’t grow up in the church, but at nearly 16, he encountered Jesus in a way that changed everything. By 21, he was serving as a youth pastor in Boise—where Jane walked through the doors of his church, full of questions and curiosity, and found someone who welcomed them.
Together, they dove headlong into ministry. From youth pastoring to planting a church, their lives were poured out in service to others. But ministry, as they discovered, could also become a machine—one that demanded everything and gave little room for real life, honest struggle, or spiritual wrestling. The pressures of performance, expectations, and burnout nearly broke them. They walked through hard seasons—hidden addictions, emotional withdrawal, and unmet expectations. And yet, God never wasted their wounds.
In 2024, Joe and Jane launched Stories of TOV, a ministry rooted in their desire to help people rediscover the goodness of God’s story—especially those who feel disillusioned, hurt, or spiritually homeless. “TOV” is the Hebrew word for “good,” drawn from Genesis 1, where God calls His creation “very good.” The Olivers believe that goodness is still worth chasing, reclaiming, and living into.
Under Stories of TOV, they lead two bold initiatives:
Barstool Theology: A biweekly gathering in pubs and third spaces for those who are spiritually curious, skeptical, deconstructing, or burned by religion. It’s not church. It’s a space for honest questions, real community, and deep conversation—no pressure, no pretense.
Whiskey and the Writings: Joe’s YouTube channel combining good bourbon and rich biblical discussion. With a Master’s in Biblical Theology and a knack for making complex ideas accessible, Joe invites people to wrestle with Scripture in all its depth and tension, without fear or shame.
Joe and Jane are passionate about helping others find healing through belonging, curiosity, and rediscovering who Jesus really is—apart from the baggage that can come with religion. When they’re not mentoring, teaching, or dreaming up new content, you’ll find them watching their favorite shows together or enjoying a day by the pool.
Their message is simple: God’s story is still good. And there’s a place in it for you.