Jim and Jo Ann Markham are the founders and directors of The Plantings Christian Ministries, Inc. formed in 1986 in order to develop and operate a Christian retreat center. The Plantings is a non profit corporation with retreat facilities near Bedford, Ky (approximately 18 miles Northeast of LaGrange).

Jim is a native of Logan County, Ky. He accepted Jesus Christ in a Methodist church in his early teens. After completion of high school, he moved to Louisville and was employed by Citizens Fidelity Bank for 26 years. He met Jo Ann at a church function in 1954 and they were married in 1955.

Jo Ann (Casey) is a native of Louisville and was a member of the St. Matthews Baptist church, having accepted Jesus Christ at the age of nine. At age eleven she felt called to be a missionary, but the response was delayed several years. Jim and Jo have three sons and one daughter (all married) and six grandchildren.

Both Jim an Jo Ann began teaching children in Sunday School in 1966-1967 then worked with teens (as their children grew up) for the next eleven years. They each have served as youth Sunday School directors and on several church committees. Jim has also served as a Deacon, Brotherhood director and Church Training director.

In 1973 Jim and Jo were called by the Lord to join Him in a retreat ministry to families and they began spending a part of their time in Pastoral Care roles with couples and individuals. In 1979 Jim resigned from his position as a Vice President of Citizens Fidelity bank and for a short time attended Southern Baptist Seminary.

For 18 months they worked as volunteer missionaries on assignment to Michigan where they served as Directors of Family Ministries for the Greater Detroit Baptist Association and as Family Ministry Consultants to the Baptist Convention of Michigan. This was followed be nine months assignment as Interim Directors of CleftRock Retreat Center near Mt.Vernon KY.

Following the organization of the Plantings in 1986, the Markhams purchased just over eighty-one acres of land for a retreat facility and sold their Louisville home.

In 1988, they began building the present home/lodge building and hosted/ led the first retreats in 1989. Since then The Plantings has hosted from twenty to thirty retreats per year. Pastoral care continues to be a significant part of the ministry of The Plantings. Jim was ordained to the Gospel Ministry specifically for this Ministry in 1989. Jim and Jo have been certified in the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment Retreat Model and several other marriage and Parenting models.