The founders of St. Hans, Diane Shiell and the Rev. Dr. Dell Shiell, and their three children participated in a home exchange with a pastor and his family from Larvik, Norway during 1988-89.

This experience had such a profound positive impact upon the Shiell family, that Diane and Dell founded St. Hans Ministry Exchange, Inc. and wrote Fair Exchange: A Ministry Exchange Between the USA and Norway, a book about their family's home exchange experience.

In 1995, St. Hans launched the first Internet site dedicated to Christian home exchanges.

Diane and Dell are originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota where both graduated from the University of Minnesota. Dell earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Dell served as a parish pastor in Porter, Minnesota, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Venice, Florida.

Currently, Diane and Dell live in North Port, Florida, USA where Dell is the pastor at Living Waters Lutheran Church. Their three children are married and living in Florida, also.