As the Joseph Duggar situation continues to unfold, more attention has turned to his in-laws, the Caldwell family.
The TLC reality star married into the Caldwell family in September 2017. Joseph Duggar’s wedding to Kendra Caldwell was filmed for “Counting On.”
The officiant at the wedding was Kendra’s father, Paul Caldwell. With that in mind, here are five fast facts you should know about Joseph Duggar’s father-in-law as the situation continues to develop.
1. Paul Caldwell Is a Father of 9 Children
Paul Caldwell married his wife, Christina Hamrick, on January 17, 1998. The couple’s oldest child is Kendra Caldwell, who married Joseph Duggar in September 2017.
The Caldwells welcomed Kendra into the world on August 11, 1998, which was less than nine months after they tied the knot. However, while appearing on the Duggar family reality show, “Counting On,” Paul and Christina explained that Christina had been in a car accident when she was 36 weeks pregnant with Kendra, which caused an early delivery.
In addition to Kendra, Paul is also the father of Lauren, Micah, Nathan, Timothy, Olivia, Jesiah, Isaiah, and Moriah.
Kendra, Lauren, Micah, and Nathan are all of legal age at 27, 25, 22, and 19, respectively. However, Joseph Duggar’s father-in-law is far from finished with his child-rearing days, as he still has five children under the age of 18, ranging from 16 to 4.
2. Paul Caldwell Is a Grandfather of 4
Along with being a father to nine children, Paul is also a grandfather to Joe and Kendra Duggar’s four children. Kendra is the only Caldwell child to have married and had children.
Some of Paul Caldwell’s children are actually younger than his grandchildren.
Paul’s two grandsons, Garrett Duggar and Justus Duggar, were born in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
His two granddaughters, Addison Duggar and Brooklyn Duggar, were born in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
This makes Paul’s oldest grandson, Garrett Duggar, older than his two youngest children, Isaiah and Moriah.
Garrett Duggar was born in June 2018, while Isaiah Caldwell was born later that same year in November.
Moriah Caldwell is also younger than Garrett, Addison, and Brooklyn, since she was born in May 2021, while Brooklyn Duggar was born in February 2021.
3. Paul Caldwell Is a Pastor and Mechanic
At 48 years old, Paul Caldwell has held a number of different jobs. However, most notably, he has managed to juggle two different career paths: pastoral work and mechanical work.
Before moving to Arkansas in 2008, Paul was a pastor at the Heritage Baptist Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. Since relocating to Arkansas, Paul has served as a pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and many of their children regularly attended Paul’s church, which is also where Joe and Kendra first met. It’s no surprise that, like the Duggar family, the Caldwells are known for their conservative Christian beliefs and emphasis on faith-centered living.
Fans also know Paul as a mechanic. It is reported that he worked for the Duggars over the years and provided services at their used car dealerships in Arkansas.
4. Paul Caldwell Had a Falling Out with Jim Bob Duggar
Jim Bob Duggar and Paul Caldwell reportedly had a falling out in 2021 over COVID-19 regulations and how Church services were being handled. However, the rift may run deeper than that.
At the time, the Caldwell family was living in a parsonage provided by Jim Bob Duggar. After the Duggars stopped attending the Lighthouse Baptist Church, Paul was forced to find other housing for his family.
In a somewhat shocking decision to fans, Paul and Christina moved into a home originally intended for Joseph and Kendra. According to The Sun, Paul and Christina Caldwell moved into the 1,540-square-foot home in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, after the birth of their ninth child in May 2021.
While Paul and the family have continued to live in this home for almost five years, it was recently made public that the Caldwells were being evicted by their daughter and son-in-law, Kendra and Joseph Duggar.
In a jail call, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Kendra told her husband, “My family said they’re moving out in a month and everybody is going to hold them to it.” The phone call was made on March 25, 2026.
5. Paul Caldwell Has Asked Fans For Prayers and Financial Support Amid the Joseph Duggar Situation
Since the Joseph Duggar situation began to unfold in March 2026, Paul Caldwell has sought public prayer and financial support for his family.
On Saturday, April 4, 2026, Paul Caldwell launched a GoFundMe for his family. The original fundraiser was taken down.
In his original message, Paul shared, “The funds raised will go directly toward legal representation to help us navigate the challenges ahead, as well as finding a safe place to live. Both are essential for our well-being and peace of mind. We are grateful for any help, whether it’s a donation or simply sharing our story with others who might be able to support us.”
He ended his message with, “Anything you can do is a help—even if it’s just prayer. Your support means the world to us as we work to rebuild and find safety.”
On April 8, 2026, the Caldwell family’s GoFundMe was relaunched. This time Paul rephrased where the funds would be going, taking out any mention of legal representation.
Paul shared, “My family is facing a difficult and urgent situation. We are in need to cover displacement expenses. We will not be using these funds for our legal expenses.”
He added, “Thank you all so much for your care, concern, prayers and donation during this difficult time. Thank you even if it’s just prayer. Your support means the world to us as we work to rebuild and find safety.”
The Caldwells are close to reaching their $24,000 goal.
As the Joseph Duggar situation continues to unfold, Paul Caldwell appears to be navigating the challenges alongside his family while remaining rooted in his faith. His recent updates have offered a glimpse into how the Caldwell family is responding during a difficult time.
