Esther Joy Shrader (née Keller) (born May 9, 1981) is the first child and first daughter of Michael Keller and Suzette Keller.
She is the sister of Rebekah Hunt, Daniel Keller, Priscilla Waller, Anna Duggar, Susanna Bridges, Nathan Keller, and David Keller.
She is the wife of John Shrader and the mother of their children, Enoch, Alatheia, Timothy, Nehemiah, Agape, Elijah, Charis, Sophia, Stephen, Isaiah, Caleb, Joseph, Daniel, and Josiah.
Early life[]
Esther Joy Keller was born on May 9, 1981, in Interlachen, Florida, to Michael Keller and Suzette Keller. She was the couple's first child, and they went on to have seven more children after her.
Esther was saved when she was six years old. When she was eleven years old, she started teaching children in Junior Church and Sunday School.
Along with her siblings, Esther was homeschooled growing up. She and her siblings were raised as active participants of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles, and regularly attended the yearly Advanced Training Institute conferences in Big Sandy, Texas. She graduated in 1999.
Her parents were strict growing up, and she and her siblings had weekly scheduled fifteen minute meetings of one-on-one time with their parents.
In 1996, her father made the decision to quit his job and begin working in full-time ministry at a local juvenile detention center. Esther often accompanied her father on these trips and led Bible studies for incarcerated young women.
Personal life[]
Engagement[]
On May 23, 2001, Esther got engaged to John Shrader.
Marriage[]
On November 3, 2001, Esther married John Eric Shrader in Harris County, Texas.
Motherhood[]
The couple has 13 children.
Their first child, son Enoch Mathew, was born on January 17, 2003.
Their second child, daughter Alatheia Grace, was born on March 13, 2004.
Their third child, son Timothy Michael, was born on August 2, 2005.
Their fourth child, son Nehemiah James, was born on January 20, 2007.
Their fifth child, daughter Agape Faith, was born on June 3, 2008.
Their sixth child, son Elijah Nathan, was born on February 28, 2010.
Their seventh child, daughter Charis Elisabeth, was born on June 25, 2011.
Their eighth child, daughter Sophia Joy, was born on March 6, 2013.
Their ninth child, son Stephen Lushomo, was born on September 11, 2014.
Their tenth child, son Isaiah Kasimpe, was born on June 2, 2016.
Their eleventh child, son Caleb Zambia, was born on January 2, 2018.
Their twelfth child, son Joseph Tumelo, was born on March 8, 2020.
Their thirteenth child, son Daniel, was born on October 13, 2022.
Their fourteenth child, son Josiah, was born on January 17, 2024.
Career[]
Missionary[]
In 2011, Esther's husband John felt the call to be a missionary overseas. An opportunity opened up to move to Zambia through TeamZambia led by David Rea. After a survey trip in March 2012, she and her husband made the decision to move to Zambia to pursue full-time missions. She and her family moved to Kafue, Zambia on June 6, 2014. She does Bible study, discipleship, and counseling with the ladies and children.
Television[]
Esther appeared on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting as the sister-in-law of Joshua Duggar.
Wedding involvement[]
Esther was a bridesmaid at her sister Anna's wedding to Joshua Duggar on September 26, 2008.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Priscilla's wedding to David Waller on February 4, 2012.