"It is my joy as pastor to share a common life with God’s people, no matter if the circumstance be mundane or tragic, sacred or celebratory. In these same moments, as a theologian, it is my call to guide the congregation to a greater understanding of life, in light of God’s character as revealed in the Bible.”
Prior to moving to south Arkansas, Jonathan worked for 9½ years on the staff of Calvary Baptist Church in Little Rock. For the first six years of his tenure, he served as Student and Recreation Minister before moving into to the position of Associate Pastor. In April of 2016, Jonathan accepted the position of Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of El Dorado, where he served until 2023.
Growing up in Benton, AR, Jonathan and his family attended Holland Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Through the ministry of that church, Jonathan, at the age of 11, accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and later began sensing a call to full-time Christian ministry.
After high school graduation, Jonathan attended Ouachita Baptist University where he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies (2003). Following college graduation, Jonathan moved to North Carolina so that he could attend Duke Divinity School, earning his Master of Divinity (2006). Recently, Jonathan completed his educational journey by graduating with his Doctor Ministry from Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary (2022).
While a student at Ouachita, Jonathan met his wife, Lauren. Married for 18 years, God has blessed them with two children, Spencer and Evelyn.
God has called and gifted Jonathan to serve the local church as a pastor-theologian.
He believes in leading a local church that honors the Great Commandment and fulfills the Great Commission, because he believes the local church is God’s vehicle to share the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ with people in “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.”
Growing up in Benton, AR, Jonathan and his family attended Holland Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Through the ministry of that church, Jonathan, at the age of 11, accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and later began sensing a call to full-time Christian ministry.
After high school graduation, Jonathan attended Ouachita Baptist University where he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies (2003). Following college graduation, Jonathan moved to North Carolina so that he could attend Duke Divinity School, earning his Master of Divinity (2006). Recently, Jonathan completed his educational journey by graduating with his Doctor Ministry from Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary (2022).
While a student at Ouachita, Jonathan met his wife, Lauren. Married for 18 years, God has blessed them with two children, Spencer and Evelyn.
God has called and gifted Jonathan to serve the local church as a pastor-theologian.
He believes in leading a local church that honors the Great Commandment and fulfills the Great Commission, because he believes the local church is God’s vehicle to share the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ with people in “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.”