Music & Discipleship Pastor

Jonathan Statham

I was raised in a Christian home. My parents were first generation believers that were burdened with a desire to saturate their children with the message of the Gospel. As such, from my earliest memories I can recall conversations with my mom and dad regarding the good news of Jesus Christ. Namely, as a young child, I knew that God had created me in perfect love, yet I had gone against that perfect love and had taken matters into my own hands (i.e. set myself up as God– sinned), and that, because of this sin I was separated from God and deserved death. Furthermore, I knew God had sent His Son, Jesus, to live a sinless life and die on the cross for my sins, taking my punishment upon Himself. I knew that Jesus did, in my stead, what I could not do because of the curse of my sin. And finally, I knew that Jesus rose again from the grave, defeating sin and death forever for all persons that would repent of their sins and call upon His name in faith as Savior and as Lord. At the ripe young age of four years old, I prayed to the Lord Jesus, confessing my sin and placing my faith in Him as my Savior and as my Lord. 

From that day forward I have been following the Lord Jesus as His disciple. Throughout my christian journey there have been incredible high moments and incredible low moments. As I look back over the years and even decades (now that I’m 30 I can say decades…) I can see the sovereign hand of God in my life, raising me up in the work of sanctification to be who He has created me to be. The Lord is far from finished with me (I am a work in progress) and yet He has brought me to a point where I can truly say I am seeking first His Kingdom (not perfectly, though) in all things and trusting Him to put all else aright (Matt. 6:33). Some practical examples of this growth in my walk with the Lord are its impact on: a) my personal walk with Him, where I have been challenged to find peace, contentment and satisfaction in Him even when circumstances may fluctuate and be less-than-optimal, b) my relationship with my wife (Ashley) and my children (Walter, Luna and Scarlett), where I have been challenged to go beyond their physical well-being (that’s a given, and even scores of unbelieving fathers acknowledge and do this), and to take responsibility for their spiritual well-being (like, if they’re not right with the Lord, it may not be my fault, but it is my responsibility), c) my calling to vocational ministry, where I am convicted that He is leading me to be faithful with the giftings and abilities He has sovereignly bestowed upon me (i.e. I don’t get to pick and choose how I am going to serve the Lord and His Church, nor do I get to dictate to God how my ministry should or should not look). 

Through it all the Lord has been faithful and I know He will continue to be. As He continues to write my story I seek to be obedient unto Him, for His glory and my betterment.