Jonathan: The Priest
In the summer of 1994, I heard God’s call to full-time vocational ministry. After exploring several options as a 22-year-old, I believed working the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship – a multi denominational collegiate ministry was the right fit for me. I had the privilege of developing campus ministries at Eckerd College and St. Petersburg College (St. Petersburg FL), Rollins College (Winter Park, FL) and University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL). These opportunities pushed me to listen to the Lord and to carve out an identity for myself in ministry. I was motivated by mission work and I led several urban mission trips in the inner cities of Miami and Orlando.
In 1998, my wife and I founded an intentional community of three families in a single woman in the inner city of Orlando. We then founded a community development board that was chosen by the governor as an area of emphasis, leading to funding for the Paramore district of Orlando. For a season, we attended a predominately African American church in the neighborhood while loving and advocating for our neighbors.
In 2003, our family moved to seminary (University of the South) for me to pursue a Masters of Divinity for ordination in the Episcopal Church. While in Sewanee, I started two separate student Bible studies, in addition to my own studies.
After graduation, we moved to Ocala, FL where I had been hired as the associate priest at Grace Episcopal Church. Eighteen months after our arrival, the church experienced a split. I was the only staff or leader to stay at the church. Seventy-five percent of the church left in the split, seeing our membership fall from 900+ to approximately 100 members. I became the Rector of Grace in 2008 and have since seen our membership rebound to 600+. I have nurtured several strategic partnerships, started a pre-kindergarten, started and sustained several ministries, mentored 7 clergy through ordination, founded a residency program and managed an annual budget of almost $1 million dollars.
Grace is an alive and active church. We have successfully navigated the pandemic, seeing the church grow in unprecedented numbers through through successful Alpha outreaches and online viewing. It has been an exciting time of innovation and opportunity. Grace has recently wrapped up a three year visioning process, contracting with Kimley-Horn Engineering for a master plan, preparing the church for the most strategic use in God’s Kingdom and in Ocala.
Jonathan: The Person
My passion for the Kingdom of God is not only just my job. It is in my marriage and my family. My wife, Maurica (pronounced Marissa), and I will celebrate 30 years together next May. We have four biological children and two adopted – five girls and one boy. Being a husband and father is my greatest joy, even now as my role has changed from active parenting to mentoring father.
I love being a dad, especially at this point in my life. I love when the kids call about insurance, finances or home repair. Their issues are real and important, if sometimes panic driven. I love watching them face the obstacles of life – some with spouses and with Jesus. I love traveling with them, learning from them, and laughing at all the funny parts of life together.
With that said, my greatest joy is my wife. I look forward to spending time with her at the end of everyday. She is a brilliant educator who reads voraciously. It is a challenge just to keep up with her and I cherish it. Her passion for the widows and the orphans, as commended by Holy Scripture, has kept our family firmly focused on living our faith in action. She is the helpmate God intended for me and I rejoice in her regularly.
I love to hike the Appalachian Trail, the Camino de Santiago, or any other trail that gets me into God’s creation. John Muir once said, “Into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.” I think he may have been speaking about me.