Jonathan B. Bonar Sr.

Jonathan Bonar, a seasoned pastor of 25 years and a ministry and leadership expert, married for 23 years with 3 amazing kids. He has dedicated a quarter-century to serving the local church, emerging as a master communicator and inspiring, resilient stage 4 cancer survivor.

Current and Personal Life

Jonathan Bonar is currently the Director of Strategic Engagement at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. In this role, he collaborates with the development team to coordinate strategic partnerships for the President and the Chancellor of the university, playing a crucial role in advancing Liberty University’s mission and outreach.

Jonathan is especially proud of his family. In 2001, he married his best friend, Cathryn, and they have three children: Shay, Jonathan II, and Logan. Cathryn, the daughter of a pastor, sang on a full-scholarship singing team at Liberty University with Light Ministries. She is now a successful independent consultant in the corporate sector, specializing in compliance and operations for blockchain, crypto, medical devices, and insurance billing.

Previous Experience

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church-Owensboro, Kentucky

Senior Pastor: Led the church as senior pastor, experiencing unprecedented growth during the pandemic. While most churches saw a 50% decrease in attendance, PGBC saw a 30% increase.

Christ Fellowship Church-Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Director of The Leadership College: Led a college at a church with 13 campuses throughout South Florida, ranked by Outreach Magazine as one of the ten largest churches in the US. Trained over 500 pastors and leaders across various sectors.

Campus Pastor of Royal Palm Beach Site: Managed a campus that grew from 2,000 to over 6,500 weekly attendees during his nine-year tenure.

Bible Baptist Church and Clinton Christian School

Senior Pastor and President: Led the church and school in the Southeast suburbs of Washington D.C.

Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church

Assistant to Dr. Jerry Falwell: Assisted in various capacities, gaining significant experience and insight into large-scale ministry operations.

Christ Fellowship Church

Assistant to Dr. Tom Mullins: Supported the founding pastor and contributed to the church’s growth and development.

Political Internships

Intern: Worked for Sen. Bob Dole and Texas Governor Anne Richards before pursuing a ministry career.