Birthplace: Latrobe, PA. Profession: Retired religious educator, pastor, professor, denominational executive, hospice chaplain. Significant other: My wife, Sonia de Souza Silva Gerstner. Alma mater: The University of Chicago Divinity School, (MA, Ph.D.); Michigan State University Honors College, (BA); Utrecht University and Stellenbosch University (graduate courses). Languages spoken: English (fluent) with a standard North American accent. Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish; Koine Greek and Classical Hebrew.
Current project: Revising a Bible Study Book on Romans (Part I) for publishing by 21C International Ministries to bless leaders in the Global South. Latest contribution to others: Regular mentoring sessions with younger leaders. What is the biggest challenge facing you? How to minister love to everyone in such a horribly politically polarized world. Recent travel or adventure: Jalapao, Tocantins, Brazil. Last book read: Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Recent unique acquisition: Fizzy water machine.
Personality profile: Passionate change agent seeking inner peace. Moral compass: The Word of God. How do you define a perfect friendship? True transparency and know you won't be rejected for the ugly stuff God is still working on in you. What is your greatest joy? Feeling the presence of God so deeply that I can’t speak. What is your greatest fear? Losing relationships with the people I love. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Hospice Nurse. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Traveling the world. What is at the top of your bucket list? Spending at least a year teaching full-time at a seminary in the developing world.
What was your favorite college course? Intro to Linguistics. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? King Zor, a battery-run dinosaur that I could shoot darts at. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Mementos of joyous travel or other joyful occasions. What’s the best advice you received growing up? My mother would always say, "A Christian is immortal until their work is done." What’s the best advice you received in your career? Dr. Harold Korver, an older, highly respected pastoral colleague, told me, "Jonathan, you will be a father to a fatherless generation." What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? A toss-up between the automobile and the jet plane. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Talking to God.
What is your big idea?
This world is shattered and only God can put it back together. He gives peace (shalom), the opposite of brokenness.
What change would you like to see in the world? I want everyone in the world to have a personal relationship with Christ and see His Spirit change them. What message do you want to send out into the world? Turn away from seeking to put yourself first and give your life to Christ. What widely held belief do you reject? That it is as natural to die as to be born. I believe death is a horrible part of a broken creation that Jesus came to rescue us from. What mega-trend most concerns you? I fear AI will take away people's ability to think and learn about anything, in the same way that calculators destroyed people's ability to do math.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? “Through it all, God was with Him.” Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My grandfather Cornelius, whose love of God for the world led him to be a pioneer missionary to India and shaped my life. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Be with all my children and grandchildren, probably on the beach for a picnic. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The birth of any of my children.
Personal mission: To change the world one person at a time. Personal motto: A Christian is always content but never satisfied. Favorite quote: “Whether they listen to you or not... they will know that a prophet has been among them” (God to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 2:5). Desired epitaph: I will arise when you call my name.
