Jonathan Bonetti

My wife, Amber, and I have been married for nine years and have one daughter, Philippa, who is almost three.  We are originally from South Carolina, and it is where we first began our time in vocational ministry.

In 2010, I first sensed a calling to ministry while volunteering as a college student at New Covenant Church, in Greenwood SC. There, I spent much of my free time assisting in almost every conceivable ministry - Children’s Ministry, Worship Team, Local and International Missions, etc - and after a few years, I was eventually offered my first position on our church’s staff as one of the Worship Directors. It was there that the Lord began to mold and shape my calling for future pastoral ministry. 

In 2014, while continuing education with Moody’s Distance Learning Program, the Lord began to stir in our hearts as we prayed for His direction regarding future ministry. After entertaining several options over the next year, the Lord put on our minds and hearts the city of Spokane. In 2015, through a series of God-ordained connections, I was put into contact with Pastor Miles, who became the first connection to Spokane and to this church family. 

Fast-forward to July of 2016; we had sold everything that would not fit into our car, left jobs, friends, and family, and were on the road to Spokane in obedience to the Lord’s calling to be part of this church, all the while not truly knowing what God had in store for us when we would arrive. 

In September of that year, I came on staff as a Pastoral Ministry Assistant in order to fill a recently vacated staff position. However, over the next few months and years, the Lord would continue to mold and shape my giftings and calling as I worked to serve and care for the body at Redemption. This trajectory in “aspiring to eldership” is one that I would have dodged at times and even reluctantly pursued.  The reason for this was largely in consideration of the costly impact I observed and shared with regard to pastoral ministry and the shepherding care of the church over the past year and a half.  

Nevertheless, through many helpful conversations and prayer, through the continued grace in God’s call on my life, the support of my wife and family, and confirmation from other pastors, I step forward in faith and obedience to the Lord.