About Me

Johnathon is your average blue-collar worker in western PA. He works for the Commonwealth as an equipment operator. He is happily married to wife Amanda and lives in Franklin, PA with her and their corgi (Abbey), 2 beagles (Opie and Zero), and their 3 cats (Gunner, Rocky, and Roo).  

My Faith Walk

I grew up in the church. Baptized as a child and attending a small community church in President Village where my grandparents lived. But like many people, I experienced loss and heartache as a young boy. Losing my grandfather and being the product of divorced parents when I was a child was hard on me. It's like I had a hole where my heart used to be. As a teenager I began to experiment with drug and alcohol use to find a solace. News flash, it didn't work. During that time, I was spiritually and physically absent from the church. I got to a point where I needed a change. I fell to my knees and prayed for divine intervention. This is where I learned patience and heard God speaking to me. At this point is where I met Amanda. She was not like me. She always put smiles on people's faces and was just so positive and caring. She became a gift that I was in desperate need of.  She told me I was worth more than I thought. That I could be something greater than I was. I started to attend Oakland UMC with her. I rededicated my life to Christ. Shortly after I felt the calling into youth ministry. After 6 years I received a call to Supply Ministry, I supplied Worden Chapel and Cherrytree UMC's as a pastor. Then through a discernment time during the COVID pandemic found a calling into evangelism where I am today. 

Forged in the Spirit Ministries was born out of God's Grace. Over the past few years of ministry, I have felt God's call to take the Gospel all over our communities in Western PA. We have delivered messages to dozens of churches around the region, and we are hoping to spread the Good News to people around the world!