Jonathan Edwards was the only son of Christian parents who made sure he attended church and was taught God’s principles from early childhood. Born and raised in California, he put his faith in Christ for salvation as a junior high boy. While still in High School, he dedicated his life to preaching and teaching the Word of God. He met his wife, Chrissa, in their...Jonathan Edwards was the only son of Christian parents who made sure he attended church and was taught God’s principles from early childhood. Born and raised in California, he put his faith in Christ for salvation as a junior high boy. While still in High School, he dedicated his life to preaching and teaching the Word of God. He met his wife, Chrissa, in their youth group at Calvary Baptist Church in San Luis Obispo. Midway through his education at Bob Jones University, he served as an intern/associate pastor for Dr. David Innes in Yucca Valley, California. During his senior year at BJU, Wally Higgins of Northwest Baptist Missions spoke in chapel and Edwards felt the tug of the Holy Spirit on his heart to help plant Bible-preaching churches in the Intermountain West. He received a BA in Bible from BJU and later an honorary DD. After completing about two years of deputation, he moved his family to the Salt Lake City, Utah, area, where he interned under Harley Johnson for a year before starting what is now Grace Baptist Church in West Valley City. At that same time, he partnered with several other Utah pastors to organize Utah Independent Baptist Camp (UTIBACA), and he has served on the Board of Directors ever since. In 1982, the Lord used the Edwardses to start Faith Baptist Church in Salina, Utah. Then in 1995, they moved to Marysvale, Utah, a town of 400 people to plant Marysvale Baptist Church, now self-supporting. During that twenty-five-year period, Jonathan reached out to the larger community through radio messages on two Richfield stations and produced a quarterly newsletter which was delivered to every home in Piute County. In 1997, he founded Eagles’s Nest Baptist Ministries and continues to serve as the chairman of the board. This Christian Conference Center now hosts seminars and conferences and will be the site of a Christian Vocational Trade School in the future. He has also served on the advisory board of Grace Reigns, an outreach to the polygamous communities along the Utah/Arizona border. In the years ahead, Edwards hopes to be used by God to motivate and inspire many Christians to dedicate their lives to serving the Lord as pastors and church planters. The Edwardses plan to come alongside church planters to mentor and help in any way they can. Their life ministry verse is Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” | more | less