Pastor Jonathan N. Gerstner, PhD, has years of experience in ministry, church leadership, and theological academic work. He earned his PhD in theology from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1985. In addition, Pastor Jonathan N. Gerstner undertook doctoral studies at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. In 1989, Pastor Jonathan Gerstner moved to Cambridge, Ontario, to serve as executive secretary of the Synod of Canada of the Reformed Church in America. He was the official church spokesperson. He assisted regional church assemblies in starting new churches and welcomed people of varied ethnic backgrounds. He also led revitalization ministries and participated in the Canadian Council of Churches and Evangelical Fellowship of Canada meetings. In 2018, Pastor Jonathan Gerstner moved to Cenotillo, Mexico, to serve as president of Yucatan International Academy. He steered the startup Christian University for over a year, recruiting faculty, designing the curriculum, and leading students through the inaugural semester. Jonathan Gerstner has also served as hospice chaplain for VITAS Healthcare in Palm Coast, Florida. There, he provided relief to patients in spiritual distress. Pastor Gerstner has written and published “A Christian Monopoly: The Reformed Church of South Africa.” He has another book waiting publication, “Comments on Romans: The Good News in Depth.” He has also presented before church ministries, and made workshop presentations on reformed theological issues both in the United States and Canada.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start my day with prayer and, when possible, with spiritual devotions with my wife. As a retired person, I am largely able to enjoy the flexibility to combine what things need to be produced with what needs to be experienced.
How do you bring ideas to life?
My ideas always spring to life in discussion. Usually, this starts with dialogues with God. This is meant very sincerely. I present what I am thinking to God and sense the direction He leads me in. Then depending on the idea, it gets kicked around with my wife or friends or sometimes directly with my colleagues on the project from the very beginning. Listening to the feedback is what helps me fine-tune my idea and, sometimes, totally replace it with the ideas of the one I am listening to in the dialogue.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Globalization. I grew up with watered-down coffee and consistently bland North American food. In my lifetime, I rejoice to see the cuisine and concepts of all the world reaching even the most remote areas.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I love to see the best in every opportunity and encounter.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Chill! You will be a change agent, but if you can slow down and make everyone know you are hearing them, you will accomplish more both quicker and more lastingly.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Things are getting better even when certain aspects may be getting worse. The forest grows even as some trees get sick and die, including ones we have to mourn.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Start the day talking to God.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Get alone with God and if, possible, the person closest to me, my wife.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Growth follows vision. I have always worked to inspire others to see the positive future we can grab.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I let my passion for my work distract me from how important the key relationships of my life were. I crashed and burned and had to let God raise me up from the ashes. I learned you can passionately pursue something noble and beautiful, and yet lose the most important things if you don’t stay spiritually grounded.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I can’t imagine going back to my early life before word processors. It lets me shape my ideas into coherent form. Now, I even use them to help me in my second languages.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson. One phrase from that book has always remained with me. “A gracious soul [that is an old-time phrase meaning a true believer in Christ] is always content but never satisfied.” In other words, a true believer accepts that God is on the throne of heaven and be content when awful things happen. But he can never be satisfied but always trying to change himself and the world around him until the day when God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I have to admit a shameful pleasure, I love watching the global Love Is Blind series with my wife. We love to see couples from around the world and the cultural similarities and differences. It’s also so sad to see how few can make it as couples, even when they begin by listening to each other very intently.
Key learnings
- A person’s life is a collection of ideas given to us through experiences, and some we didn’t even notice affecting us at the time. What a blessing it is to process these experiences with God to finally gain a small bit of the wisdom He wants to impart to us.
- Life is both painful and joyous at the same time, and without these two opposing spectrums, we wouldn’t be able to have appreciation of the good times and the recognition to rise above the bad times.
- Vocalizing one’s thoughts are a way of realizing oneself and one’s values – prayer is one of the best ways to do this, because you are speaking to and reflecting your thoughts off the divine.