Eastern Region Retreat Speakers
Jon Thompson
Jon Thompson is the Senior Pastor of Sanctus Church — a multi-site church in the Greater Toronto Area and online — where he has served for 25 years. He holds a Master of Theological studies from Tyndale Seminary and a Doctorate of Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
After spending his childhood in Ecuador with his missionary parents, Jon began his ministry as the Youth Pastor before assuming his current role as Senior Pastor at Sanctus Church.
Passionate about engaging seekers, skeptics, and believers about the Christian faith, Jon has authored two best-selling books: Convergence and Deliverance. Convergence is when three unexpected things come together: spiritual gifts, spiritual disciplines (or practices), and unusual works of the Spirit (revival) to form the authentic Christian life.
Deliverance is, for all intents and purposes, the outworking of Convergence philosophy in one specific ministry area. It details the 20+ year journey of one pastor and one church trying to help desperate people and remain rooted at the same time. It works through the Scriptures and church history, evaluates the 5 major models that have been and are called upon, discusses authority and spiritual gifts, reviews what’s universally applicable — and what must be changed on the ground — in different churches and cultures.
His third book, Perseverance, is scheduled for release this fall. It outlines a clear understanding of calling, living under imminence, the role of love and rest, leading while owning nothing, not shying away from death, fear, and weakness, a radical transparency, spiritual gifts and gift tension, God-given direction, courage, genuine encounter, bold biblical and theological confession, biblical consistency, pastoral care and confrontation, a willingness to suffer, and real homesickness. All of this begins to create a healthy ecosystem that may lead to us to be in that 30% that not only finish, but who finish well.
Jon loves his wife Joanna and their three kids. His favorite foods are Indian, Thai, and Mexican (in that very specific order).