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Jonathan Coates
​Lead Pastor

How Long at John Wesley FMC?
I became the Senior Pastor in July of 2024.
About My Family and Ministry
In 2001, I was nine years old, and my family moved from the St. Louis, MO area to Indianapolis. It was during these eight formative years in Indianapolis that Jesus began to draw me towards a life in his service. I find it an incredible privilege to serve the John Wesley FMC in the same geographical area where I first felt the call.
I believe ministry is not just a job. It is a lifestyle - the lifestyle described by Paul in Galatians. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20).” Or, in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
When my wife Kate and I were married in 2016, we knew that we were embarking on this life with the Lord together. During this journey, Jesus has blessed us with two sons - Josiah (2019) and Elijah (2021). As a family, we are daily seeking to learn what it means to live out the sacrificial incarnation of Jesus.
Therefore, proximity and availability are central aspects of our family’s ministry style. We believe in consistent, relational engagement as a method for disciple-making, starting in the home, and bringing that same approach of home and family to the church. This means equipping families for the work of Christian discipleship and making sure the church is a secure, transformative place of belonging for the broken, the isolated, and the poor. To accomplish this, we try to live a simple, unhurried life with Christ. It is our desire to walk closely with Jesus and live out the Scriptures, so that everyone who is consistently in our orbit will suddenly find themselves no longer walking with us, but keeping in step with the Spirit of Jesus.
While doing life together, people find out that I have a large quantity of things I enjoy doing. I love to invite my church family into some of my various hobbies: board games, baking, classical guitar, flight simulation, golf, baseball, and reading. Most of all, I love learning new things.
I would love to learn about you! Make an appointment and stop by the office to chat and pray. Invite me to enjoy your favorite place to eat with you. Send me a book or article you found fascinating this week. Being your Pastor is a joy! Let’s find out where Jesus is leading us together.
Previous Ministry Experience
2012-2014 Residence Hall Chaplain for South Hall East, Indiana Wesleyan University
2014-2020 Associate/Youth Pastor, Mattis Avenue Free Methodist Church, Champaign, IL
2020-2024 Pastor, Belfast Free Methodist Church, Belfast, NY