BIOGRAPHY

Evangelist Jon T. Shonebarger, Jr. is a native of Newark Ohio, born September 1, 1958. He came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ as a young adult in the United States Air Force. He and his wife Peggy were married December 27, 1976, and moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base as newly-weds.

It was at Calvary Baptist Church, in Mikado, Michigan, that Jon was born again and followed Christ in believer’s baptism in September, 1978. Their only child, Jon III, was born April 3, 1978 at the Base hospital.

Desiring God’s perfect plan for their lives, the Shonebargers prayed for direction at the conclusion of his first enlistment to the USAF. The Lord used a three day trip to the Omaha, Nebraska area to guide their path. Several young enlisted couples were invited to Strategic Air Command Headquarters for tours, speeches, and banquets with the intention of motivating re-enlistment. The Shonebargers were excited about the experience and the Holy Spirit impressed them with the Omaha area. A few months later, still undecided about re-enlistment, Jon received a verbal invitation to work on staff at Strategic Air Command Headquarters. After prayerful consideration, the Shonebargers saw God’s leading to re-enlist and move to Omaha.

In September, 1981 the Shonebargers arrived in Omaha and visited Metropolitan Baptist Church. The Church was pastored by David Lydick. The Spirit of God impressed them during the first service that that was where He would have them join. It has been a long and wonderful relationship through the years. Pastor Lydick would be Jon’s ministry mentor, friend and encourager throughout his lifetime.

The years in the Omaha/Bellevue area were some of the most precious of their lives. Jon sensed the Spirit of God’s leadership into the gospel ministry only six months into his second term. He began his ministry in February, 1982 at the Douglas County Jail, preaching every Sunday to jail inmates. God also opened doors for Jon to serve as deacon, Sunday school teacher, and youth leader during their tenure at the church. One of the most special highlights of the 1981-1985 timeframe was Metropolitan Baptist purchasing a retired elementary school and changing their name to Midlands Bible Baptist Church. The building was purchased and renovated in November 1984.

At the conclusion of Jon’s military commitment in August 1985, they moved to Springfield, Missouri. Jon wanted to complete his theological education at Baptist Bible College. His decision of schools was largely influenced by the fact that Dr. A.V. Henderson was the president of the school. During the Shonebarger’s four years in Springfield, Jon served as a youth director at Bible Baptist Church in Ash Grove and as pastor of Community Baptist Church, a small rural church, outside of Lebanon, Missouri.


Upon graduating with honors from Baptist Bible College, Jon moved his family to their home area of Ohio where the Lord opened the door to pastor a church devastated by scandal on the west side of Columbus. God enabled the church to grow and overcome financial disaster, and the reputation of the church to be stabilized. Sensing a completion to what God had called him to do, Jon stepped away from the church after serving three years. That provided them opportunity to go wherever God would want to move them. The Lord would lead them to Norfolk Baptist Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. The Shonebargers had a heart for Nebraska as a result of their four years at Midlands Bible Baptist Church in Bellevue.

The Shonebargers served at Norfolk Baptist Church for over eight years. The Lord blessed the ministry in a very powerful way during their tenure. The Church was discipled in fundamental bible doctrine; it clearly established a historic Baptist position. Several bus routes, as well as door to door evangelism, were established on a weekly basis and Antioch Baptist Church was planted in Yankton, South Dakota. In addition, four men were trained for the pastorate. The church broadened its media ministry with radio and cable broadcasts. In 1997, one hundred thirty two (132) new believers were baptized into the membership of the church, the highest one year total of Pastor Shonebarger’s pastorate.

In 1998, Jon was called upon to preach the funeral service of his sister Lauren who died of breast cancer in Zanesville, Ohio. Sadly, Lauren left six children. Through her will, Jon and Peggy would take the four minor children into their home.

Knowing he had accomplished all that Christ had called him to accomplish in Norfolk, Jon resigned the pastorate in February, 2001.The Lord directed the Shonebarger’s path to Sunrise Baptist Church, in Oakley, Kansas.

Sunrise Baptist Church was very stable and established in the community. The Shonebargers enjoyed the slower pace of small town ministry and involved themselves in the community. The Lord enabled Jon to serve on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as a chaplain for Kansas Hospice during his tenure as pastor. During the Shonebarger’s ministry in Oakley, their nephew Joe Fritz played varsity football for the Oakley Plainsmen, earning all-league honors his senior year.  It was also during these years that their son Jon and his wife Sarah gave them their first grandaughter!  This was a blessed time for their family, serving wonderful people with a heart for God.

After a morning service at Sunrise Baptist Church, the Lord spoke to Jon’s heart about the mission field of prison ministry. As a missions minded pastor, Jon realized that prison ministry was one of the most overlooked and disrespected mission fields in Christianity. Jon surrendered to the Lord’s call to go to Colorado.

Brother Shonebarger made an application to Colorado Department of Corrections for acceptance as a chaplain. After extensive background checks, integrity interviews and the Department of Corrections Training Academy, Jon was commissioned by, and sent out of, Riverside Baptist Church in North Platte, Nebraska to begin his ministry at Fremont Correctional Facility. After one year of service, Jon was transferred to the Canon Minimum Centers, where he was the chaplain of the Four Mile, Skyline and Arrowhead Correctional Centers.

The ministry required Jon to raise his financial support as CDOC does not pay its chaplains. However, his ministry to local churches, CDOC staff, and the Canon Minimum Center inmates was powerfully blessed of the Lord. During Brother Shonebarger’s four year ministry, over twelve hundred (1200) men trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. It was during his hands-on ministry in Colorado prisons that he wrote the “Spiritual Warfare” series he now teaches in churches around the country. Through the providential leading of God, the door was closed to remain in prison ministry. However, as this door closed, a door opened into fulltime evangelism. This was an area of ministry that was at the center of Jon’s spiritual gifting and heartbeat.

Since March, 2009, Brother Shonebarger has been in fulltime evangelism through the ministry of Midlands Bible Baptist Church in Bellevue, Nebraska. He is conducting revivals, Spiritual Warfare Conferences, Soul-winning Conferences, Missions Conferences and Love & Reconciliation Conferences.

Brother Shonebarger understands the pressure of the ministry; the difficulties and the joys. He has truly “sat where (you) sat.” He stands ready to minister wherever God leads. Please keep Brother and Mrs. Shonebarger in your prayers, and consider having him minister to your congregation.