Jonathan is a faith and culture writer who has published over 100 articles in respected outlets such as USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post's “On Faith” blog, and Relevant, Outreach and Charisma magazines. As a respected Christian voice, he has been interviewed by ABC World News, NPR, PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, the UK Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post. His first book, Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet (FaithWords), releases nationwide in Spring of 2010.
Jonathan is known for his ability to tackle difficult issues through both the written and spoken word. "I believe that it's vital to navigate the toughest, trickiest, most controversial conversations," he says. "I think we need to throw the hush off of the hidden things and blow the dust off the subjects we've stored in the attics of our minds. In bravely honest conversations, we find the power to radically change the Church, the culture, and the eternal destinies of men and women."
This passion has made him a sought after speaker by colleges, seminaries, churches and conferences on cultural and religious issues. He first entered the public eye when a classroom epiphany prompted him to organize a national coalition of Christian leaders who care about the creation, founding the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative. He earned a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC) in 2008, and is currently a Master of Theology candidate at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (Atlanta, GA).
Jonathan resides outside of Atlanta, GA where he actively serves and teaches at Cross Pointe Church.
"Jonathan Merritt seeks a renewed approach to American society."
-Christianity Today
"By broadening evangelicalism's agenda, younger evangelicals like Jonathan Merritt...are doing us a favor."
-Dallas Morning News