Jonathan Hobbs
Program Director; Lecturer in Ministry; Campolo Center Advisor
McInnis 212
jonathan.hobbs@eastern.edu
Jonathan Hobbs is the Lecturer in Ministry and serves as the Director for both the in-person and online Ministry Leadership programs.
Before joining the faculty here at Eastern University, he worked in professional ministry for almost 25 years, including churches in New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. He has spoken for multiple camps and retreats around the country, and also occasionally leads contemporary worship.
Jonathan and his wife Carolyn have two beautiful daughters, Kaylin and Julia. They live just outside of Philadelphia, PA. He loves golf (slightly obsessed really). He can skillfully juggle two balls and does a halfway decent impression of Kermit the Frog. He's also a big fan of the Oxford comma.
If you have any questions about our Ministry programs, feel free to email him directly.
Education
- Eastern University ’01 - Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry
- Palmer Theological Seminary ’20 - Masters of Theological Studies
Classes Taught
- Introduction to Youth Ministry
- The Gospel and Adolescent Culture
- Field Experience
- Youth Ministry and the Small Group Process
- Programming Skills
- Discipling Youth
- Youth Ministry Internships
- Youth Min Senior Seminar
- Introduction to Faith, Reason, and Justice
Books
Don’t Do This: Learning from the Screw-Ups of Youth Ministry Leaders. Jonathan Hobbs & Len Kageler, Youth Cartel Publishers, 2016
Youth Ministry in This Season of Disruption, (Contributing Author), Youth Cartel Publishers, 2020
Published Articles
“Epic Fail: Navigating Failure with a Spiritual and Emotional Healthy Prospective,” Eastern Magazine, Fall 2021
“Avoiding the Camel” Youthworker Journal, November-December issue, 2015
“Rantings of a Lunatic Youth Worker” Island Packet, April 2007
“The Trapeze Model Isn’t Working (Especially for College Students)” Island Packet, April 2006
Online Articles/Blogs
“(Never Too Early) Summer Planning” Youth Specialties, January 16, 2019
“The Grace was Empty” J3 Blog, April 1, 2018
“What The Church Can Learn From Eagles Fans” J3 Blog, February 2, 2018
“Three Powerful Ways to Minister that You May Be Overlooking” Stoked on Youth Ministry, September 2017
“You Can Fake It” Youth Specialties, August 18, 2017
“The Power of Story” Youth Specialties, July 19, 2017
“Youth Ministry is in Danger of Becoming the Phone Book” Youth Specialties, July 4, 2017
“Help Your Pastor Win” Youth Specialties, June 19, 2017
“Go To Them” Youth Specialties, June 9, 2017