Rev. Jonathan C. Watt
Grand Marais, Minnesota
515-462-0566 • jonathan@wattswhat.net
Pastor, Life in Christ Lutheran Church
Updated August 2026
Education and Credentials
- Master of Divinity, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 2001
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Nebraska, 1997
- Graduate, International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights, Strasbourg, France, 2011
- Emergency Medical Technician–Basic, National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, certified 2007
Pastoral Ministry
Life in Christ Lutheran Church — Grand Marais, Minnesota
Pastor, September 2018–present
- Serving as the congregation’s first resident pastor.
- Leading congregational growth and ministry development.
- Guiding building and expansion work to support the congregation’s ministry.
- Developing preaching, teaching, and media initiatives for the congregation.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church — Creston and Mount Ayr, Iowa
Sole Pastor, 2008–2016
- Developed and presented weekly sermons, Bible studies, seminars, and educational programs.
- Led the transition in which First Lutheran Church, Mount Ayr, held its closing service and officially joined Trinity as one congregation with preaching stations in Creston and Mount Ayr on January 12, 2014.
- Invited by LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission to present on congregational mergers at its 2015 national conference.
St. John’s Lutheran Church — Howard, South Dakota
Sole Pastor, 2006–2008
St. John’s Lutheran Church — Burt, Iowa
Sole Pastor, 2001–2006
Our Savior Lutheran Church — Swea City, Iowa
Sole Pastor, 2004–2006
Publications
- Watt, Jonathan C. “Planning Your Funeral.” The Lutheran Witness 126 (2007): 20–22.
- Watt, Jonathan C. “Through the Ages . . .: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of All—in Howard, S.D.” The Lutheran Witness 127, no. 11 (November 2008): 22–23.
- Watt, Jonathan C. “Not Three, Not Two, but One King.” The Lutheran Witness, January 2009. Searching Scripture Bible study.
- Watt, Jonathan C. “We Have Seen His Majesty.” The Lutheran Witness, February 2009. Searching Scripture Bible study.
- Watt, Jonathan C. “Greetings, O Favored Ones: The Lord Is with You.” The Lutheran Witness, March 2009. Searching Scripture Bible study.
- Watt, Jonathan C. “A Building or a Pastor.” Reaching Rural America for Christ, March 2015.
- Watt, Jonathan C. “Words That Matter: A Weekly Look at Christian Faith and Life.” Weekly column, Cook County News-Herald, Grand Marais, Minnesota, 2026–present.
Media and Broadcasting
- Guest, “Thinking About Your Funeral,” Issues, Etc., KFUO Radio, September 6, 2007. Half-hour live interview hosted by Rev. Todd Wilken.
- Broadcaster, God’s Word for Today, a daily two-minute devotional on KSIB Radio and Pirate Christian Radio.
- Broadcaster, Streams of Living Water, a weekly sermon broadcast on Pirate Christian Radio.
Presentations and Teaching
- “Planning Your Christian Funeral,” workshops and conference presentations, 2001–2008 and later presentations.
- Congregational mergers, invited presentation for the LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission National Conference, 2015.
- Apologetics instruction and Bible studies, including Defending the Faith with the Gospel of John and Apologetics 101.
- Technical training at Personnel Data Systems user-group conferences and client sites.
Church Leadership and Professional Service
- Circuit Visitor, Southwest Circuit, Iowa District West, 2012–2016
- District Life Coordinator, Iowa District West, 2014–2016
- Pastoral Advisor, Southwest Circuit Lutheran Early Response Team, 2014–2016
- Chair, Creston Crisis Pregnancy Center Exploratory Committee, 2014
- Education, Board for Parish Services, South Dakota District, 2007–2008
- Chair, South Dakota District Pastors’ Conference, 2006–2007
Community Leadership and Service
- President, Habitat for Humanity of Union County, Iowa, 2012–2015
- Vice President and Member, Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity of Union County, Iowa, 2011–2012
- Manager, Stage Tornado Relief Distribution Center, Creston, Iowa, 2012
- President, Parent Teacher League, Martin Luther High School, 2015–c. 2016 (one term)
- Vice President, Parent Teacher League, Martin Luther High School, 2014–2015
- Web manager for congregational, community, school-band, and Habitat for Humanity websites
Emergency Medical Service
Union County, South Dakota
Emergency Medical Technician–Basic, 2007–2008
- Responded to emergency calls and provided patient assessment, treatment, triage, and transport support.
- Maintained National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification.
Additional Professional Experience
- School Bus Driver, Cook County ISD 166, Grand Marais, Minnesota, 2018–present
- Store Employee, Casey’s, Truman, Minnesota, 2018
- Assistant Store Manager, Walmart Supercenter, Fairmont, Minnesota, 2016–2018
- Technical Consultant, Personnel Data Systems, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, 1991–1994
- Computer Operator, Computer Programmer, and Systems Analyst, BryanLGH Medical Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1983–1991
Technical and Communication Skills
- Public speaking, preaching, teaching, and curriculum development
- Research, writing, editing, and radio broadcasting
- Congregational leadership, pastoral care, and crisis response
- Project management, community partnerships, and nonprofit governance
- Computer operations, programming, systems analysis, web development, and technical training
References available upon request.
