Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Pharr.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Jonathan Pharr, and my journey has been shaped by a deep love for people, the local church, and building things that matter. I grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and came to faith at a young age, where my relationship with Jesus became the foundation for everything I do. Early on, I found myself serving in the church—first in youth ministry and media, then in worship and leadership roles that stretched my character, discipline, and dependence on God.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in a variety of ministry contexts, including youth leadership, media production, church online, and pastoral leadership. Each season sharpened different skills—from developing leaders and building teams to creating systems that help ministries scale and stay healthy. Alongside ministry, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial drive, which led me into real estate and business ventures focused on serving people with excellence and integrity.
Today, I serve as the Lead Pastor of Disciple First Church, where my heart is to see people become fully devoted disciples of Jesus—putting Him first in their faith, family, and daily lives. Everything I’ve walked through—successes, failures, and transitions—has brought clarity to my calling: to build the church, develop leaders, and create environments where people can encounter God and walk in their purpose.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all—it hasn’t been a smooth road, and I think that’s been one of the greatest shaping forces in my life. Like most meaningful journeys, mine has included seasons of uncertainty, hard transitions, and moments where obedience required letting go of comfort and security. There were times in ministry when expectations didn’t match reality, when leadership decisions were heavy, and when carrying responsibility for people exposed my own limits and weaknesses.
I’ve also faced the tension of building while learning—leading before I felt fully ready, making mistakes in real time, and having to grow through feedback, failure, and course correction. Balancing ministry, family, and entrepreneurship brought its own pressures, forcing me to confront burnout, boundaries, and the need for rest and healthy rhythms. There were seasons where finances were tight, doors closed unexpectedly, or plans had to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Through every challenge, those struggles refined my faith, clarified my calling, and deepened my dependence on God. They taught me perseverance, humility, and trust—reminding me that growth often comes through difficulty, and that the hardest seasons are often the ones God uses most to prepare you for what’s next.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the core of my work, I’m a pastor, leader, and builder. I serve as the Lead Pastor of Disciple First Church, where I focus on creating healthy, disciple-making environments that help people put Jesus first in every area of life. My day-to-day work centers on preaching and teaching, developing leaders, building teams, and designing systems that allow the church to grow without losing its heart.
I specialize in leadership development, organizational building, and bridging vision with execution. I’m often brought into spaces where something needs to be built, rebuilt, or clarified—whether that’s a ministry structure, a volunteer pipeline, a creative system, or a strategy to help people move from attendance to real discipleship. My background in media, production, and church operations has shaped how I think, allowing me to blend creativity with structure and mission with measurable action.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a platform or a title, but the people I’ve had the privilege to develop—leaders who are now serving confidently, families who have found stability and purpose, and a church culture that values faithfulness over flash. What sets me apart is my ability to see both the big picture and the small details, to lead with both conviction and care, and to build with a long-term mindset. I don’t just want things to grow—I want them to last, stay healthy, and genuinely point people to Jesus.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, my focus is on building with intention and faithfulness for the long haul. I’m committed to continuing to establish Disciple First Church as a healthy, sustainable, disciple-making church that raises up leaders, strengthens families, and impacts our community in meaningful ways. The goal isn’t rapid growth for growth’s sake, but deep spiritual formation that produces lasting fruit.
I’m also looking forward to developing more leaders and creating pathways that help people discover their calling and step into it with confidence—both inside the church and beyond it. That includes investing in next-generation leaders, expanding discipleship and training environments, and building systems that allow ministry to scale without losing relational depth.
On a personal level, I’m planning for seasons of greater balance and stewardship—leading well while staying grounded in family, spiritual health, and integrity. If there are big changes ahead, they’ll be driven by obedience rather than ambition. Ultimately, the future I’m preparing for is one where what we build outlives us—strong leaders, healthy churches, and lives transformed by putting Jesus first.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://disciplefirstchurch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disciplefirst/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiscipleFirstChurch
