Pastor Jon Thompson came to Harper Chapel in 2010. He has served as pastor of St. Luke's UMC in St. Louis, First United Methodist Church, and Kewanee United Methodist in New Madrid, MO, Bellflower Charge (four local churches in central Missouri), St. Jacob United Methodist in St. Jacob, Ill., and Worden United Methodist in Worden, Ill. He was also youth pastor at First United Methodist in East Alton, Ill.
Jon earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from McKendree College, and his Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seninary. He was ordained as a deacon in the Southern Illinois Conference in 1993, and was ordained as an elder in the Missouri East Conference in 1996.
For 14 years, he was the youth director for three districts, and served on the disaster relief board for two years, the Conference Council of Youth Ministries for eight years, and he currently serves on the District Committee of Ordained Ministry and as mentor for candidates for ordained ministry.
He was a member of Optimist International in St. Louis for nine years, and has been a mason since 2003.
He is married to his wife, Nona, for 33 years, and together they have two children: Bryan and his wife Jennifer, and Raymond and his wife Angie. They have two grandchildren, Bryce and Mackenzie.
Jon and his family enjoy the opportunity to relax, fish, swim, and go boating at the Lake of the Ozarks.