Jonathan K. Okinaga
CONTACT
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2019
Dissertation: “From Sin to Disease: The Medicalization of Addiction and its Impact on How the Southern Baptist Convention Approaches Ministering to Those Who Struggle WithMind-Altering Substances”
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016
Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Vanguard University, 2014
RESEARCH INTEREST
Dr. Okinaga is interested in research projects in the following areas: addictions, biblical counseling, and discipleship.
Dr. Okinaga serves as assistant professor of biblical counseling in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries. He also occupies the Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling. A Southwesterner by academic pedigree, he previously served as an adjunct professor of biblical counseling at Southwestern. His research focuses on addiction and how to counsel and disciple individuals coming out of addiction. He authored From Sin to Disease (Wipf & Stock, 2022) and has written in other areas related to addiction.
Dr. Okinaga has over a decade of experience ministering and counseling those coming out of addiction in a variety of ministry settings. He has also served as an associate pastor in California. Dr. Okinaga is married to Nicole and is the father of James.
October 2023-Present. Soul Care Network. Lead Trainer, Fort Worth TX
October 2023-Present. Hallmark Church: Biblical Counseling Director, Fort Worth TX
February 2024-Present: Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, ACBC Fellow, Kansas City, MO
January 2026-Present. Yorktown Baptist Church. Biblical Counseling Director, Corpus Christi, TX
Apr 2011–Aug 2014: Associate Pastor, Sanctuary Church San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jan 2009–Dec 2013: Prayer and Discipleship Lay Leader, theEffect Recovery Community San Juan Capistrano, CA
Nov 2008–Sep 2012: Director of Operations and House Manage, Sanctuary Sober Living Home San Clemente, CA
“Engaging Biblical Truth for Mental Health Recovery,” Southwestern D6 Family Ministry Journal, Vol 6, 2024. https://www.amazon.com/Southwestern-Family-Ministry-Journal-Vol/dp/1614841837
Meet Jonathan Okinaga
Having experience in the area one teaches in is important for providing accurate advice to those being taught. For Jonathan Okinaga, assistant professor of biblical counseling at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, his counseling experiences allows his lectures to foster a lot of conversations in the classroom.