Hi brothers and sisters! My name is Jonatan Boon, and at my side, you find my beautiful bride-to-be, Danielle Kok. We are standing at the end of the seminary chapter, and on the threshold of another. We are excited (and a bit nervous) to see where our Lord will lead us next.

To start at the beginning, we need to go back in time and space to the winter of 2000 and the Dutch city of Hoogeveen. I, Jonatan, was born here as the oldest of a small-town pastor and his wife. As it often goes with a pastor’s kid, I soon found myself (age five) in South Africa. I spent my formative years in the Jacaranda-lined suburbs of Pretoria. I attended the local Reformed elementary school and high school. During these years, I was a member of the Free Reformed Church Pretoria-Maranata, where my dad was (and still is) the pastor.

At the end of my high school years, with some encouragement from teachers, friends, and parents, I began considering gospel ministry. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program at the University of Pretoria, which put me on my way to seminary. Three years later, I graduated with a major in Biblical Languages and Latin.

Between finishing university and starting seminary, I returned to my country of birth. In the Netherlands, I worked for five months in a cheese factory in Rouveen (could there be a more Dutch job?). After a short stop back in South Africa, I crossed the Atlantic to settle in Hamilton.

The change came with many adjustments. It is winter for most of the year, I must speak English all the time (except with my South African roommates), and shovel snow. Yet, I found a warm community, both at CRTS and in the Hamilton churches. I also became (more) accustomed to the Canadian culture and climate, though Canada could not rid me of my South African accent.

One summer I volunteered as a counsellor at Campf!re Bible Camp. I met another wonderful counsellor, Danielle. Fast forward a few months, and we were dating. Little under a year and a trip to South Africa later, we became engaged. Though it may seem unlikely for a Canadian and a South African to meet at a kids’ camp, we believe this is a testimony of God’s guiding hand. We are now counting down the days till July, when, Lord willing, we will enter the marriage chapter of our relationship. At the moment, Danielle is a high school teacher at the Oxford Reformed Christian School.

The Lord graciously used my seminary years to shape me. I am deeply grateful for all my professors and classmates who stimulated me to grow in understanding, communicating, and radiating the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am further thankful for all the faithful support of my family and the wider church community.

A highlight of seminary is the internships. My orientation internship took me back to my hometown, where I learned from Dr Erik van Alten at the FRC Pretoria. For my preaching internship, I ventured to northern British Columbia. Rev Hendrik Alkema mentored me at the Smithers CanRC. I headed to Santa Barbara, Querétaro, Mexico, for my mission internship with Scott Bredenhof. Last summer, I served at Arthur CanRC in weekly pulpit supply for two months. I also had the opportunity to teach catechism class in my church, Providence CanRC. I have fond memories of all these places and the fellow saints I was privileged to meet.

Looking back over the past four years (and the years before seminary), we can see our Lord’s guiding hand. Relying on his faithfulness, we are looking into the future. This coming summer will bring many changes. We are eagerly looking forward to our wedding day. At the same time, we are waiting to see where God will bring us to serve in his kingdom, whether in Canada, South Africa, or beyond. I hope to present myself to classis, Lord willing, in June. Seminary often taught me to walk by faith, looking to God’s promises rather than to ourselves. With his promise that He works all for the good of those who love Him, we are eager to start the next chapter.