Jonathan Aaron Toogood is a native New Yorker. He is the second child to grace the union of Elder Preston and Andrea Toogood. Jonathan was raised in the Praying Band of Faith Apostolic Church in the Bronx (pastored by his maternal great-grandmother) and the House of God, Holy Church of the Living God, The Pillar and the Ground of the Truth, The House of Prayer for All People, Inc.

Jonathan was educated in the NYC and Albany County public school systems. He went to further his educating in Baltimore, MD attending the Baltimore International Culinary College obtaining an associates degree in Applied Science in professional cooking.

After graduating from culinary school, Jonathan was back at his first church, Praying Band of Faith, now pastored by his father, the late Bishop Preston W. Toogood. There he served as sabbath school teacher, minister of music, church administrator, advisory board member and trustee. Officially licensed a minister in 2000, his father had the privilege of ordaining Jonathan an elder in the Lord's Church on December 15, 2007 amongst a great cloud of witnesses. Seeking more knowledge from the Lord, the newly ordained Elder Jonathan followed in the footsteps of his grandmother (prior pastor of Praying Band of Faith) and enrolled in Manhattan Bible Institute attending for 2 years. Trying to get a better grasp of his Hebrew culture, in 2016 he attended Hebrew classes in Harlem taught by one of Harlem’s last black rabbis. In December 2018 he was selected and affirmed a rabbi in Philadelphia, PA by the Pan-Afrikan Orthodox Synagogue, Inc. organization. In 2020 he attended Dominion Theological Seminary working towards his Bachelors of Theology.

One sabbath in 2011 while ministering at a church in Brooklyn, the Lord placed in Elder Jonathan’s spirit to plant a church. On Abib 1 (March 24, 2012), the day of the new moon and Biblical new year, he began this new chapter in his life as a pastor with the inaugural service of Devar Chaim Ministries (meaning “word of life” in Hebrew). Through this ministry lives have been saved, reclaimed, transformed, delivered, enlightened and healed. Blinders have been removed and shackles broken through the truth that has been taught and preached, for there on the hinges of his tongue hangs an impartation of life. Some of the event highlights of the ministry include the annual Commandment Keepers BBQ, DCM 5th Anniversary Black Tie Dinner and the 2019 trip to Israel. A chef by trade and a chef in the spirit Pastor Jonathan prepares delicious, nourishing meals of the word weekly that cultivates, invigorates, instigates, rejuvenates and illuminates the hearers.