Meet the Edwards

Jonathan and Dawn Edwards have been married for 29 years, having met at Life Pacific University (LPU). With over 30 years of ministry experience, they proudly serve as Director and Student Life Coordinator for Daybreak Leadership College.

Jonathan is a “third culture kid”, who grew up on the mission field, living in Venezuela and Panama until his return to the United States when he was in late elementary school. His parents pioneered and pastored a Spanish-speaking church at The Church on the Way (Van Nuys, CA) for many years, allowing Jonathan to further experience a multi-cultural upbringing and ministry life through adolescence. Following high school, Jonathan attended Life Pacific University, and while there, worked at the National Youth Ministry office of the Foursquare denomination (in partnership with Jerry Dirmann) for several years before graduating from college with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Theology and minor in Pastoral Ministry. Upon graduation, Jonathan joined the staff at The Sanctuary, a Foursquare Church in Santa Clarita, CA where he served as the Executive Pastor for 21 years. As a strategist and critical thinker Jonathan’s passion is partnering with others to see them walk in the fullness of what God has for them. He has a Coaching Mastery Certification through Creative Results Management and has employed his skills as a life coach in both church and secular contexts. He loves playing drums and percussion, jazz music, good food and soccer (or football, as he calls it)!

Dawn grew up in Winters, a small, rural community in Northern California, moving to Southern California to attend Life Pacific University at the age of 18. There she met and married Jonathan, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Theology with a minor in Youth Ministry. After graduation, Dawn moved to Santa Clarita with Jonathan to begin local church ministry and start a family. Jonathan and Dawn have three daughters: Chloe Sunshine (age 24); Ellyanna Love (age 20); and Willow Rae (age 10). Dawn worked as an Executive Assistant at The Sanctuary, employing her ministry degree through preaching, teaching, writing discipleship curriculum and serving in many areas of the local church throughout her 17 years on staff. Dawn loves hospitality, the beach and any time she gets with her family!

Both Jonathan and Dawn are licensed and ordained ministers. Together, they are passionate about local church ministry and discipling the next generation so that God’s Kingdom may grow and expand until His return. It is their deep desire to come alongside young adults specifically, to help them discover their calling, grow as a disciples of Christ and walk in spiritual, emotional and physical health so that they may live out their ministry assignment, wherever that takes them.