Author Bio:

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Dr. Jonathan Okinaga serves as the Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also holds the Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling. He is an ACBC Certified Counselor and an ACBC Fellow, committed to equipping the next generation of biblical counselors to minister faithfully with the sufficiency of Scripture. A graduate of SWBTS, he earned his PhD in Biblical Counseling after completing a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling, and he also holds a BA in Religion and Administration from Vanguard University.

With more than a decade of ministry experience, Dr. Okinaga has counseled and discipled individuals overcoming addiction in a wide range of settings. His research and writing focus on addiction, including his book From Sin to Disease (Wipf & Stock, 2022), along with other works addressing related issues in soul care. Known affectionately by his students as “Dr. O,” he mentors both in the classroom and beyond it—sharing life through meals, sports, and personal conversations.

In addition to his teaching, Dr. Okinaga has trained churches and leaders in biblical counseling throughout the United States, Japan, and Peru. He previously served as an associate pastor in California, where his pastoral care and counseling ministry laid the foundation for his current work in training future counselors. He and his wife, Nicole, delight in raising their young son, James, as they seek to serve Christ together.