“Don’t give up, keep the faith, keep casting.”
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Jonathan faced many personal hardships during his early childhood. One challenge was low academic performance; he had delayed reading development and struggled with literacy skills. He found school challenging and had difficulty making friends as he dealt with poor living environments, asthma, child abuse/neglect, and low self-esteem.

The most significant turning point for him was when he was 12 years old; he lost his best friend, main encourager, and big sister to asthma and a freak accident. Dealing with mental depression, fear, addiction, and anxiety, Jonathan coped and overcame by taking on fishing, fitness, fellowship, basketball, and, most importantly, his faith and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Jonathan’s life journey and personal maturity have been a process in the hand of the Lord. Through God’s amazing grace, prayer, and the six disciplines of BassLord, his life has gone from unhealthy to flourishing. His journey from a challenging childhood to the founder of BassLord is a testament to his motto:

“Don’t give up, Keep the faith, Keep Casting.”

Just how a fisherman doesn’t give up on the water, they keep casting by faith to hopefully catch a fish or find a fishing pattern. It is continuous faith with patience & repetition, which hopefully leads to success. The ‘Keep Motto’ is for everyone. It is significant and symbolic of continuous spiritual & physical action in the peaks and the valleys of life; it encourages you to keep at what you are pursuing in the midst of challenge & adversity with grit, faith, and a great attitude.