About the Author — J.P. Knight

J.P. Knight

"Pastor J. P. combines a scholarly mind with a pastor's heart. He took the lead in welcoming refugees and people of all nations to our church, and his love for them was returned."

— Victoria, University ESL Instructor

"J.P. has a rare gift for entering another culture with humility and genuine curiosity. He listens before he speaks, and people feel honored in his presence."

— Dr. Samuel A., Seminary Colleague

"His teaching on world religions is both rigorous and deeply pastoral. He helped our church see our Muslim neighbors as friends to love, not problems to solve."

— Mark T., Lead Pastor

J.P. Knight is President of 4Ethne ["4-ETH-nay," i.e., nations], a non-profit dedicated to helping communities build bridges to their "next-door nations."

By Profession: Visiting professor at various universities, author and conference speaker on world religions — particularly Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. These have taken him to Germany, the Netherlands, India, Singapore, Senegal, and several Central and Southeast Asian countries.
By Marriage: He is a lucky man, marrying-up to his beautiful wife 45 years ago.
By Family: He's a proud father of three grown children and a grandfather five times over.
By Experience: For 35 years he pastored congregations in metropolitan areas with a large influx of people from global religious cultures — Portland OR, Seattle WA, Austin TX, and Grand Rapids MI.
By Education: He is the beneficiary of greater minds than his own. He earned an academic master's degree (Th.M., 2000), zeroing in on world religions, and a Doctor of Ministry (2010) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, focusing on the interplay of ethnic identity and religious belonging, and their implications for the church and its mission.
By Creation: He is a man endowed with intrinsic value and bursting with life-purpose by his magnificent Creator, about whom he is unashamed.
By Faith: He is a Christian. Everything good in his life he owes to God through Jesus Christ, whose life-pattern he seeks to emulate.

Bridges & Friendships

Building Bridges to Next-Door Nations

J.P. Knight greeting a friend in South Asia

J.P. Knight in conversation with an imam

J.P. Knight seated with friends at an outdoor gathering

J.P. Knight with friends at the Faisal Mosque

J.P. Knight in conversation with a group of men

J.P. Knight celebrating with friends at a gathering