Beyond the Pulpit: How One Pastor Challenged the Status Quo

Show Notes:
In this thoughtful episode of The Human Experience, host Jennifer Peterkin visits John (Jonathan Heaslet) at his North Carolina home to reflect on a remarkable life of service, transformation, and storytelling.

John shares his early years growing up near San Francisco, his studies in mathematics and economics, and his first career as a health economist before answering the call to ministry. He recounts candid experiences from serving as a pastor in rural Ohio—including supporting an AIDS patient at a time of deep stigma and navigating the complex truths within Amish communities.

The conversation explores themes of vulnerability, empathy, inclusion, and the challenge of fostering change in diverse American communities. Now retired, John reflects on his transition into writing and creative pursuits, bringing the same compassion and curiosity that guided his ministry into his fiction.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of illness, community exclusion, and sensitive cultural topics. Listener discretion is advised.

Key Takeaways:
● Vulnerability and courage are central to authentic storytelling.
● John’s personal journey spans health economics, military service, and pastoral ministry.
● Rural and urban communities offer stark cultural contrasts that shape ministry and daily life.
● Ministry required navigating inclusion, compassion, and difficult truths.
● He shares experiences supporting marginalized individuals, including an AIDS patient.
● Religious and societal systems impact personal safety, autonomy, and belonging.
● Secrets within communities can carry heavy consequences, both individually and collectively.
● Empathy and community resilience are vital in creating more inclusive spaces.
● Retirement opened a new chapter for John—writing fiction inspired by lived experiences.

Interview recorded in Charlotte, NC.

Jonathan Heaslet’s Bio:
Jonathan (John) Heaslet is a retired Army Captain, health economist, and ordained minister. In retirement, he has turned to writing fiction, publishing two novels: EAST OF APPLE GLEN (2023) and HAWKS NEST CHRONICLES — GOOD NEWS FROM OSCEOLA, IOWA.

Drawing from a life of service, faith, and curiosity, John’s writing continues his lifelong commitment to storytelling, empathy, and reflection. He lives in North Carolina with his wife, Linda.

Connect with Jonathan Heaslet:
🌐 Website: https://www.JonathanHeaslet.com  

🔗 LinkedIn: Jonathan Heaslet 

 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088773562534

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Can you pinpoint a moment in time when your life changed? Maybe it wasn’t a moment, maybe it was a complicated chain of events that led you to where you are today. Or maybe, it was a generational impact that started before you were even born. Regardless of what it contains, all humans have a story. And those stories are the building blocks of who we are, at our very core. Join host, Jennifer Peterkin - lover and collector of stories, as she interviews humans from all walks of life. Tune in every week to hear stories of love and loss, triumph and defeat, and all that exist in between.