February 10, 2021
Phoenix, Arizona
SAGU American Indian College is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Jonathan Gannon to follow Dr. David Moore as president of the SAGU-AIC campus. Dr. Moore will continue as campus president until May 31, 2021. Dr. Jonathan Gannon will begin his role as campus president on June 1, 2021.
SAGU President, Dr. Kermit Bridges, and SAGU-AIC President, Dr. David Moore, announced the transition to campus faculty and staff on Friday, February 5th. “The AIC campus is a primary part of what SAGU is about,” said Dr. Kermit Bridges, SAGU President. “We value what is happening at AIC. God was orchestrating our steps in choosing the next SAGU-AIC president, as the vote for the most capable candidate was unanimous.”
“In Dr. Gannon we found somebody who embodied the most important qualifications of what we were looking for in a president…integrity, humility, and generosity,” said President Moore. “I look forward to working with him in this transition so we will see the only accredited private college campus that primarily serves Native Americans continue to thrive and advance.”
Dr. Jonathan Gannon is currently the lead pastor at Life Spring Church in El Mirage, AZ and has served there faithfully since 2012. Previously, he served as the Director of Global Outreach at Jewish Voice Ministries International in Phoenix, AZ. His additional ministry experiences include Lead Pastor and Church Planter at Bethel Church of Liberty A/G in Liberty, MO, and Singles and Young Adult Pastor at Northland Cathedral A/G in Kansas City, MO.
Dr. Gannon holds both a Doctor of Ministry in Missional Leadership and a Master of Divinity from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Missions Studies and Biblical Languages from Evangel University. His additional studies include Cross-Cultural Ministries and Biblical Languages from North Central Bible College and Israel College of the Bible.
“I am a missionary kid, and was raised in Israel in a cross-cultural home,” said Dr. Gannon. He has lived in California, New York, Arizona, and Jerusalem. He has been privileged to do work and ministry in Israel, Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, India, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico.
Dr. Gannon has been married to Reverend Monica Gannon for 23 years. Monica is ordained in the A/G fellowship and in May will graduate from SAGU with an undergraduate degree.
“It is our privilege to be coming into this new role,” said Monica. “It’s in our nature to come around people and become family.” Together the Gannons have six children — Anastasia, Jonathan II, Josiah, Anneliese, Angelina, and Arianna, ranging from 21 to 10 years old.
“It’s an exciting day for us,” said Dr. Gannon. “I have learned to cherish the sacred identity of this school…my great grandparents Joe and Irma Gannon were A/G home missionaries in the 1950s to Native Americans. I look back and see an amazing link as though the Lord has brought something full circle in allowing me to come here and serve you.”
“ I look forward to becoming an advocate for the students on this campus. I can’t wait to spend time learning their stories, their backgrounds, their experiences, and elevating the profile of this school that deserves to experience a bright future. This school is poised for a very unique leap forward and I’m excited for what God has in store for AIC next.”- Dr. Jonathan Gannon
Students met Dr. Gannon at a special chapel session on Tuesday, February 9. Dr. Gannon preached a message to both encourage and challenge students. “You’re not defined by what you’ve done. You’re not defined by your failures. You are defined by what you are becoming,” he told students. “Every season of life involves something that will make you feel inadequate. You have the option every time to either quit or grow. You grow when you carry something too big for you and when you face something too big for you. God has called you to continue growing stronger.”
“Today is a special day at AIC,” said President Moore. “As King Solomon said, there’s a time for everything — a time to begin and a time to end. I’m ending my time here at AIC.” He served as campus president from 1987-1994, then again from 2013-2021.
Dr. Gannon will train with President Moore until the end of May. Dr. Gannon will officially become campus president on June 1. The campus is optimistic about the upcoming transition.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) American Indian College (AIC) is the nation’s only private Christian college serving primarily Native American students. Established in 1957, AIC now serves nearly 25 tribes as well as other ethnicities.
