Pastor Jonathan L. McKnight is an awesome man of God. He is the pastor of Sanctuary of Praise Ministries located in the beautiful city of Orlando, FL. He is the son of Bishop James E. Sr. and Mother Jessie McKnight.  Bishop James E. Sr. is currently the presiding bishop of the Church Of God By Faith, Inc. established in 1914 and serves as Pastor McKnight's pastor and spiritual covering. Prior to his call to pastor, Pastor McKnight was a full-time evangelist for six years. His evangelistic ministry, Jonathan L. McKnight Ministries, up and down the eastern seaboard and to various states within the Midwest. Now, the Lord has allowed Pastor McKnight to minister in local, state, and federal prisons to both men and women. He has also ministered nationally and internationally. He can be heard on radio broadcast in numerous cities in the states of Florida, North Carolina and New York.

Pastor McKnight has made a tremendous impact in the city of Orlando and the Central Florida communities. Under his leadership, the Sanctuary of Praise Ministries has one of the largest food giveaway outreach programs. This ministry has physically knocked on over 10,000 doors giving food donations to families in various neighborhoods. The food and clothe bank average serving 600 to 800 families per month.

Pastor McKnight started pastoring Sanctuary of Praise in 1997 in a very small church building with approximately 30 members in a historically crime ridden community.  The ministry since then has grown tremendously to over 1,800 members.  Sanctuary of Praise Ministries is now located at 821 S. Kirkman Road in Orlando, Florida on 31 acres of prime property, just 3 miles North of Universal Studios.

Pastor McKnight’s ministry is not only concerned with the physical needs of people but the spiritual needs as well. Salvation and deliverance for the wounded soul are the focuses of his ministry. The vision of his church is to be a spirit-filled center of life that people will become focused on building, equipping, developing, and maintaining an intimate spiritual relationship with God, based upon the principles and surety of God’s divine word through our Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor McKnight and the Sanctuary of Praise congregation through evangelistic outreach have enlarged the body of Christ to over 4,000 souls in the past 3 years. This is a direct attack on the enemy, and this ministry is not stopping there!

Pastor McKnight has received numerous awards and recognitions locally and nationally. He received the Good Citizenship Award from the Orlando Police Department, and the Community Involvement Awards from the City of Orlando and the Orange County Commissions. He also, received the 2002 Heritage Award from the Daughters of Rizpah Ministries founded by Rev. Jackie McCullough. Lastly, Pastor McKnight has received the prestige honor of having a Gold Key to the City of Orlando.