20 Under 40: Johnathan Sublet
Johnathan moved to Topeka, to truly serve the community. Along with the help of volunteers, he led the launch of the Fellowship Hi-Crest church campus. Johnathan brings residents from all over Topeka to Hi-Crest for services each weekend, and the church has grown from a plant team of 60 to over 300 people.
Johnathan helped create SENT, a non-profit with three major pillars: Education, Business Development, and Community Health. In 2019, SENT built the first new home in the Hi-Crest community in more than 60 years, is proud to offer a clinical therapist on campus and now owns and leases several rental properties for the community.
“Leadership starts with self. Since 2003, I have lost over 350lbs through much dedication and sacrifice.”
If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?
Loving others. At times, I am stubborn, overly ambitious and a lot more prideful than I would like to admit. This leads to ungraceful thoughts and sometimes words. If I could love God and others like Jesus, that would enable me to achieve what really matters: being with God and people in this journey we call life.
If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be, and why?
Learning what it means to win. I have spent so much of my life trying to overcome what others thought of me. As I achieved my goals, nothing really changed and that made me question what success and winning really looks like. I didn't find it when I overcame poverty to have a successful career as a chemical engineer. I didn't find it when I lost weight to beat obesity. I didn't find it when I finally got married at age 35. I didn't find it when I adopted the kids that I always dreamed of. Learning to love God, myself and others allowed me to see that winning is enjoying the journey.
What advice would you give to your teenage self?
You aren't what you achieve. Don't be in such a hurry. Money may fix your poverty, but it won't make you whole. That girl that you like, who won't give the attention you want, doesn't determine your beauty. Timelines are useful, but they aren't everything.
