Draft:Brian Golez Najapfour

Brian Golez Najapfour

(born October 16, 1980, in Quezon City, Philippines) is a Filipino-born American Reformed pastor, author, and theologian. His preaching style has been described as passionate, clear, and gospel-centered, marked by a distinctive ability to connect theological principles to everyday Christian living.

In the fall of 2011, during a pastoral vacancy at Dutton United Reformed Church in Michigan, Najapfour occasionally preached while pursuing his doctoral studies. Reflecting on this period, the church noted:

As God continued to direct the events at Dutton, one of the men who filled the pulpit during this vacancy was a young Filipino man whose name we were not sure we could pronounce. Rev. Brian G. Najapfour, an ordained minister, was studying at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and preached for us from time to time. A search committee had been formed and was in the process of gathering names of ministers to recommend to Council. In the meantime, there was something about this young minister’s passion, unpretentious manner and love for the gospel that began to resonate with the congregation.

Since 2001, Najapfour has served congregations in the Philippines, the United States, and Canada. He currently pastors the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Jordan, Ontario. A prolific author and editor, Najapfour has published books on topics ranging from historical theology to practical Christian living. His works include academic studies, devotional writings, and hymns, such as “Reborn in Christ, who pardoned me,” “Jesus, my second Adam,” and “Chosen before the world began.” His scholarship often explores Puritan spirituality, prayer, and evangelical traditions.

Early Life and Ministry

Najapfour was raised in a nominal Roman Catholic home. He converted to Protestantism in 1996 and joined a Baptist church. The following year, at age 16, he felt called to pastoral ministry and began his theological studies at the Center for Biblical Studies Institute and Seminary in Antipolo, Philippines, where he earned a Bachelor of Theology in 2001 and a Master of Biblical Studies in 2004.

From 2001 to 2006, Najapfour served as a pastor in the Association of Christian Churches of the Philippines (ACCPHIL). He then pursued advanced studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, earning a Master of Theology in 2009. His time at the seminary deepened his interest in Reformed theology and profoundly shaped his spirituality, particularly in the discipline of prayer, which became a focus of his later works. Reflecting on this formative period, he remarked:

It was not until I came to Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in 2006 that I really noticed my own prayerlessness. When I came to this seminary, the first thing I observed was its godly atmosphere. I was particularly impressed by the prayerful life of its staff. I remember one day after hearing Dr. Joel R. Beeke pray, I felt I had not prayed before, and I also became curious about his prayer life. I, of course, found out that the Reformers and the Puritans had greatly influenced this man’s prayer life. I then began to investigate the teachings of these Reformers and Puritans on prayer with a desire to learn more how to pray. In fact, most of the papers I wrote for my ThM program were about prayer. The chapters I contributed to the coedited book were originally papers written for this program. My thesis itself was about prayer—“‘The Very Heart of Prayer’: Reclaiming John Bunyan’s Spirituality.”

In 2012, Najapfour joined the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA), serving as a pastor until 2022. That year, he relocated to Ontario, Canada, to pastor the Heritage Reformed Church of Jordan, which is part of the Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) denomination. In 2022, Najapfour earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the Theological University of Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. His dissertation, supervised by Herman Selderhuis and Adriaan Neele, examined the life, hymns, and contributions of Joseph Hart (1712–1768) to the early British evangelical movement.

Other Involvement

Najapfour is co-founder and president of God Is Our Help Ministries, a charitable organization dedicated to addressing the spiritual and physical needs of the destitute in the Philippines. In addition to his pastoral duties, he frequently speaks at conferences.

Personal Life

Brian G. Najapfour is married to Sarah, and they have five children.

Education

• B.Th. (2001): Center for Biblical Studies Institute and Seminary
• M.B.S. (2004): Center for Biblical Studies Institute and Seminary
• Th.M. (2009): Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
• Ph.D. (2022): Theological University of Apeldoorn

Main Interests

• Puritanism
• Early Evangelicalism
• Eighteenth-Century English Hymnody
• Biblical Spirituality
• Evangelism

Selected Publications

Books

1. Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer, co-edited with Joel R. Beeke, (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2011).
2. The Very Heart of Prayer: Reclaiming John Bunyan’s Spirituality (Mountain Home, AR: BorderStone Press 2012).
3. Jonathan Edwards: His Doctrine of & Devotion to Prayer (Caledonia, MI: Biblical Spirituality Press, 2013).
4. The Collected Prayers of John Knox (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2019).
5. Amazing Love! How Can It Be: Studies on Hymns by Charles Wesley, co-edited with Chris Fenner (Eugene, OR: Resource, 2020).
6. Joseph Hart (1712–1768), Eighteenth-Century Hymnody, and the British Evangelical Movement (Jordan Station, ON: Paideia Press, 2024).

Journal Articles

• “John Bunyan: A Sectary or a Puritan or Both? A Historical Exploration of His Religious Identity,” Puritan Reformed Journal 3, no. 2 (2011): 142–59.
• ‘“Where shall my wondering soul begin?’: A Historical and Theological Analysis,” Puritan Reformed Journal 3, no. 2 (2011): 291–98.
• “‘[T]hat it might lead and direct men unto Christ’: John Owen’s View of the Mosaic Covenant,” Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 29, no. 2 (2011): 196–204.
• “The Piety of Joseph Hart as Reflected in His Life, Ministry, and Hymns,” Puritan Reformed Journal 4, no. 1 (2012): 201–22.
• “‘After this manner therefore pray ye’: Puritan Perspectives on the Lord’s Prayer,” Puritan Reformed Journal 4, no. 2 (2012): 158–69.
• “The Four-Fold Context of John Owen’s The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer (1682),” Reformed Baptist Theological Review 7, no. 2 (2010): 73–87.
• “‘A Singular Submissiveness to the Will of God’: The Spirituality of Samuel Pearce (1766-1799),” Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 37, no. 2 (2019): 180–86.

Personal details

Born October 16, 1980 (age 44) Quezon City, Philippines Nationality Filipino-born American

Spouse

• Sarah Joan Elshout

Alma mater

• Center for Biblical Studies Institute and Seminary (B.Th., M.B.S.)
• Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (Th.M.)
• Theological University of Apeldoorn (Ph.D.)

Occupation(s)

• Pastor, author, theologian

Website

• biblicalspiritualitypress.org

References

Chadd, “An Interview with Brian G. Najapfour,” 30.
Mathes, “Introducing Dutton URC’s New Pastor,” 12.