Bishop John L. Johnson

Bishop John Lewis Johnson was born to the parentage of the late Rev. and Mrs. James Johnson on October 24, 1925, in Scottsville, Texas. Bishop Johnson graduated from Pemberton High School in Marshall, Texas on May 28, 1943. After moving to Fort Worth, Texas, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1944 and served his country for four years. Bishop Johnson attended Southwestern School of Business, where he received a degree in Business Administration in 1956.

On February 15, 1949 at age twenty-three, he was saved at the Progressive Church of God in Christ in Fort Worth, Texas. He accepted his call to Ministry on April 26, 1950 at Progressive Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of the late Elder D.C. Littlefield. He served as the Sunday School Superintendent and Assistant Pastor of the Progressive Church of God in Christ for eight and a half years. He was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God in Christ in 1959. On May 23, 1959, he was appointed pastor of the Progressive Church of God in Christ by the late Bishop F.L. Haynes and was installed by the late Bishop D.L. Smith.

Bishop John Lewis Johnson was elevated to the position of Superintendent of the Fort Worth District, Texas Northeast Jurisdiction on April 10, 1970, by the late Bishop F.L. Haynes. His leadership skills were apparent in Texas Northeast because he served as a Trustee, Chairman of the Board of Superintendents, and a Program Planning Committee member. On December 29, 1992, Bishop J.L. Johnson was appointed Administrative Assistant to the Office of the Bishop, Texas Northeast First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction by the late Bishop J. Neaul Haynes. On November 13, 2016, Bishop J. L. Johnson was consecrated as an Auxiliary Bishop by Bishop Charles Edward Blake Sr.

Many accolades are attributed to Bishop J. L. Johnson. In 1970, he served as the Vice President of the Maddox Community Center in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition, he was a Member of the Board of Directors United Community Centers Inc. from 1970-1974. On October 22, 1983, the late Mayor of Fort Worth, Bob Bolen, proclaimed that day as "John L. Johnson Day." Paul Quinn College on October 17, 1990 conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity upon Bishop J. L. Johnson. He was recognized by the Fort Worth Community in 1993 as a "Living Legend." During the 2009 Black Marriage Day, Bishop J. L. Johnson and his late wife Mother Alma Katherine Johnson were honored as a Hall of Fame recipient for sixty-five years of marriage.

Bishop J. L. Johnson's more than half a century ministry has birthed more than twenty-six Sons in the Gospel. He was a revered, highly respected Man of God, an anointed preacher, and had a Radio Outreach Broadcast for thirty-eight years. Over the years, Bishop John Lewis Johnson's faith and courage has been unwavering. This Gospel Giant had a tenure of seventy years of Gospel preaching, sixty-one years of Pastoral Ministry, and fifty years serving as a District Superintendent. He was a Jurisdictional Administrative Assistant for twenty-four years. Bishop J. L. Johnson was a Senior Advisor to Bishop J.E. Hornsby of Texas Northeast First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gwspencerdirs.net for the Johnson family.