Check Out Julian Johnson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julian Johnson.

Hi Julian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Grew up in St. Louis attending Bethesda Temple Church at an early age. Graduated from Lutheran North High school in 1993 and went to attend and graduated from Hampton University in 1998. Worked as a Sr. Accountant for Enterprise Holdings prior to reluctantly relocating back to St. Louis in 2003. I knew I had a calling to ministry that would eventually lead to pastoring but never imagined it being my hometown or my home church.

I was received for the most part and was brought under the wing of my Sr. Pastor the late honorable Bishop James A. Johnson. I attended our church’s Bible Institute after realizing there was much more training needed for the road I was headed on.  I continued to pursue seminary training and recently graduated from Missouri Baptist University with a Master of Art in Christian Ministry during the pandemic.

Bishop Johnson eventually elevated me to one of his assistant pastors in 2010 and then created a position in 2013 as associate pastor. After his demise, I was elected to work with the Business Administrator until an official pastor was selected. After a few candidates I was eventually selected to fulfill the role as Sr. Pastor on February, 2017.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? Absolutely not! There is a price to pay when you know you’ve been favored by the Lord. There’s a cup of suffering that comes in many forms; people, life circumstances, spiritual warfare. At the same time, there’s a grace he give to help you endure it. No sooner than I was elected pastor in February, 2017, my father passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in May, 2017. It was a depressing season in my life.

From there it was learning to adjust to the role as pastor and just when you think you have your routine down, then came the pandemic. I have learned that it’s certainly a role where trusting God is an absolute. No man can walk in these shoes without divine assistance.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Secular field (ended 2017) Bachelor of Art in Accounting from Hampton University

Worked as a Sr. Accountant for Enterprise Holdings, Husch Blackwell Law Firm and the Missouri Housing Development Commission

Current field in ministry (present): Master of Art in Christian Ministry from Missouri Baptist University

Current profession: Sr. Pastor of Bethesda Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc in Normandy, MO

Treasurer for the Midwestern District Council

Board of Directors: Missouri Ecumenical Leadership Council

Assistant Bishop to the International Diocese of Liberia W. Africa in our organization, The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. where we are planning to open an elementary school.

Coordinated medical missions work in Puerto Rico

Active in outreach and evangelism to the local community- feeding people, partnering with local grocery stores to help purchase groceries for people, thanksgiving basket give aways, grief counseling for the community

Known for Missionary work nationally and internationally

Good with numbers

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Pros:
St. Louis has a rich history and with the right leadership has a lot of potential to be a tier one city.
St. Louis has become more diverse over the years.
St. Louis is known for good food.

Cons:
St. Louis is a big metropolitan area with a small town mentality. This mentality stunts its growth and creates a lack of cooperation among municipalities.
St. Louis has a bad reputation for crime. The natives know its a certain concentrated area of the region however, it brands the entire region and gives it a reputation it doesn’t deserve.  There is also a lack of trust within certain communities which makes it a challenge to galvinize resources to empower the people financially.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bethesdatemplestl.org