“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 5:8*
The aforementioned verse serves to comfort Bethesda Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. and the faith community of St. Louis and beyond as it mourns the passing of a most beloved leader.
Two weeks after he was celebrated for 65 years of leadership as senior pastor of Bethesda Temple, The Honorable Bishop James A. Johnson, Former Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., passed away today (May 21). He was 90 years old.
“He truly walked what he taught,” said Deacon Craig Kelly, who worked closely with Bishop Johnson at Bethesda Temple.
“For him, there was no wavering from the word of God. He taught us the word of God and followed it to the letter in all truth and faith.”
On May 9, 1950 –five years after the end of World War II – Bishop Johnson left his home of Flint, Michigan to assume the position of senior pastor of Bethesda Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.
He remained for the rest of his life.
At the luncheon celebrating his 65th pastoral anniversary, he told his beloved congregation that he counted the opportunity to do so – for such a long time – as one of his many blessings.
“I’m almost speechless, and you want me to give a speech,” Bishop Johnson said.
The weekend of anniversary celebrations culminated on the exact day of his 65th anniversary with a luncheon at the Renaissance Grand Hotel downtown.
“One of the main things I will say is ‘thank you,’” Johnson said. “I’m thankful to God and to the membership of this church and the years of support that the church has giving me in leading them.”
According to Kelly, Bishop Johnson’s impeccable character made it easy to offer unyielding support for the three generations Bishop Johnson led his flock.
“He really cared about the people of God – people who were in need, people who needed his counseling,” Kelly said. “Bishop would counsel people who weren’t even a part of the church. He would offer nuggets from the word of God to anyone who would listen and was open to receive them.”
His legacy of wisdom, faith and leadership combined won’t soon be forgotten by his Bethesda family – or the broad reach of his ministry that stretched far beyond the walls of his church home.
“One of the greatest things he would tell us is ‘this walk of faith that we have, we not only have to walk it – but we have to live it to its fullest extent, ’” Kelly said.
Bishop Johnson is survived by his seven children and wife Juana J. Johnson.
Final arrangements are pending, but will be provided when they become available.
