Pastor Chad Johnson: His Journey, Ministry, and Current Activities

Nov 06, 2025 0

Pastor Chad Johnson has dedicated his life to serving others and guiding them through faith. From his early life to his current ministry, his journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment.

Early Life and Spiritual Awakening

Chad Johnson grew up in Duluth, MN, where he became a Christian at the age of 10. Upon graduation from High School, Chad attended Frontier School of the Bible from 2000-2003.

Growing up, I had an amazing Dad who was my coach, my mentor, my everything. My mom was a fitness beauty queen-an amazing mom with all of these great attributes. I have an older brother, a younger sister and we are all 5 years apart. I am the middle child and I have that syndrome bad where I’m always trying to be the peacemaker that brings everyone together. I excelled a lot at sports, and received an opportunity to go to a fellowship. Sports is where my father approved of me the most. I loved sports, dancing, and music.

One thing we didn’t have though was our faith. We did not practice any faith in Christ. We were cultural Christians, meaning we were American so we identify ourselves as Christians. We celebrated Christmas and Easter.

“I grew up in a small, tiny mountain town in Colorado. I like to tell people I had a Mark Twain novel life…You know where the town had caves, rivers, mountain tops; everything a little boy can get into I got into. (Laughs) I had a phenomenal upbringing, a beautiful life, and a strong family structure."

At age 17, sports was my refuge, ushering me into a faith walk with God. I got an opportunity to fellowship at a Christian athlete camp. I had never picked up a Bible, let alone, seen or touched a Bible, and never heard the Word presented clearly to me. The Word was presented to me that it’s all about having a relationship with God and we were created to have a relationship with Him. He will forgive your sins and give you eternal life; all while also leading you into your purpose.

I accepted Jesus into my heart at that camp. It was a very emotional and amazing encounter with God. The Lord came into my life and I began walking in faith alone.

Ministry and Pastoral Roles

Chad has a passion for preaching God’s Word and equipping God’s people for the work of the ministry. After graduation from FSB, he married Sarah and moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he pastored a small, rural community church in Cedar River, MI, while serving with Village Missions.

Within a few years, I began pastoring at that same church I attended. I went to Arizona Christian University, studying and playing basketball there. I immediately dove into the inner city ministry at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix. Here comes this white boy from a small town in Colorado who likes to breakdance and is now into church.

The Amarillo United Methodist Church welcomed its new senior pastor, Reverend Dr. Chad Johnson. He comes to Amarillo UMC from the First United Methodist Church of Jacksboro, Texas, according to a news release.

“I love The United Methodist Church and work to live by our mantra every day as a pastor, and a person, of Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. I believe this is who we are called to be by Christ and who we have been for so long as the Wesleyan people called Methodists," Johnson said in the release. "I am excited about all the ways we can live into this identity more and more, each and every day. Like the old hymn says, “God has work for us to do, work for us to do” and I am truly looking forward to ministry in Amarillo, Texas.”

Johnson holds a Doctor of Ministry and a Master of Divinity and from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology; a Master of Native American Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University; and a bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University in Business/Sociology. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in mental health and clinical counseling from the University of Oklahoma.

When a devastating tornado hit Jacksboro in 2022, he played a key role in the town’s recovery and is a minister devoted to missions and outreach.

Current Activities and Interests

Chad has a big heart for reaching all the nations with the Gospel and seeing many come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Amarillo United Methodist Church is located at 3001 Bell St., sharing a facility with St. Luke Presbyterian Church and streamed online at amarlloumc.org.

In addition, he is a full citizen of the Chickasaw Tribe of Oklahoma. Merging his heritage as a Chickasaw and his Christian theology as a pastor has led to the publication of his first book, "Finding God on the Indian Road: Exploring the Intersectionality Between Native American and Christian Spiritual Living."

Originally, from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Johnson loves to golf, spend time outside, be with family, study, read and cook. “Anytime I can light up my firepit out back and put some meat on the smoker I am a happy camper. I call myself a foodie, although I’m not sure how good of one I am, but I love to try new foods and restaurants and enjoy live music immensely,” he said.

With a personality just as infectious as his smile, Pastor Chad Johnson speaks with powerful conviction and authority as a pastor would, but without the “non traditional” pastor-esque demeanor. Yet despite his unorthodox appearance, and undeniable “swag,” Pastor Chad has dedicated his entire life to serving others.

Challenges and Reflections

While traveling the world ministering, leading devotionals and providing spiritual mentorship to pro athletes; Johnson has selflessly immersed his life into ministry and guiding others. From navigating the storms of life, to maintaining during the pandemic-looking back, to looking forward, Johnson bares his soul in his most introspective interview yet.

One thing we didn’t have though was our faith. We did not practice any faith in Christ.

“Wow, that is special. Yeah, but it wasn’t until one day when my parents sat us down. I was 13 and they told us they were getting a divorce. I was completely shocked, it rocked my family to the core. You know when you don’t have any foundation in your faith, life can take you anywhere. Pain has a way of coming out. My family and my father particularly, didn’t deal with it well, including myself. My father turned to a life at the bar and alcohol."

Within a 6 month span my family went from this perfect family to a broken family. With all hell breaking loose, we wondered if my father would have to go to prison. Things flipped very quickly and very drastically. So being the peacemaker that I am, I was trying to bring peace, love, and unity to my home at 13.

At that time, I didn’t know the call of God on my life. I was always trying to bring collectiveness to my family. Then I moved in with my father in this tiny little one-bedroom apartment. Almost every night he was gone all night at the bar as I would wait up all night for him. I ended up developing ulcers and wound up in the hospital becoming so sick. I felt the obligation; I call it parental inversion, when the child becomes the parent.

During the pandemic, I lost my ministry, and we had to close Elevate International. During our 20 years of ministry, we were able to raise and invest millions of dollars back into the black community, and in our town. I’ve been serving the community long before TV. I’m in the waiting season again, looking to God for what’s next. I know what God has done in the previous season, and I know He will do it again. He is the same God.

There are days when I get anxious, because I am human. I am a man, and I am a go-getter, and there are days where I have to sit myself down and pray. (Laughs) And when you have worked so hard to build something your whole life, and then for it to end in a seemingly abrupt way, it can be difficult.

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All of us have disappointments in life, and Michelle and my relationship fell apart like relationships do. Plenty of people have had disappointments in that regard. We are still friends, we are Christian friends, and we have love and respect for one another. But Michelle and I agreed to do the show because we prayed about it. We came to the conclusion that we can give people within our age group of 40 that haven’t really settled down, but have not necessarily given up on love; a peek into our lives.

At 43, do you still desire to get married and have a family? There’s the pandemic, and then there’s the pandemic of being single. (Laughs) There are days when I am discouraged and I say: ‘Lord it’s just going to be me and you.’ I think that’s the hardest part of being a Chrsitian and single as it relates to the surrender: ‘Lord, if you want me to be single, I’m OK with it being me and you.’ There are days when I feel like I’ve reached that contentment; then the next day, I am on the other side of the spectrum.

If I am honest with myself, yes I still desire marriage and a family. I didn’t want to be a global evangelist, pro athlete, or pastor. All I ever really wanted in life was to be a dad, and a husband. This is one of my greatest things, and I can’t wait for that to happen.