Throughout this month, Eastern Star Church has been celebrating the 25th anniversary of Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr. as the congregation’s senior pastor.
Every Wednesday during noon and 7 p.m. services, church members and guests have been able to celebrate with national recording artists such as VaShawn Mitchell, Jason Nelson and Karen Clark-Sheard, as well as special guest preachers like Frederick D. Haynes of Friendship West Baptist Church of Dallas, and Pastor Tolan Morgan of New St. Paul Baptist Church of Detroit.
Johnson, a native of Indianapolis who graduated from Arlington High School and Bishop College with honors, accepted his call to ministry in 1979. After serving as a youth minister and senior pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church in Terre Haute, Ind., Johnson was selected to lead Eastern Star Church in 1988 at age 25.
Organized as a mission for the community in 1920, Eastern Star Church has experienced more growth during Johnson’s tenure than at any time in its history. Since 1988, it has grown from a few hundred members to more than 10,000, opened three new locations, built a school, launched three church plants and now has over 30 active ministries.
At the same time, the church has expanded its capacity to be involved in the community, particularly by serving those in need.
Johnson has also had a national impact as an in-demand speaker and has topped Black Christian News Network’s national list of the best pulpiteers (preachers).
Through his Kingdom Word Ministries, he has written three books, Song of Solomon, Love, Sex and Relationships; Making a Comeback: Reclaiming Our Lives in Christ; Life Illustrated: Daily Thoughts for Your Daily Walk; and Dialogue with My Daughters. His latest book, Dialogue with My Sons is scheduled to be released at the end of 2013.
This week, the Recorder spoke with Johnson about Eastern Star Church’s development over the last 25 years, its recent accomplishments and what he hopes the church will achieve in the future.
Recorder: How does it feel to reach this milestone?
Johnson: It’s awesome just to be in a situation where my family in the city I’ve grown up in can also share in it. They were there from the beginning with their encouragement, love and support. It means a lot to be in one place for a quarter of a century; you get a chance to see the fruits of your labor. You get a chance to see the things you planned 20 and 25 years ago grow and develop. Many of the young people who were kids when I got here are now committed to the kingdom of God, and to see them developing their own families is wonderful.
In 1994, Eastern Star Church moved from its location at 22nd and Columbia Ave., where it has been since the 1920s, into a larger facility and has been growing ever since. Did you ever anticipate this level of growth?
No, for me it was not like that. I had no idea it would get to this level. I was just trying to be obedient to God and hear his voice for that day and that time, not knowing that in that obedience God would develop a ministry that is known around the country and world, and is able to reach tens of thousands of people for the Kingdom of God. I had no idea he had that in store for us. But now that I look back on it, I can certainly see the hand of God in every turn and corner, knowing that he was working some things out.
How did you become pastor at Eastern Star Church?
I had preached at St. Paul Church in Terre Haute for three years, and knew that Eastern Star Church did not have a pastor. It was Pastor Stephen Clay (of Messiah Missionary Baptist Church) who recommended me to talk to Eastern Star Church and Pastor Thomas Brown (retired pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church) to let them know I was interested in preaching there. At first I wasn’t to become pastor of the church; they needed somebody to come and preach. I came in and they were receptive to the word of God and how he gave it to me. The spirit of God just began to move in that situation and the connection was so powerful between the people and the preacher that now, 25 years later, we can see that God was certainly at work there.
Who would you say are some of the people who helped make you the man you are today?
My mother, in terms of being a single parent raising her four children in the way of the Lord. Also, my grandmother, who is the matriarch of our family and helped to establish that spiritual legacy. My childhood pastor, the late Charles Harris (Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church), under whom I had a lot of spiritual growth, as well as Rev. Frank Alexander (of Oasis of Hope Baptist Church), who has been my mentor for so many years. Another inspiration has been A. Louis Patterson out of Houston, who I used as a model for ministry and preaching. Those are the people who have shaped and influenced me.
What would you consider some of the proudest accomplishments under your leadership?
Just to see people accepting Christ and growing and developing into the kind of men and women that God would have for them to be. I have been here to see the spiritual growth and the spiritual maturity take place. Also important has been the development of Christian leadership and people who are in full-time ministry. God used me to touch, reach them and direct them. That includes pastors I have had a chance to pour into and help them to see what Christ was doing in their life and the life of their congregations.
What would you like to see Eastern Star Church do over the next 25 years?
I think we are at a time where our church has been in a constant state of transition. We need to listen to God’s voice and move when he moves. We will have to reach teenagers and young adults and help them to see what the spirit of God has for them. My thing after 25 years is developing spirit-filled Christians and developing people into Christian leadership. I want to see Eastern Star Church be the place where people can come and be exposed to the power of God’s Holy Spirit and his Word to see what God has for them.
Some people have questioned various aspects of Eastern Star Church, including its size. Why should they reconsider it as their church home?
There’s a reason the church is big: Jesus said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all people unto me.” We’ve been lifting up Jesus, and he has been drawing people. Eastern Star Church is a place where you can come into a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ, and you can be filled with the Holy Spirit and operate within it. This is a place where you can grow and develop as a child of God and be able to receive the vision that God has for you personally and for us corporately, while operating under the gifts of the Spirit.
Pastor E.K. Bailey talked about how ministry is about meeting needs and serving. People go where their needs are met, and one of the things that Eastern Star Church has tried to do is meet needs. We meet the needs of everyone from infants, children and youth, to singles, married couples and senior saints. As we meet those needs people have no problem coming and being a part of what God is doing here.
What do you see as the church’s role in helping to address challenges in the community?
As a church, we have to deal with the personal gospel and the personal relationship that people need to have with God through his son Jesus Christ. But we also have to deal with the social gospel. Jesus said “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was in prison and you came to see me. I was sick and you gave me consolation.” Jesus speaks of that social piece that says you don’t just feed people spiritually, you also feed them bread and fish, physically. The church also has to be a voice for justice. Justice has to be there for everybody, and the church cannot ignore the ills of society and then think that somehow we are in God’s will. We have to be the voice that speaks the truth to power so that everybody can benefit from the social privileges that are available.
Visit easternstarchurch.org and click on the 25th Pastoral Anniversary link, which offers tribute videos, classic sermons, a photo gallery and information on celebration services.
A look at Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr.
Education: Arlington High School, Bishop College
Family: Wife Sharon, sons Jeffrey Allen II (“Jay”), Jordan, Jalon and Josiah
Favorite pastimes: Reading different types of books; running, especially in marathons, spending time with family; and traveling.
Music: Gospel and “old school” R&B, especially Motown
Eastern Star Church’s community activism
– Sponsors the annual HBCU College Fair in Indianapolis.
– Provided more than $60,000 in scholarships to college bound students.
– Offers quality child care/preschool and kindergarten programs through JEWEL – Childcare/Preschool & Kindergarten.
– Fed 6,500 families annually through its JEWEL Human Services outreach arm.
– Sponsored over 1,200 children annually for Christmas.
– Provided free health screenings and service to over 1,000 families each year.
– Provided back to school supplies; backpacks, shoes, and clothing annually for 500 children.
– Johnson donated proceeds from his 25th wedding anniversary celebration in excess of $91,000 to Good Samaritan Hope Orphanage in Haiti, and sponsors mission trips for youth globally.
