Pastor Kenneth Johnson is best known for guiding the spirituality of the Indianapolis Colts as the team’s chaplain, but he’s tackled a new venture to help the love life of a millionaire.
Johnson is an advisor on WE TV’s new reality dating series, “Match Made in Heaven, which premiered earlier this month. On the show, he shepherds millionaire Shawn Bullard on his quest for love, and observes the authenticity and godliness of 24 women living under one roof because they hope to forge a love connection with Bullard.
Pastor Ken Johnson relies on personal experience and his Christian knowledge to aid Bullard in his journey to find love in this unconventional situation. (For more, see: wetv.com/shows/match-made-in-heaven)
The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper interviewed “Pastor J.” about his duties as Colts chaplain; his qualifications for advising this “Black Bachelor-esque show” and his other projects.
Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: Tell me your journey to becoming a pastor.
Pastor Kenneth Johnson: I was a police officer in Tulsa, Okla. And was undergoing some licensing to do youth ministry. Long story short, I asked God to confirm that. God spoke to me and in 1990 decided to do fulltime ministry. I left the police department, moved to Indianapolis and became a chaplain for the Colts that same year.
Explain your duties as the Indianapolis Colts Chaplain.
Pretty much everything a typical pastor would do—my ‘church’ is just transitional. I provide counseling, marriage ceremonies, conflict resolution and bringing the word and inspirational messages. I help deal with injuries and other discouraging things that may happen to the team. I helped when Coach Chuck Pagano had cancer. I spent time with him and helped him get through that situation. When Coach Tony Dungy’s son committed suicide – I just give a voice of hope in the midst of darkness sometimes.
Being that games are on Sunday, do you provide a regular church service for the Colts team and staff?
Yes, we have chapel Saturday night before each game, Bible study on Tuesdays with the coaches and Bible study on Thursday during the season with players.
How do you cater to staff and players of different faiths?
It’s nondenominational, but we have a Catholic priest who comes in to do a Catholic Mass. In my 25 years as chaplain, we’ve had a few Muslim brothers and for them I refer them to a local mosque. We haven’t had many other denominations but if we did, I’m connected to various faiths represented and I can refer them to a place they feel comfortable.
You can now add TV host to your resume. Tell me how you become an advisor to the We TV show “Match Made in Heaven”?
They were looking for pastors for the show for a while. Long story short, someone Googled a motivational speaker/pastor and my name came up. They Skyped with me. And to be quite honest, initially, I didn’t really want to do it because I thought they’d make pastors look stupid and that whole thing with reality TV. They like me and I liked the concept they were trying to do: principles that make marriage successful; dating and healthy relationships. They said they’d allow me to be myself and speak truth.
What is “Match Made in Heaven” about?
It’s basically the first African-American bachelor looking for love and women from around the world looking for love. We all come together and through life circumstances and situations find out of you can find love God’s way and can you really make a match in heaven. My role is helping with that and coming up with different scenarios that we feel will bring out the true character in those involved.
The bachelor, Shawn Bullard, is a millionaire. What’s your advice for a guy like him?
I work with millionaires all the time. I’ve found that money doesn’t make you happy, but it makes you comfortable. If you don’t have character or foundational principles to sustain you, when life really happens, money can’t provide answers. My advice is for guys: who are you? Money can accentuate who you are so if you are a guy with or without character that money will bring that out. Money can provide opportunities. If you had a lot of money, you’d probably change what you drive, change what you wear, change where you live. But it shouldn’t change the essence of who you are.
Are there any surprises on the show?
(Laughs) You’ll have to tune in! The show has major twists and turns. It’s exciting, it’s romantic. It’s not ghetto or an overly Black version of what people perceive African-American culture. And from a pastoral perspective, I try to provide some counsel that many people find themselves in. I think people will enjoy it.
You have a wife and family. Tell me how your life experiences aid your counsel on this show?
I’ve been married for 32 years to the same magnificent sister! I have three children – 35, 27 and 27. I’m a Paw-Paw too. I think I’ve married and counseled hundreds of couples in the past 25 years not only as chaplain of the Colts, but my wife and I have led marriage and couples retreats all over the country. We’ve reconciled couples. And the church we attend here, Lakeview Church, we’ve done ministry there for years. We’ve dedicated our lives to issues of staying together – how to keep romance alive, how to be friends and have fun, how divorces is not an option. We’ve dedicated our lives to marriages finishing strong.
So what are the keys to “Christian dating?”
You really can’t find biblical illustrations about dating. But there is a standard, I believe, of what is considered respectful, decent and in order, and being above reproach. Like with my daughter, any young man who wanted to date her, I think it’s appropriate he checks in with me and her mom. That’s considered old school. But I think there’s a level of decency in things like dress and modesty. Sex before marriage is off limits. You should be virtuous and I think those are principles people don’t talk about anymore. But we talk about all these issues on the TV show. And there are some things where my opinion won’t be validated but that’s ok—that’s the church.
How confident are you on the success of this show? Reality TV is all about shock and awe. How will “Match Made in Heaven” compete with bolder realty shows?
Some of the Christian community has said ‘how dare I be a pastor and go on a show like that.’ My answer is how dare I not go on this show! I spread hope the way I perceive it to be in any environment that needs it. My hope is that who I am in the midst of this show — a loving father, devoted husband and a man committed to living Biblically based principles —will show. In the midst of darkness, light shines bright.
There have been players on the Colts who were not “living to a standard that was holy or biblical” by having sex, clubbing and doing other things. They’d ask me to bless some of their events and other things they’d do. They’d say ‘even bad kids need the Lord.’ I believe Christ is the kind of God that will go to nontraditional places and present truth to people others deem unworthy. That’s my hope for this show and for those in pop culture who may never go to church.
Any other upcoming projects you’re working on?
There’s a movie that’s in the works based on my life called ‘Fatherless.’ The next book is also called Fatherless. It’s the story of an African-American father and a Caucasian father. One is in prison and the other is a successful businessman. Their sons meet through ministry. They learn that it doesn’t matter where you come from. Being fatherless is about not having a man to guide you though life. I’m really excited about this book.
Is there anything else you’d like to add or anything you’d like Recorder readers to know?
I asked God to give me a father’s voice to the nation. I believe there’s a void for young men and women —no one there to love them or protect them from a father perspective. I hope that will be seen in the show “Match Made in Heaven”—they’d see a father.
