Submitted by philip on Mon, 10/21/2013 – 14:29
Mission Point Baptist Pastor Ron Johnson serves a congregation of 50 people. The church is located in the fast growing community of Stonewall in northern DeSoto Parish and just south of Shreveport.
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
STONEWALL – Mission Point Baptist Pastor Ron Johnson describes himself as a prodigal son.
Professing Christ as the age of 12, Johnson said he drifted farther into worldly temptations – divorcing two different women, drinking heavily and using drugs frequently.
Then, one day during a special worship service at Mission Point Baptist in 2000, Johnson heard a testimony from a female member of a mission team from the North American Mission Board – a speech that turned his life around and brought him back to the Father.
“I could identify with the girl who was talking and I got down on my knees on the third pew where I was sitting and said ‘Lord, I’m tired of running; you got me,’” Johnson said. “A sense of love came over me like never before and I knew without a doubt that God had saved me.”
Immediately, the Lord began to change Johnson, from the inside out. And eventually the temptation to use alcohol, drugs and cursing were gone.
Though he lost nearly every close friend he had, Johnson said he gained something much more precious – a close relationship with Christ that eventually led to a call to serve as bi-vocational pastor of Mission Point Baptist in 2008.
From time to time, Johnson led Wednesday night prayer service at Mission Point Baptist when the pastor was away. Then, in 2007, Johnson accepted the call as associate pastor before becoming the pastor six months later.
“I sensed God’s calling me to ministry a few years after joining the church,” Johnson said. “And I had this desire to share the gospel with people and tell them that Jesus loved and cared for them. I never dreamed when I heard that girl’s testimony that I would one day become pastor of the church.”
Since becoming pastor of Mission Point Baptist, Johnson has managed serving as pastor of the congregation of around 40 to 50 located in suburban Shreveport and owning a moving company. He said juggling both has proved challenging at times but a supportive congregation has eased any hardships of working as a bi-vocational pastor.
Most times, Johnson is able to schedule special events or home or hospital visits around his work schedule. But when he is moving a customer at his secular job and is unable to preside over a funeral or pay a visit to a member that is having surgery, Johnson has others in the church he calls upon to fill in for such a time.
“They understand I have a secular job and have always been very supportive,” Johnson said. “They pray for me, love me and are not quick to criticize, which is very important for any pastor. I have a great bunch of folks here.”
Building on that, Johnson said having an encouraging congregation and spouse are vital to a bi-vocational pastor effectively doing his job.
“For congregations, I would tell them to encourage their pastor again and again,” Johnson said. “One word of encouragement can go a long way.
“And for those bi-vocational pastors who are married, appreciate your wife,” he added. “My wife, Michelle, has been my right hand and right arm. She has helped me and the church out in so many ways, from leading Vacation Bible School to assisting me with various things I need help with.”
A mission church of Bellaire Baptist in Bossier City until 2009, Mission Point Baptist gives nearly 10 percent to the Cooperative Program. Johnson believes the church has been able to effectively minister to the community as a healthy church because of its commitment to the Cooperative Program, which it received money from when it was a mission church.
“We set a goal of what we will give, and we have always exceeded that goal,” Johnson said. “And the greatest blessing we receive is the joy of knowing we are giving back to the Lord a small portion of all He has blessed us with, and that people are hearing the gospel, getting saved, and rejoicing in the Lord locally, regionally, nationally, and around the world.
“I would encourage everyone to give to the CP, and see if the Lord will bless you,” Johnson said. “Try Him on this (as referenced in Malachi 3:10). He will truly bless.”
As for its outreach, the church has had ample opportunities to minister to the community through Vacation Bible School, Team Kid, a fall festival and Easter egg hunt, one of the most memorable times was in mid-May.
A tornado touched down in the community on May 16, causing damage and power outages to homes and businesses there. Some homes still have trees in their front yards and tarps over their roofs.
In the hours following the tornado, the church served as a mobile command center for the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office and, according to Johnson, was one of the few locations in the area that had power. In addition to the sheriff’s department, the American Red Cross, Small Business Administration and the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief chainsaw units operated out of Mission Point Baptist.
“One lady said she never thought a tornado would be what it would take to bring her closer to the Lord,” Johnson said. “What our church did as serving as a home base for a few days and loving on people was amazing. It made me proud to be a Southern Baptist.”