Our Pastor John A.
Johnson’s Bio
John Abraham Johnson was born on February 23, 1947 to Anna Johnson and John Smith in Philadelphia, PA. He is the eldest of two children. When he was 6 ½, he and his brother Daniel were placed in temporary foster care due to his mother’s inability to raise them. They were moved from foster home to foster home until they were placed in the loving home of Hubert and Fannie Wilcher in North Philadelphia. The boys lived there until they were adults.
John was educated in the Philadelphia Public School system and graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 1966. Following graduation, he was drafted into the US Army and served a little over a year. He was deployed to Vietnam but at the final hour was excused due to his father’s illness. John is a graduate of Philco Technical Institute, Biblical University, (formerly known as Philadelphia College of the Bible), has completed Pastoring with a purpose, Twelve steps with GOD (an addictions counseling course), and Biblical counseling I, II and III at Christian Research and Development. He is also a graduate of Pennsylvania Massage Institute and is a Licensed, Certified Massage Therapist with a Holistic approach to therapy. He worked for Bell Atlantic/Verizon after 32 years in December 2001, he felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit leading him to devote his time to being a full time pastor and he retired from Bell Atlantic/Verizon in obedience to the Lord’s bidding.
On October 26, 1968, he married Theodosia Garnet Ward. He is the father of three children Brian Timothy Johnson, Tedra Ramona Gordon, and Britney Shawnice Hayward. In addition he is the father of 12 grandchildren and godfather to several children.
John accepted Christ as his personal savior in 1978 and rededicated his life to Christ in 1985. He began attending Christlike Pleasant Green Faith Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Robert Small. While at Christlike he served as a Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent, ordained as a Deacon and he was licensed and ordained as a pastor in 1987. In 1990, John became a member of Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Jesse F. Hayward. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, and taught discipleship and evangelism. He became the Assistant Pastor in 1992 and following Pastor Hayward’s death in 1995 he assumed the duties as Interim Pastor.
In 1996, John was elected as Senior Pastor/Teacher of Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the church has grown and accomplished several goals. Several ministries have come to fruition: Young Men of Valor, All about Praise Dance Ministry, Women of Zeal Book Club, and The Crossroads Chronicles which was being distributed to over 150 people each month. The Chronicles was also sent to various prisons through our prison Ministry and was used as an instrument to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are planning to restart our monthly newsletter in the future.
John’s primary goal for Crossroads is to “build up every aspect of the family-spiritually, culturally, physically and mentally- by outreach to the community.”
His vision for Crossroads is to glorify GOD, Edify Saints and to evangelize the lost.
John Abraham Johnson was born on February 23, 1947 to Anna Johnson and John Smith in Philadelphia, PA. He is the eldest of two children. When he was 6 ½, he and his brother Daniel were placed in temporary foster care due to his mother’s inability to raise them. They were moved from foster home to foster home until they were placed in the loving home of Hubert and Fannie Wilcher in North Philadelphia. The boys lived there until they were adults.
John was educated in the Philadelphia Public School system and graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 1966. Following graduation, he was drafted into the US Army and served a little over a year. He was deployed to Vietnam but at the final hour was excused due to his father’s illness. John is a graduate of Philco Technical Institute, Biblical University, (formerly known as Philadelphia College of the Bible), has completed Pastoring with a purpose, Twelve steps with GOD (an addictions counseling course), and Biblical counseling I, II and III at Christian Research and Development. He is also a graduate of Pennsylvania Massage Institute and is a Licensed, Certified Massage Therapist with a Holistic approach to therapy. He worked for Bell Atlantic/Verizon after 32 years in December 2001, he felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit leading him to devote his time to being a full time pastor and he retired from Bell Atlantic/Verizon in obedience to the Lord’s bidding.
On October 26, 1968, he married Theodosia Garnet Ward. He is the father of three children Brian Timothy Johnson, Tedra Ramona Gordon, and Britney Shawnice Hayward. In addition he is the father of 12 grandchildren and godfather to several children.
John accepted Christ as his personal savior in 1978 and rededicated his life to Christ in 1985. He began attending Christlike Pleasant Green Faith Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Robert Small. While at Christlike he served as a Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent, ordained as a Deacon and he was licensed and ordained as a pastor in 1987. In 1990, John became a member of Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Jesse F. Hayward. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, and taught discipleship and evangelism. He became the Assistant Pastor in 1992 and following Pastor Hayward’s death in 1995 he assumed the duties as Interim Pastor.
In 1996, John was elected as Senior Pastor/Teacher of Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the church has grown and accomplished several goals. Several ministries have come to fruition: Young Men of Valor, All about Praise Dance Ministry, Women of Zeal Book Club, and The Crossroads Chronicles which was being distributed to over 150 people each month. The Chronicles was also sent to various prisons through our prison Ministry and was used as an instrument to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are planning to restart our monthly newsletter in the future.
John’s primary goal for Crossroads is to “build up every aspect of the family-spiritually, culturally, physically and mentally- by outreach to the community.”
His vision for Crossroads is to glorify GOD, Edify Saints and to evangelize the lost.