Dear Lakeside,
It is with appreciation to the Lord and an expectant heart I begin my journey at Lakeside United Methodist Church. I look forward to my first Sunday with you all and to all the ministry opportunities we will have in the years to come.
I wanted to take this time to give you a brief introduction to me and the Johnson family. My wife, Sarah, and I have been married for 13 years and we have 3 daughters together. We met in college in the Spring of 2005 at the University of Houston. We have several family members who are also UH alums, so we are lifetime Cougar fans. We hope to pass on to our daughters, Elisha, Lauryn, and Taylor, a love for the Lord and the Church, their family, their community, and the Cougars.
I attended seminary at Perkins School of Theology at SMU. During seminary I took a position as an Associate Director of Student Ministries at St. Luke’s UMC-Gethsemane. I led the youth ministry of the second campus and helped plan large events for hundreds of students. During my last year of seminary, I did a one-year internship at the Wesley Foundation at Texas Southern University. My internship included ministry with college students and the launching of a food pantry and clothing ministry. Following that internship, and with graduation from seminary I was appointed as an associate pastor at Trinity UMC in Beaumont.
For the last six years I’ve served an associate pastor at Trinity. I began my time their leading missions and evangelism. Over time that role has expanded into overseeing adult ministries, children’s ministry, youth ministry, and pastoral care in addition to helping to plan worship. Regularly teaching Bible study, theology, and helping strengthen ministry through the pandemic have been great joys for me. I also have a deep love for preaching God’s Word.
My journey in ministry began with a challenge to accept the love of God available for me, and everyone, through Christ Jesus when I was a senior in high school. I have seen and experienced God’s amazing love and gracious presence for the past 20+ years as I have grown in faith and into my calling. I believe God has good things in store for Lakeside and the Johnson family in this next chapter of ministry.
Our first Sunday will be July 3, and I look forward to sharing a message and a bit more about my faith journey with you.
May God’s grace continue to carry you.
Rev. David Johnson