Pastor Terry Johnson has accepted a call to lead the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Greater Sydney.
Currently president of the Western Australian Conference, Pastor Johnson was called to Sydney after Pastor Michael Worker accepted the call to the Australian Union Conference.
Pastor Johnson has 25 years of denominational pastoral employment in three different countries: Texas, USA; Auckland, New Zealand; and Perth, Australia. He has been in the South Pacific Division for 15 years and considers Australia home.
“We have truly loved Western Australia and it has been an honour and a blessing for our family to serve for 11 years here,” said Pastor Johnson, from Perth.“We have many fantastic memories that will linger long in our hearts and we are grateful to God and to the members for their lasting friendship and their commitment to the mission in WA.”
Pastor Jorge Munoz, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia, in commenting on the appointment, said, “Terry is an energetic and visionary leader who is passionate for the mission of the Church. We are looking forward to seeing what God will do through his leadership in Sydney.” [pullquote]
Pastor Johnson understands the challenges and opportunities the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia faces, particularly in Australia’s largest city.
“Thirty-three per cent of Australians now declare that they have no religion or religious belief,” he said. “Every modern city is a challenge for mission with that kind of apathy. I’ve learned in my time in WA and the city of Perth and am looking forward to learning even more in Sydney about ways to engage with those who don’t care about Jesus. I’m passionate about a movement of committed believers galvanised for making a difference in preparing Greater Sydney for the return of Jesus.”
Pastor Johnson graduated from Southwestern Adventist University in Texas in 1992 with a BA in Theology and Biblical Languages and from Andrews University with a Masters of Divinity in 1996. He loves being a pastor, sharing the good news and through the power of the Holy Spirit bringing people to Jesus in baptism preparing them for His second coming in the context of Revelation 14 and the three angels’ messages that are at the foundation of his faith.
The Johnson family consists of Terry, his wife of 24 years Kimberly, and two children Kyrstin (18) and Alec (13). The family loves 4×4 touring, camping, hiking, Pathfinders, rugby union and league, football, youth and young adult ministry, and church in all its forms. His spiritual gifts are administration, leadership and pastoral ministry, and he has been blessed to use them and learn in every opportunity in ministry.
Pastor Johnson’s parents already minister in Sydney, with his father, Pastor Eddy Johnson, a current church planting and ADRA counselling minister, and his mother, Erna, a long-time women’s ministry director, most recently at the South Pacific Division.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know and working with the diverse members, teachers, Adventist Aged Care and pastors in Sydney. I consider it a privilege to join together in the formation of a movement to share our faith and I’m looking forward to journeying together as we wait upon the Lord.”
“We invite all our members to keep Terry, Kimberly and their children in your prayers as they move to Sydney and take up this new leadership role,” said Pastor Munoz.
