Rodney Johnson

Church/Ministry Name

New Light Christian Fellowship

newlightchristian.org

Church/Ministry Description

New Light Christian Fellowship Church is a non-denomination, community based Church established to meet the spiritual needs of our community and state. This ministry was not established solely on the gifts of its pastor, but corporately on the calling and gifts of all of its members. We are a Church that worships God freely while serving one another in love and unity. Our mission is to empower every member to have their own personal relationship with Christ and through that relationship serve others.

Experience

I have been in ministry for32 years. I was licensed in 1981 and ordained in 1985. I have worked in several areas of ministry while serving under other Pastors. These areas include the education, music, singles, couples and trustee ministries. My wife and I also served on the Board of Directors of "United Marriage Encounter", an interfaith, international ministry focused on making good marriages better. My ministry style is that of a teacher.

Education

B.S. in Business Management M.S. in Operations Management

Family

Married for 31 years with two daughters.

Hobbies

I love reading; baking and playing a relaxing round of golf.

Best advice given to me about preaching

To make sure I studied my topic and was correct in the information I was delivering as God would hold me accountable for whatever I said or taught to His people. If I got it wrong and someone took what I said and shared with others that I’ll never meet, I am still held accountable for what they shared with others as I was the one who gave them the wrong information.

Sermon or series that made a difference

My sermon series on forgiveness. I had to preachg it to myself before I could deliver it to others.

One of my favorite illustrations

How God wipes our sins away. I fill a see through cup with water. I add in red food coloring to illustrate our sins being as scarlet. When I talk about Christ wiping our slate clean, I pour bleach into the cup and the water turns clear again.

Books that have had an impact

Bible "The Case For Christ" by Lee Strobel Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner

Something funny that happened while preaching

My notes got mixed up and I did not realize it until the sermon started making no sense. I apologized to the Church, straightened my notes and continued.

What my parents think of my sermons

They loved them. Before my mother died, I remember preaching my second sermon which was very similar to my first sermon. My mother told me that I basically preached the same sermon. From that moment till now, 32 years later, I make sure I pray about what I am to say and study hard. My father always told me not to make them happy twice: once when I get into the pulpit and two, when I sat down. In other words, keep the message simple and to the point.

What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons

I think she spends a lot of time wondering where I come up with some of my topics. Every now and then she will tell me it was a "good" message, and she encourages me when I share something that is very difficult. She sees me as her husband and because she knows me she understands my heart in a way that my members cannot. That gives her a deeper insight (even when we disagree) into my sermons.

If I could Preach one more time, I would say...

That God loves us and for that we should be encouraged. We will continue to face difficult times in our life but by the grace of God He has already provided what we need to make it through each trial and circumstance. It might not work out as we would like, but it will lead to our good.

What I want on my tombstone

He lived his faith in Christ everyday.

Comment to those looking at my sermons

Sometimes you may have to read them two or three times for them to make sense. I sometimes approach things from a very different perspective to make a point, but once the point is made, they generally last. As you read my sermons, please feel free to use any of them for your congregation. God gave the message to me but He did not tell me to copyright them so you do not need my permission if something I have shared speaks to you and you want to share it with others.