New Bishop installed in Jamaica: Oneness Pentecostalism in Jamaica

[SDG]

Mind & Spirit - A place of honour
published: Saturday | December 1, 2007

Contributed
Bishop Geoffrey Johnson and his wife Pastor Gloria Joyce Johnson.

Mark Dawes, Staff Reporter

Tomorrow is a big day in the life of The Apostolic Ark Pentecostal Church of Jamaica as that denomination will, at 3:00 p.m., consecrate Bishop Geoffrey Wellington Johnson to the office of apostle.

The consecration service is scheduled to take place at the Brown's Town congregation of the church group located on Huntley Avenue.

For Bishop Johnson, 68, the elevation to the rank of apostle is the consummation of a process begun by the Holy Spirit when, as a 27-year-old youngster, he began formal service in the sacred ministry. He was, up to that time, a supervisor, working for the Roads and Works Department of the Government. More specifically, the attaining of the rank of apostle is another elevation to a place of honour in his 52-year career as a minister of the gospel.

It is a culmination of the gifts that God, in His grace, has imparted to him for the building up of the Church, as recorded in Ephesians 4:11 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors , teachers).

Highest rank
As an apostle, little will change in the day-to-day life of Bishop Johnson as he leads the 20,000 strong denomination. In fact, he said that the position of apostle, though titular, is the highest rank within his church organisation. The office of apostle, he continued, is primarily concerned with ensuring that the 30-odd churches within the denomination are properly grounded in beliefs.

The Apostolic Ark Pentecostal Church of Jamaica is Oneness Pentecostal in creed and has been in Jamaica from as early as 1919. As the bishop of that chapter of the apostolic witness in Jamaica, Bishop Johnson has responsibility for the welfare of the congregations islandwide. His bishopric also extends to congregations in, the United States and England, where he and other leaders of the denomination have planted churches in Canada.

Bishop Johnson has been the leader of the Brown's Town congregation since 1965 when Bishop Henry Adrian Lee died. In fact, the Brown's Town church was the very first established in The Apostolic Ark Pentecostal denomination. Today, the Brown's Town church complex also houses the headquarters of The Apostolic Ark Pentecostal churches in Jamaica.

When Bishop Johnson took over from his mentor, the congregation numbered fewer than 50. Today, it is more than 500 and growing.

The bishop explained that in the polity of The Apostolic Ark churches, one's promotion in the ecclesiastical rank is determined by means of prophecy. He explained that if Mr. X is to be promoted, then a number of persons exercising the gift of prophecy would need to testify that they have heard from God saying Mr. X ought to be promoted to a particular rank. That was how it was for him, he said.

A much travelled clergyman, Bishop Johnson cites cases where his ministry has brought healing, exorcism of demons and even the raising of dead. For those who are unconvinced, Bishop Johnson said he can provide an auditable trail to show that signs and wonders still exist as it did in the recorded history of the Bible.

A much sought after preacher, Bishop Johnson disclosed that it is not his style to write out his sermons, as indicative of his total reliance on God to tell him what to say. The Bishop and his wife Pastor Gloria Joyce Johnson bask in the glory of 43 years of marital bliss. Their union has produced four sons and three daughters - all of whom are actively involved in some area of Christian ministry.

Adultery

The clergyman is not without his own thought-provoking dogmas, and some of these revolve around divorce. He believes that if a Christian divorces his/her spouse and then remarries, then "God cannot save you, for that would be living in adultery". But it is a different matter if the one became divorced and then became a Christian and then marries. He explains that in such an instance, God would have to speak to him in such a way to release him to appoint that twice married person to a position of responsibility in the Church.

While most denominations in Jamaica cannot provide a pastor for each congregation, The Apostolic Ark Pentecostal churches have no such problem. All the churches in the group have a pastor. Furthermore, most of the pastors are women.

Bishop Johnson acknowledges few regrets in the way he has done ministry. With the wealth of experience gained, Bishop Johnson is keen to pass on some of his knowledge to younger pastors in the movement. He will address himself to that challenge in immediate future, he told The Gleaner. In particular, Bishop Johnson wants to encourage his fellow ministers to remain faithful to Biblical strategies and ways of doing ministry, despite the temptations to do otherwise. His basic argument to them "is continue in the gospel and it will draw who must come to the Lord."

Renowned for his social and community activism, Bishop Johnson and members of his congregation in 2005 built a two-storey building on the grounds of the Brown's Town Police Station which houses the officers, a kitchen and a garage. This initiative was birthed out of a concern the bishop and his church had when they learnt of substandard conditions under which the officers were doing their duties. There are other major projects being planned, but the bishop remained tightlipped as he was not yet ready to disclose his plans.