Talk:Bill Johnson (pastor)

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not notable Victuallers (talk) 15:29, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Bio data?

Does anyone have any authoritative data on him? It's pretty hard to search on such a generic name Natebailey (talk) 10:08, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Specifically, things like where he was born, when he was born (full birthdate), where he grew up/went to school, when he married Beni, etc. His grandkids are Haley, Hannah and Téa; Judah, Diego and Isabella, but it seems a bit verbose to list them on the page. Natebailey (talk) 00:13, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I believe he lived in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area as a child. He also talks about living in southern California later on. I don't know his exact birthday, either. I just did the math one day, and came up with 1951. I know he was married before going to Genesis ministry school in 1970-71. All the stuff I mentioned, I've gathered because he's mentioned them in passing in sermons. [I've been listening to Bethel's podcast for 2+ years, plus I've heard a lot of other tapes, so I can't exactly recall specific messages for reference]. Mattdp (talk) 13:51, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

His parent's names are Earl and Darlene, his dad was the Sr. Pastor of Bethel Church from some time in the 1970s, until 1996 (when Bill took over). His father died in 2004 (?) and =. Bill used to mow lawns for a living (not sure when). (Also from podcasts) Natebailey (talk) 02:55, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

M. Earl Johnson, his wife Darliene (spelled correctly) and his 4 children Bill (m. Brenda "Beni"), Jacque (m. Jim Grubbs), Bob, and Wendi (m. Greg Simas) pastored Bethel Church in Redding, CA in the 70's (until 1981 when Earl became the assn't superintendent of the Northern Cal/Nevada District of the AoG). During Earl’s leadership, Bethel Church experienced a move of God resulting in a profound freedom of worship; laying the foundation for the dynamic presence of God that resides there to this day. Even though Earl was a denominational leader, he had ministers of many different streams minister at Bethel. Three of the traveling ministers that had a profound effect on Bethel were/are Iverna Tomkins, Dick Mills, and Dick Joyce. There were several pastors at Bethel between Earl and his son Bill. All of Earl’s and Darliene’s children are ministers of the gospel.

Bill left Bethel as an assn’t to his father in the late 70’s to pastor a church in Weaverville in the mountains west of Redding an hour away. He was there for 17 years. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.193.79.144 (talk) 19:58, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

His dad died in 2004 (I think), and Darlene is still alive. Earl was the Sr. Pastor of Bethel from some time in the 60s or 70s, until Bill took over in 1996. Earl then became a district AG person. I assume that Bethel was Assemblies of God since inception, but they disaffiliated in early 2006 (see ibethel.org) because the Church has an inter-denominational Church network (Global Legacy), and there were some conflicts of interest with Global Legacy and the AG (my pastor told me this). I think he mowed lawns as a teen. Mattdp (talk) 19:29, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

Bethel left its affiliation with the AoG only because Bethel’s divinely given 10 year plan would have taken much longer under the administration of the AoG (with their carefully thought out rules and guidelines for church planting). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.193.79.144 (talk) 20:22, 1 June 2008 (UTC)