our pastor

Our Pastor
Reverend Desmond Johnson

Rev. Desmond Johnson and his beautiful wife Renee’ Witcher- Johnson have been married 25 beautiful years. They have 2 children, Wynston Johnson and Denver Johnson. Rev. Johnson has been preaching and teaching the gospel for 26 years. Rev Johnson was born and raised in Bakersfield California and at the age of 13 he accepted Jesus Christ in his life. Rev Johnson surrendered to his calling to preach God’s work in January of 1999 and preached his first sermon on April 11, 1999, titled Faith. Rev. Johnson was licensed to preach God’s word on May 23, 1999, and was ordained on November 5, 2000. Rev. Johnson received a Bachelor of Theology &

Counseling in June 2001 from Sacramento Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Pastoral Counseling. Rev. Johnson served as Assistant Minister at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Lorain Ohio from 2008 into October of 2018 when he was named interim Pastor of Mt Zion Baptist Church of Lorain Ohio. Rev Johnson served as interim Pastor from October 2018 to December 2020 and again from February 2021 to April 2023. Under Rev. Johnson’s leadership Mt. Zion paid o􀆯 the basketball gym mortgage, fixed and replaced the roof. replaced old entry doors with brand new ones, opened the church doors back up after being closed for a year during the covid pandemic, negotiated with community partnerships to have them repair and pave the church parking lot for free. Rev. Johnson and his wife are passionate about helping youth and families grow strong. Rev. Johnson and his

wife founded Quality Care Residential Homes Inc in March of 2005, a social service agency with group homes for teenage boys and girls. The agency is licensed by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and is nationally accredit by the Council on Accreditation and is recognized as a certified Qualified Residential Treatment Program. With 26 years in ministry, 30 years in social work (e.g., substance abuse counseling, gerontology, chronic disease, mental health therapy, trauma, children, and families, etc.) and with 20 years as a business owner Rev. Johnson has demonstrated great leadership qualities and the ability to do as needed to get the job done.