The LCMS Northern Illinois District (NID) is pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Johnson will be using his God given gifts and talents for the development of all ethnic ministries in the Northern Illinois District.
In this new role, Pastor Tom Johnson will utilize his expertise to partner with congregations and pastors in the NID for the development of all ethnic ministries, identifying opportunities for them to flourish and integrate with their surrounding communities. He will work with congregations committed to revitalizing and refocusing their mission and ministry in their own communities and beyond, encouraging connections, and developing partnerships between ethnic ministries and other NID congregations and ministries.
Pastor Tom will serve in this role during a time of transition for the NID, while our mission and vision is in development and while the work of the Blue Ribbon Committee continues. He will also assume some of the responsibilities related to ethnic ministries which were previously held by Rev. Mike Mast.
Pastor Tom expresses his role – “To me it means the privilege of our participating in what Jesus is already doing to usher in his Kingdom. Christ’s commission is to ‘make disciples of all nations’ (Matt 28:19). The word nation here is where we get the word ethnic. In Revelation (5:9; 7:9) we see an intercultural assembly of believers which includes all the diversity of humankind for whom Christ died and rose again. This worldwide movement was first promised to Abraham whose descendants (as the people of God) would bless all the families of the earth (Gen 12:3). This multiethnic Gospel movement should be worked toward, nurtured, and celebrated in the communities we serve.”
At the June 17, 2019 NID Board of Directors Meeting, Pastor Tom presented an overview of his recent sabbatical in the New York City area, where he was able to further develop his knowledge of urban ministries enabling him to utilize this experience in ministry at his congregation, First Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Chicago.
Pastor Tom was born in Lafayette, Indiana and grew up in West Lafayette near Purdue University’s campus. He attended Indiana University as a music performance major studying classical guitar before changing to linguistics and Spanish. He attended Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Theology (ThM) with an emphasis in intercultural church planting and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Pastor Tom served several church plantings in Texas and Sweden before he was called to plant Christ the King Presbyterian Church in El Paso, Texas. He later earned a Master of Arts degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and became an ordained servant of the Word in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. He has also served two LCMS congregations, Saint Luke Lutheran Church (Wheaton, KS) and St. Paul Lutheran Church (Melrose Park, IL). In 2010 he received a Doctorate in Ministry from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago with an emphasis in preaching in a multi-ethnic urban context. He has three children: Natalie (20), Daniel (18), and Joseph (15). In 2011 Pastor Johnson was installed as Pastor of First Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Chicago, where he continues to serve.
Pastor Tom’s Bible Verse:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands…”
—Revelation 7:9 (ESV)
The LCMS Northern Illinois District is excited to see where God leads Pastor Tom Johnson’s partnership with us, working together through Word, Wellness and Witness. Please join us in welcoming him through prayer and encouragement in the Lord’s mission.
This is Our Northern Illinois District!