Pastor R. L. Johnson is a native of East Texas and the last of twelve born to Deacon and Sister Frank Johnson. His father, a strong man of faith and his mother, a powerful, praying woman of God, raised him and his siblings in the fear of the Lord and instilled in them strong family values. The family was poor in terms of earthly riches, but wealthy in the love of the Lord and the things of God. Pastor Johnson says of his childhood, “We were poor but we didn’t know we were poor.”

 

He is a man of God with a pastor’s heart, who is full of the Spirit and fueled by his desire to glorify God. The love and compassion of Christ are demonstrated through his service to family, friends, the Rising Star Baptist church family, and to those in need. He’s also a volunteer mentor in the Rockdale Independent School District.

 

Pastor Johnson is gifted in the areas of administration and teaching, and holds degrees in Theology and Faith-Based Crisis Counseling.

 

God has given him a motto at Rising Star, “we teach, we love, God changes” and that’s exactly what he strives to do enabled by the Holy Spirit.