About The Pastor

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, he has been in the Christian Ministry since 1973, and was ordained in 1979. Since 1988, he has served as Pastor of the First New Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. He has served as Pastor of two other Los Angeles churches, Galilee Baptist Church (1985-1988) and Greater Faith Baptist Church (1980-1985). Additionally, he served as Associate Minister of the Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, from 1975 to 1979. A graduate of Bishop College in Texas, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy, a Master of Divinity Degree and a Doctor of Divinity Degree from the School of Theology at Claremont College. In recognition of his abilities and commitment, while in Seminary, Rev. Johnson was a three-time recipient of the Benjamin E. Mays Fellowship Award, a national program sponsored by the Fund for Theological Education, providing stipends for promising Black leaders in the church. He received the Award of Excellence in 1985 and 1992 from the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies in Los Angeles, California and received the Community Service Award from the 9th Episcopal District of the CME Church. He was listed in "Outstanding Young Men of America" in 1981, and in "Personalities of America," the 1985 edition for service to the community.

Rev. Dr. Norman S. Johnson was the Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles. He was affiliated with the organization for 23 years from 1981-2004. During this period, he served in various capacities from Board member to President of the Board. As Executive Director, he oversees an array of programs exemplifying the SCLC mission "to organize and mobilize the strength of America's moral consciousness against the weakness of its social order."

Other distinguished areas of service include: Chairperson, Black Seminarians at Claremont School of Theology (1984) Member of a study-travel group visiting Argentina and Brazil to dialogue with prominent liberation theologians Observer in the International Election Commission in South Africa (1984) Delegate, tour of Korea, sponsored by the Overseas Korean Foundation (1999) Delegate, tour of Israel (2001) A gifted speaker, Rev. Johnson preached at the 52nd Annual L. K. Williams Minister's Institute at his alma mater, a sermon entitled: "Chaos or Creation?" He was also the keynote speaker for the 1982 Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Service sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Los Angeles, California. Dr. Johnson is married to Loretta Johnson and is the father of four children, Brian Steven who is deceased, Jacquelyn Nicole, Norman Stanley, Jr., and Myles Umar.