Bishop "Joey" Johnson pastored House of the Lord Church in Akron, Ohio for 50 years. During that time, he became known for his passionate preaching, faithful leadership during many difficult challenges in the city, and inviting people to see the relational heart of God in their lives. He recently handed over the leadership of the church to a younger pastor (Daren Brake), but Bishop is NOT what you'd call "retired."

He still gets up VERY early in the morning, spends a lot of personal time reading, writing, praying, and investing in younger leaders and their needs. Bishop challenges pastors to view themselves and their identities as rooted in Christ and ongoing communion with the Holy Spirit as they lead. A tremendously-relational and loving presence in Akron and in many church networks, Bishop has encouraged LovePastors to embrace our calling and focus on the spiritual, emotional, and relational health of pastors in need - and that's all of them!

We hope you'll enjoy - and learn a LOT from - this episode where Gary Underwood and Bishop Johnson talk about the need and power of relationships. First and foremost, we need to view God as a relational, loving, interactive force that pastors are often afraid or unable to deeply experience. Bishop shares some of the historical breakdowns of the church's ability to see and receive from God in relationship, and the church's ensuing bias toward trying to explain, quantify, and even control the way others understand the "essence" of God.

This episode will push and challenge pastors to make space for the mystery, the Spirit, the voice, the relational experiences of God that are meant to be shared with us - instead of merely "explained" by us.