On one of the walls in Pastor Ken's office hangs a framed picture with a quote by Martin Luther: "I am strongly persuaded that after theology, there is no art that can be placed on a level with music, for besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording Peace and Joy to the heart." And on another wall hangs a framed picture with "Ooga, Ooga, Ooga Boo - Now the spirit falls on you." Pastor Ken is like these two quotes: in one moment he is serious and deep and in another moment light with a sense of humor. His sermons also incorporate these qualities, where he also mixes in short stories to illustrate his point. He is also very friendly and relates well with the youth.

Growing up in the Detroit area, Ken never thought about becoming a pastor. He wanted to catch the bad guys or be a teacher like his dad. When he graduated from high school, seminary never entered his mind, and he chose to attend the University of Michigan for Archeology. He readily admits that his faith was mediocre when he entered college, but that something inside him was beginning to subtly prod him to become a pastor. It was a friendship with a Franciscan monk that made him question seriously whether he had a calling for the ministry. Ken still wasn't sure about seminary, though, upon graduating from U of M with a History and Social Sciences Degree (he changed his major a few times during college), so he took time off from school to work. The subtle prodding became stronger, so after a year of working he decided to give seminary a try.

At first he didn't feel like he fit in at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. But as the semesters went on he felt more and more comfortable there. It wasn't until Ken did an internship in Sweden that he was completely certain the ministry was his calling. In Sweden Ken was completely relying on God and his faith to get by. And then it came time to give a sermon, his first one ever. He remembers thinking to himself: "If I'm supposed to be a pastor, then this is when I will know it or not." The sermon went fine, and Ken was finally certain the ministry was where he was supposed to be. From then on he felt God with him.
 

Fast Facts

Name: Kenneth Lee Johnson Family: Wife Mary and 3 children: Ingrid, Lars, and Kaijsa Hometown: Detroit, MI Education: Undergrad: University of Michigan Seminary: Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Post-Graduate: Uppsala University, Sweden Languages: English and Swedish fluently and has studied Hebrew, Greek, German, and Latin. Ordination: June 11, 1989 Churches Served: 1988 - 1990       Lutheran Church of Sweden       Västerås and Köping, Sweden 1990 - 1993       Bethel Lutheran Church       St. Clair Shores, MI 1993 - 1998       St. John's Lutheran Church       New Baltimore, MI 1998 - present       Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Bible Verses: Micah 6:8 and John 3:16