Rev. Dr. Eugene Johnson has served faithfully as pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church for over 26 years. His leadership and ministerial creativity are credited as major factors in Mount Olive’s positioning as a prominent 21st Century church. His expression of faith and knowledge of church life affirm him as never being a stranger to the Christian walk of life. He was religiously educated in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel in a Christian home. His father was a Baptist pastor and his mother worked avidly for the causes of Christ. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was reared in the suburban community of Oakville, Louisiana. He currently resides in Centreville, Virginia.
Dr. Johnson assumed the leadership of Mount Olive in November 1992. Under the divine will of God and Dr. Johnson’s leadership, Mount Olive has been transformed from a small rural church to that of its current recognition as one of the larger progressive churches in Northern Virginia. It has experienced unprecedented growth in membership, ministries, outreach programs and finances. In addition to experiencing its resounding growth, the church has received an overwhelming number of men and women who have experienced Christian conversion and have given their lives to Christ. Dr. Johnson has carried out a unique ministry that has not only attracted the youth, but has drawn many men to the church. He has instituted a unique Christian Discipleship Ministry that focuses on Building Individuals Spiritually for God’s Service. Throughout his pastoral leadership, he has maintained Mount Olive at the forefront of ministry development and has been instrumental in its recognition as a change-agent in the community.
Dr. Johnson’s academic preparation encompasses the completion of his primary and secondary education in the Louisiana public school system. He attended and completed his advanced academic studies at Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA where he received a Bachelors of Architecture Degree in June 1970. His seminary study was completed at the Howard University School of Divinity where he earned a Masters of Divinity Degree in 1989. He was conferred the prestigious Honorary Doctors of Divinity Degree by the Richmond Virginia Seminary in October 2006.
Dr. Johnson unique combination of pastoral and architectural skills was most beneficial to Mount Olive as he led it in building a new multimillion dollar state-of-the-art facility. He utilized his architectural and esthetics expertise in designing the new facility, which proved to be a tremendous savings to the Church. His design has invoked an expression of beauty and splendor.
Dr. Johnson is actively involved in religious, civic, and academic organizations. Most notably, he served as the Moderator of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association from 2006-2010. He is a leader in the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention where he serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. His support of and participation in foreign mission programs has been instrumental in Mount Olive extending its Christian witness to six continents.
Among his many honors, Dr. Johnson is a recipient of the prestigious Howard University School of Divinity’s James F. Jenkins Pillar of Faith Award. He has also been recognized and honored as one of the top pastors in the Washington Metropolitan area by Radio One’s PRAISE 104.1.
Besides the work of God, Dr. Johnson prides his life most on the love of his family. He is married to the former June L. Lambert of Harvey, LA. They have been blessed with two sons, Brian and Kevin and are the proud Grandparents of Marley and Jadin.