[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FIFTIETH JUBILEE OF REVEREND I.J. JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2005

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this month our community celebrates the 
fiftieth jubilee of Reverend I.J. Johnson is the pastor of St. Mark's 
Missionary Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio.
  Amazingly, Reverend Johnson entered the ministry at age twelve. By 
nineteen, he began pastoring in his home state of Alabama. He received 
his Bachelor of Theology degree from Easonian Baptist Seminary in 
Birmingham, Alabama, and served four churches until coming to Ohio in 
1955. In July of that year, he was invited by Dr. Israel Walker to 
conduct a revival at St. Mary's Baptist Church. During this visit he 
met the woman who would become his wife. On August 26, 1958, Reverend 
Johnson and Mother Betty Rae Johnson were married. Together they raised 
four children: Reverend C.L. Johnson, Reverend Michael Johnson. Denisee 
Williams and Angela Taylor.
  In October of 1955, Pastor Johnson founded and organized St. Mark's 
Missionary Baptist Church. Started with just three members, the church 
grew over the half-century to more than 2,000 souls.
  Enjoying a well-earned reputation as a spiritual leader, Pastor 
Johnson has been invited to conduct revivals in Alabama, Georgia, 
Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee. All of this in 
addition to his ministry at St. Mark's. He has established a yearly 
fellowship with Historical First Baptist Church of Toronto, Ontario, 
Canada. In 1981, Pastor Johnson invited Dr. Martin Luther King Sr. to 
St. Mark's, at which time the first album recorded by the church choir 
was dedicated. The album was entitled ``Our Day Will Come.''
  Many of our area ministers count Pastor Johnson as mentor. Perhaps 
the greatest testament to his nurturing ability is the fact that both 
of his sons are now preachers in their own right. Not only ministers, 
but many in our community have been beneficiaries of his counsel. Truly 
a community leader, Pastor Johnson served as president of the Baptist 
Ministers Conference for eight years. Other associations include the 
Fairside Community Organization, Northwestern Ohio Missionary Baptist 
Association, Lucas County Mental Health Board, Interracial Interfaith 
Committee, Evangelical Board of the National Baptist Convention, and 
NAACP. A welcome advisor, Reverend Johnson has also been specially 
recognized by our area's elected leaders.
  Reverend Johnson's charismatic leadership, dynamic example, personal 
spirituality, and careful teachings have brought many people to live 
their lives in the steps of Jesus Christ. He embodies God's teachings 
as written in Matthew, 4:19; ``Follow me, and I will make you fishers 
of men.''