Under his leadership, the congregation reportedly grew from approximately 2,000 members in 1996[5] to more than 11,000 by 2019.[6] Johnson promotes beliefs related to revival, faith healing, and supernatural manifestations—topics that have become central to the global Bethel movement and influenced segments of contemporary charismatic Christianity.[7] In 1998, he co-founded the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, which has drawn students from around the world and received significant attention from media outlets.[8] Johnson is also an author and itinerant speaker and has appeared in Christian media and documentary films.[9] His ministry has attracted both widespread support and criticism, particularly in relation to theology, charismatic practices, and political involvement.[10][11]
Bill Johnson is a fifth-generation pastor and has led Bethel Church as senior pastor since 1996, following in the footsteps of his father, M. Earl Johnson. Before Bethel, he and his wife served as senior pastors at Mountain Chapel in California. Influenced by experiences at John Wimber’s conference and the Toronto Blessing revival, Johnson shifted toward emphasizing supernatural ministry, later co-founding the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, which trains students worldwide. He has three children, and his wife Brenda passed away in 2022.
Johnson has also gained recognition in popular media, appearing in documentaries like Father of Lights and American Gospel: Christ Alone, and in interviews with CBN and Charisma magazine. Politically, he has expressed conservative views, endorsing Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 due to positions on abortion, same-sex marriage, and globalization. Johnson opposes homosexuality as a sin, aligning with Bethel Church’s stance on heterosexual marriage, and the church has actively opposed legislation restricting conversion therapy in California.
Biography
Johnson is a fifth-generation pastor and has held the position of senior leader at Bethel Church since 1996. His ministry is associated with a charismatic movement emphasizing revival, healing, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. According to Christianity Today, Johnson holds "considerable influence among charismatic Christians all over the world".[12] When he accepted the role at Bethel, he reportedly did so with the understanding that the church would prioritize revival and the pursuit of "God’s supernatural presence."[12] His father, M. Earl Johnson, previously served as Bethel's senior pastor from 1968 to 1982, during the church's affiliation with the Assemblies of God.[12] Before joining Bethel, Johnson and his wife served as the senior pastors of Mountain Chapel in Weaverville, California from 1978 to 1996.[13]
In 1987, Johnson attended a "signs and wonders" conference led by John Wimber in hopes of advancing healing ministry, but later expressed disappointment: “They had fruit for what they believed. All I had was good doctrine.” He identified this as a turning point, stating that embracing “faith”—understood as taking risk—opened the way for reported healing manifestations in his ministry.[14] In 1995, he traveled to Toronto, Canada to attend some of the Toronto Blessing revival meetings, where he described being significantly affected by the spiritual atmosphere and shifted toward a stronger emphasis on charismatic gifts and supernatural ministry in his leadership.[14]
In 1998, Johnson, along with Bethel Senior Associate Leader Kris Vallotton, started the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry to train students to become revivalists. The school has over 2,000 students from 57 countries.[12] Johnson is also part of the Core Residential Faculty at Wagner University in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.[15]
Brenda ("Beni"), the wife of Bill Johnson, died of cancer on July 13, 2022.[16]
Bill and Brenda Johnson have three children including: Brian Johnson, Eric Johnson and Leah Valenzuela.[17]
Media appearances
Johnson has appeared in multiple documentaries, including Father of Lights and Holy Ghost Reborn, produced by Darren Wilson.[18] He has also been interviewed and highlighted in several CBN news stories.[19][20] He was featured on the cover of Charisma magazine in August 2016 with a story titled "Born for Revival."[21] Johnson was also a guest on Sid Roth's It's Supernatural in October 2016.[22] He was later featured in the 2018 documentary American Gospel: Christ Alone which criticized aspects of the prosperity gospel and portrayed Johnson as a key figure within that movement.[10]
Political and cultural views
In a 2016 Facebook post, Johnson explained his decision to vote for Donald Trump, citing concerns about abortion, same-sex marriage, and globalization, which he described as contrary to biblical values. His wife, Beni Johnson, also expressed support for Trump.[23] Johnson reaffirmed his endorsement during the 2020 presidential election.[24]
Bill Johnson opposes homosexuality calling it a sin and "violation of design".[25] In a Facebook video blog he elaborated on the issue stating that "God did not make those human bodies to come together, to fit, in that way".[25] Bethel Church later published an official statement affirming its belief that sexual intimacy belongs within heterosexual marriage—but also expressing compassion and respectful engagement toward LGBTQ individuals.[26]
In 2018, Bethel Church publicly opposed three bills in the California state legislature that would have restricted conversion therapy, expressing concern that the bills could limit their ability to provide ministry to individuals seeking to change their sexual orientation. The church released a public statement, submitted letters to lawmakers, and encouraged congregants to contact legislators. These efforts included a sermon titled "What Would Jesus Do in a PC World?" by senior associate leader Kris Vallotton, who also tweeted in support of individuals who had "come out of homosexuality".[3][27]
Published works
When Heaven Invades Earth (Destiny Image Publishers, 2003) ISBN0-7684-2952-8
The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind (Destiny Image Publishers, 2005) ISBN0-7684-2252-3
When Heaven Invades Earth Devotional & Journal (Destiny Image Publishers, August 2005) ISBN0-7684-2297-3
Shifting Shadow of Supernatural Power: A Prophetic Manual for Those Wanting to Move in God's Supernatural Power (co-author) (Destiny Image Publishers, August 2006) ISBN0-7684-2369-4
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