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Dr. Kevin R. Johnson is the fifth Senior Pastor of the nationally renowned Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude graduate of Morehouse College, Dr. Johnson was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey scholarships. He continued his studies at Union Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in Religious Education as a Union Scholar, and received the prestigious Maxwell Fellowship, awarded to the seminarian most likely to succeed in parish ministry. Dr. Johnson earned the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree from Columbia University.
Since being licensed to preach the Gospel at the age of sixteen at his home congregation, David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, Dr. Johnson has worked diligently to build a new, relevant, and revolutionary ministry. After serving as the Assistant Pastor at The Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City, God called Dr. Johnson on 7 January 2007 to succeed Reverend William H. Gray, III at Bright Hope Baptist Church. Within two years of becoming Bright Hope’s shepherd, more than 500 new believers have surrendered their lives to the Lord and several new ministries created—a Singles Ministry, Joshua Ministry, HIV/AIDS Ministry, Seasoned Saints Ministry, and Business Owners Ministry.
Furthermore, Dr. Johnson is an astute clergyman. Affectionately called “Joshua” by Bright Hopers, he recently led the effort to acquire a full city block (4.6 acres) for $10.75 million. He is a board member of the Philadelphia Urban League, President of the Bridge of Hope Community Development Corporation, and served on the Obama Campaign’s National African-American Clergy Advisory Board. His memberships are numerous including lifetime member of the Morehouse National Alumni Association, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Alpha Boulé).
Committed to continuing the prophetic social gospel, Dr. Johnson often addresses national and international socio-political issues such as police brutality and education reform. In New York City he was arrested at One Police Plaza for protesting the unjust NYPD killing of African immigrant, Amadou Diallo, and led a march in Harlem to investigate school academic performance. In 2008, by invitation of the American Jewish Committee, Dr. Johnson traveled to Israel with other mainline Protestant leaders to tour the Holy Land and discuss the challenges that exist between Israelis and Palestinians.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and citations. Newsweek featured Dr. Johnson as one of the “upcoming-and-coming” national post-Civil Rights ministers, and the Philadelphia Tribune identified him as “one under 40 to watch” and as a mover-and-shaker in the City.
Dr. Johnson is blessed to share his ministry with his lovely wife, Mrs. Kimya S. Johnson, Esq., a labor and employment attorney at the law firm of Cozen O'Connor. Mrs. Johnson is a graduate of Spelman College, Columbia University, and Case Western Reserve University School of Law. They are the proud parents of their son, Miles Hasani, and two daughters, Laila Rae and Lena Shani.
