Alumnus Jeffrey Johnson Elected as New USA/Canada Region Director in Church of the Nazarene

The Board of General Superintendents, the governing body in the Church of the Nazarene, has elected alumnus Jeffrey Johnson to the position of USA/Canada regional director.

Johnson has served as superintendent of the South Texas District since 2013 and succeeds Stan Reeder, who has led the USA/Canada Region since 2020.

“Johnson brings a wealth of experience as a pastor, district superintendent and as a facilitator of key regional initiatives that have impacted the church in this region,” said board chair Gustavo Crocker upon announcing the new position. “His relational and missional skills are an asset to resource the church in this season of resurgence.”

The USA/Canada regional director position is one of six across the world under the leadership of Global Mission Director Jim Ritchie. The regional director serves the Board of General Superintendents in a variety of ways including working with district leaders to see new district superintendents elected or appointed. There are approximately 5,000 local churches and 600,000 Nazarenes in the United States and Canada organized by 78 districts.

“I look forward to leading a team focused on making Christ-like disciples in the United States and Canada,” Johnson said. “My predecessor has led a prayerful and collaborative effort called the Cycle of Resurgence that emphasizes blessing our community, bringing people to Jesus and becoming Christ-like disciples. We must continue to focus on those essentials and seek to be effective, no matter the size of our congregations and makeup of the communities where God has placed us.”

Before becoming a district superintendent, Johnson pastored churches in Tennessee, Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas. He earned his bachelor’s from Trevecca in 1985, later earning a Master of Divinity in 1988 from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He earned a doctorate in ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2003.

Johnson said he is ready to face current challenges brought on by an increasingly secular culture and the need to effectively reach people with the gospel.

“We need more pastors, better pastors and preachers,” he shared. “We need congregations that are multiplying disciples, leaders and new congregations. There are several initiatives that are focused on seeing those become greater realities. I hope to be a faithful and authentic disciple of Jesus, an effective and collaborative team leader and an encouraging partner to our pastors and leaders.”

Johnson is the son of late General Superintendent Talmadge Johnson. His brother, Michael, also an alumnus, serves as the senior director of advancement & church relations at Trevecca.