Dr. Gerald L. Johnson
Dr. Johnson was nurtured in Christ at a young age at Emanuel AME Church in Harlem, New York. By age nine, he was teaching Sunday school and preached his first message at age twelve. He was delegated Assistant Pastor for the junior church of Emanuel AME Church where he served faithfully for three years.
The City of Refuge Church of God in Christ
On October 1, 1997, the first official service of the City of Refuge Church of God in Christ was held. In April 1998, services were held in a warehouse where the “City” (as it was referred to) worshiped for another six months. God then moved again and opened the door of the Vista Del Oro apartment complex activity room. In October 1999, Father Michael Gagnon, Pastor of the Mission San Luis Rey Parish, offered his hospitality to the “City,” and finally three years later by the leading of God the church moved again to Oceanside Boulevard
Greater Harvest Church of God in Christ
In 2014, Elder Johnson was elevated by the National Church of God In Christ to Overseer and was appointed as Pastor at Greater Harvest Church of God in Christ in Long Beach, CA by Bishop Joe L. Ealy. Overseer Johnson also currently serves as Chairman of the General Assembly Credentials Committee for the National Church
Dr. Johnson held the office of President of the North San Diego County Branch of the
NAACP, was a member of the Executive Committee of the California State Conference of the
NAACP, serving as State Religious Affairs Chair, and as a key point person on Gang Violence.
He is a chaplain with the International Crisis Intervention Foundation and the senior Chaplain for
the Oceanside Police Department. He also serves as Chaplain in charge of volunteer services at
the Marine Corps Base Brig at Camp Pendleton and chaplain at the Rainbow Conservation
Camp, as well as Donovan State Prison.
In addition to serving as Senior Chaplain for the Oceanside Police Department (2000–present),
Overseer Johnson also serves as chairman of the Interfaith Advisory Council of the San Diego
County District Attorney's Office (2003–present).
He is a member of the Cal State University of San Marcos Police Advisory Board and was for
five years previously a member of the Police & Fire Commission for the city of Oceanside
(2001- 2006). He has served as an Executive board member of the Southern California First
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ; (2000-2012) Executive Secretary/Treasurer
for the United African American Ministerial Action Council (1999-2004); Vice-President United
African American Ministerial Action Council (2012-Present), Vice-President for Para-chapel
ministry at Camp Pendleton (1998–2004); and a trained Facilitator for Prison Fellowship (1995-
2009).
High praise to God and to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, on August 7, 2010, the Next
Dimension Bible College conferred a Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling and a Doctorate
of Ministry on Elder Johnson. God is truly good!