Leadership Team – Elim Christian Fellowship

Audrey H. Johnson

Senior Pastor

Pastor Audrey Howard Johnson currently serves as the second senior pastor of Elim Christian Fellowship in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he has faithfully served since May 2020.

Under his leadership, Elim continues to grow spiritually through sound teaching and preaching as new ministries are being birthed. The church has over 22 ministries and is proud to continue its legacy of service to the surrounding Greensboro community.

Before answering the call as senior pastor of Elim, Pastor Johnson recently served as the Director of Christian Education and Outreach Ministry, Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Director of Church Operations. Alongside his wife, Lady Shawn Johnson, he is the co-founder of Pool of Bethesda Ministry, a noble initiative aimed at aiding the poor, feeding the homeless, and supporting the disenfranchised. Pastor Johnson’s leadership extends to the LIFT Program which he founded and directs, dedicated to enhancing the lives and futures of 3rd through 5th graders through tutoring in math, reading, science, and social services.

Before his call to ministry, Pastor Johnson served for over 25 years in the U.S. Army as both a non-commissioned and commissioned officer, ultimately retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. After retiring from the army, Pastor Johnson worked 13 years for numerous agencies within the federal government, such as the Missile Defense Agency (Ground Missile Defense), Department of Homeland Security, Internal Revenue Service IT Department, and Department of Education Technology Program Management Office. He also served as the Denver Public Schools Senior Director of the Transportation Department for three years. After leaving Denver Public Schools, Pastor Johnson taught 10th-grade math and physics at Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) for one year. In addition, Pastor Johnson is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Education

Pastor Johnson graduated from the University of Colorado School of Engineering School with a Masters in Telecommunications Engineering and Information Systems Management. In 1989, Pastor Johnson completed his Bachelor of Science in Finance at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Pastor Johnson is currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary.

Family

Pastor Johnson is a native of Punta Gorda, Florida, and is happily married to his gift from God in Shawn DeBerry Johnson from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. They are the proud parents of three adult children and five beautiful grandchildren. Pastor Johnson’s ultimate goals are to glorify God by being the best pastor he can be and be a dedicated, humble servant to God and His people while abiding in God’s divine grace!

Shawn Johnson

Associate Pastor, Outreach & Evangelism

Pastor Shawn DeBerry Johnson spent her childhood in Western Pennsylvania. After which, she served as a Petroleum Supply Specialist in the United States Army before beginning a 38-year professional career in Colorado State and Local Government, News Media and Organ Screening for transplant. She served the Faith Community as R&R Relief Pastor, Youth Pastor, Outreach Pastor and both Co-Chair and Chair for the Mayor’s and Governor’s Faith Councils before relocating to North Carolina.

Our First Lady, affectionately called “Lady Shawn” serves as Pastor of Outreach & Evangelism at Elim Christian Fellowship. She majored in Christian Education and Business Administration at Colorado Christian University and received her initial licensing from the American Baptist Association before receiving her ordination from Colorado Vocational Training School, CVTS located in Aurora, CO. She is also a graduate of Denver Leadership Circle, where she currently serves as an international liaison with other leaders from around the globe.

A woman of integrity and tenacity, Lady Shawn is passionate about the mission of improving the quality of life for all humanity. Her early career in Denver was in media with local news outlets, ABC, CBS, KUSA and KBLK. Her community engagement and civil service is reflected in various collaborative efforts spanning over 35+ years. Shawn has served as Diversity Councilwoman for Kaiser Permanente, Community Coordinator for former Mayor and Governor John Hickenlooper’s Faith Initiative One Congregation-One Family, Denver’s 10 Year Plan to End homelessness. The Enrique Camarena Red Ribbon Campaign (combating local drug and gang activity). She has been invited to present motivational lectures for various high schools, colleges, business leadership councils, cohorts, and executives. She also participates in youth and adult mentoring groups where she formerly served as Community Leader and Facilitator for the Annual EspeciallyMeConference for African American teen girls. She is the founder and servant leader of both Pool of Bethesda Outreach Ministry and DeBré Consulting, LLC. Most recently, she served as a political appointee for Mayor Michael B. Hancock as Director and Senior Advisor for Community and Veterans Affairs and as Chair for the Mayor’s Faith Council.

Lady Shawn is the recipient of numerous commendations, appointments, and recognitions. She and her husband, Pastor Audrey H. Johnson are the proud parents of four adult children and six grandchildren. She is humbled and honored to serve the Lord in this capacity alongside her extended Elim Faith Family and neighboring community here in Greensboro, NC.