Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. is a spirit-filled minister and teacher who accepted his calling to the ministry at the young age of 17. After graduating from Arlington, this Golden Knight earned a bachelor’s degree in religion from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas and would later study at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

In 1988, Pastor Johnson accepted the call to lead Eastern Star Church, at the time, a congregation of about 500 people. Under his leadership, the congregation has grown to more than 10,000 with three worship sites and nearly 200 employees. Outreach Ministry is the church’s mission, with more than 19 programs to meet the spiritual, human, social and physical needs of its congregation and community. Some of those programs serve men, women and youth who are incarcerated and provide financial assistance to low-income families in crisis.

The Church has contributed to the Rev. Charles R. Williams Mobile Prostate Screening Van; Circle City Classic, the Annual Thanksgiving Offering of Love and special Hurricane Katrina programs.

Eastern Star, under Pastor Johnson’s leadership, has more than 40 community partners - IPS among them. Pastor Johnson partners with Arlington Woods School 99 to ensure no child is left behind, from providing scholarships to supporting educational field trips and sponsoring Christmas programs.