Indian Trail Community Church Welcomes New Pastor

Indian Trail Community Church, 9010 N. Indian Trail Road, recently welcomed Ronald Johnson as its new pastor. Johnson was ordained in 1985 after spending 13 years with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, where he was the executive officer for the chief of the Arizona Highway Patrol.

The journey from police officer to pastor was a long one, stretching over several years. Johnson said he was always active in his church and served as a church elder. Then he began preaching occasionally, and things grew from there.

Johnson says he loved his work with the department but felt he had to leave.

“God opens doors for you and makes it obvious when you should go through,” he says. His career change was met with mixed reactions from fellow officers. “Those who knew the Lord were really excited, and those who didn’t were confused.”

He attended the Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland and spent the last nine years in Oroville, Calif. Johnson says he is looking forward to the future.

“It’s an incredible opportunity,” he says.

Johnson describes Indian Trail as a young church, both because it is only 4 years old and because a lot of the members are young themselves. Having helped other churches increase their membership, Johnson hopes the same will happen here.

“We’d like to see families come to Christ, but that’s God’s work,” says Johnson. “Our job is to proclaim the gospel.”