Dr. Orlester Johnson, Sr. Pastor
Dr. Orlester Johnson - Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist, Prophet, Apostle, Visionary, Builder, & a successful Conference Host.
On February 26, 1956, Pastor O. Johnson was born to the late Deacon Lincoln Johnson Jr. and Mother Ruth Ellis Johnson. Pastor Johnson, a native of Memphis, TN, graduated with Honors from Mitchell High in 1974. After graduating, Pastor Johnson attended the Memphis Area Vocational Technical School with a trade in Printing. He was able to pursue a career in printing at Lithograph Printing Company for over eighteen years. He became the first Black supervisor for eight of those years. He received his Doctorate in Theology with North Carolina College of Theology in 2011.
In 1989, Pastor Johnson accepted his call in the ministry and founded Greater Faith Tabernacle located at 4665 Auburn Road in Memphis, TN. Also in 1991 he received his Pastoral License in Tennessee Fifth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction under the leadership of Bishop Samuel L. Lowe. In 1993, he successfully built a new edifice in the same location. In 1996, he transitioned from Tennessee Fifth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to Tennessee Headquarters Jurisdiction under the leadership of Bishop J.O. Patterson Jr. where he became the State Sunday School Superintendent in 1998. In 2001, he became Chairman of the Auxiliaries In Ministries Convention {AIM} in Tennessee Headquarters Jurisdiction. He was appointed Special Executive Committee Chairman in 2004 and is currently holding each position. In 2004 he successfully built Phase II which is currently called the Institute for Success at 905 E. Shelby Drive in Memphis, TN. As a builder, Pastor Johnson is now designing Phase III- Greater Faith Temple.
In 2003, God gave Pastor Johnson a vision concerning abandoned, abused, and molested women and instructed him to bring them into communion and knowledge with their Heavenly Father. The first Annual conference was held in 2005. This conference is entitled DADDY’S GIRLS, for women who were not validated by their natural fathers. This conference promotes positive self-esteem images for women and girls of all ages.
Pastor Johnson each year since 1998 has conducted Evangelistic Crusades in Memphis, TN, through tent revivals entitled Miracle in May. He also spreads the gospel in revivals thru Prison Ministry at Mark Luttrell’s Women’s facility and at West Tennessee High’s Male Prison in Henning, TN, since 1999.
Pastor Johnson participates and serves with Memphis City Schools Adopter program and has adopted Graves Elementary School since the year 2000. In 2008, Pastor Johnson was nominated for the Strathmore’s Who’s Who for Outstanding and Professional Business Leaders. He was honored in 2008, in the Tri-State Defender’s Second Pastor’s Salute Gala. Pastor O. Johnson has received numerous awards as an outstanding Pastor who is on the move to make a difference from the late Bishop G. E. Patterson, Mayor W.W. Herenton, Mayor A.C. Wharton Jr., Councilman Myron Lowery , Congressman Harold Ford Sr. and Shelby County’s Board of Commissioners only to name a few.
As a man with a gift of Faith, Pastor Johnson takes the word of God literally and is well known around the world as the Faith Preacher. “If God said it that settles it.” Pastor O. Johnson is married to the First Lady of Greater Faith Tabernacle, Prophetess Jo Ann Poindexter -Johnson and the proud father of two sons, two daughters, four grandsons, and two granddaughters.