Elder | Teaching Pastor | Craig Johnson

Gospel Hope Church is an Elder-led church. In the New Testament we find three titles used for the leaders of the local church: Elders, Overseers, and Pastors (or, Shepherds). The Scriptures teach that the church is to be led by a plurality, a team, of elders/overseers/pastors whom the Lord has raised up to shepherd the flock of God under the authority of the Lord Jesus. This leadership must come with input and accountability from the congregation.  

A native of Detroit, MI, and Knoxville (Attended Farragut High), Craig drove for FedEx while attending The Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, CA. His stylish purple uniform caught the attention of Tiffany, a recent grad from The Master’s University, and the two were soon married. After graduating from seminary (’02), they went to faraway New Hampshire where Craig served as a pastor for seven years until he was sent out with about 30 others to plant a church about an hour south. Having shepherded God’s people for 20 years in New England, the Lord brought Him back home to Knoxville to plant Gospel Hope Church, being sent out by Grace Community Church in Maryville, TN.

Craig and Tiffany have six kids: Silas, Mercy, Justus, Ruby Claire, Matthias, and Knox. Craig loves reading for hours, discipleship over coffee, hanging out with his awesome kids, weightlifting, dating his wife, superhero movies with friends and the fam, and dark roast coffee. He has had a lifelong passion for church planting. Some of his favorite authors are John MacArthur, the Puritans, David Powlison, John Piper, Kevin DeYoung and Sinclair Ferguson.