05/18/2026
Have you met our new Transitional Pastor?
Let me introduce you to him with this "getting to know you" summary. Better yet, come hang out with him during Coffee Fellowship after church.
"I am a native of North Carolina, having grown up in Gastonia, a commuter community west of Charlotte, and died in the wool, Tar Heel. My family attended First Presbyterian Church there and I was quite involved as the church was literally on my walk to and from school until I started high school. My paternal grandmother was instrumental in my faith journey and she ‘called me’ to ministry when I was a teenager which I found to be pretty funny, and she was indeed correct as it turned out.
I attended UNC-Chapel Hill where I majored in student life for the most part according to my parents and still graduated in four years with a BA in Sociology. My early vocation was in the business world in management and sales before entering seminary in 1991 at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, where I graduated with a dual Master’s Degrees in Christian Education and Divinity.
I served a church in Culpeper, VA for two years as an associate for youth and missions before returning to Richmond to complete a year long residency in hospital chaplaincy. After completing my residency I was Director of Pastoral Care for two hospitals in Richmond, Va before returning to Gastonia, NC to serve as Director of Spiritual Care for my hometown hospital. After 12+ years, I was called to serve as Director of Spiritual Care at AnMed Health in Anderson, SC. My last hospital position was as Palliative Care Chaplain for Baylor All Saints in Fort Worth, TX.
In addition to my primary role as a hospital chaplain, I served multiple churches in Gastonia, Anderson and the Fort Worth area as a part-time, Stated Supply Pastor working with smaller churches that couldn’t afford a full-time minister. While serving a SC church I completed the Transitional Ministry training at Montreat Conference Center.
I am married to Valerie Johnston whom I interestingly met in the ER, that is a story in itself, and we will be celebrating our 24th anniversary in November. I have two adult children, Erin who lives in Asheville, NC and has two children – Quinn who is 12 and Asa who is 8; and Ben who lives in Charlotte. Valerie has two children, Cooper who is married and lives in Weatherford, TX where he and his wife train cutting horses; and Blake, who I adopted, and is married and lives in San Francisco.
Valerie and I bought our retirement home on St Simons Island last year and are excited to spend time on the beach, biking, reading, playing golf and traveling. My newest hobby is photography and I love the variety of colors the ocean and marshes offer at sunrise and sunset in particular.
I am excited to be here at FPC St Marys as we begin to explore the ministry possibilities for this church and community. I look forward to getting to know you and share in ministry with you.
Mike
