(j\{0thc-~~o t I DEC - 92

. DR. LEATH C.JOHNSON

,

Doctorate Is Earned Dr. Leath C. Johnson, associ­

ate minister of First BaptistCburcn, avte Av ., recentlyreceived the Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J.

A native of Charleston, S.C., Dr. Johnson holds a bachelor's degree from Clemson University, the master of religious educa­tion from Southwestern BaptistTheological Seminary, the spe­cialist in educ ation fr om Appalachian State University. He has done additional study at the North Carolina Memorial Hospital in the department of Clinical Pastoral Education and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Before coming to Statesville in 1975, Dr. Johnson served on the staff of Crestview BaptistChurch in Austin, Tex., and the River Oaks Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Tex. In North Caroli­na he has served on the staff of the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville and the First Baptist Church of Durham.

Dr. Johnson has been active in civic affairs and served on various committees in Associa­tion and North Carolina State Baptist Convention programs.

He is married to the former Kathryn Junita Eddings and they have two children.

I

Education Is Called

The Rev. Leath C. Johnson Jr. will become .minister of education at ll\l,rham's... E" Baptist Church on Sept. 1. He wil~- vacancy which has existed f~me time.

Johnson was accepted by unanimous action of the membership of the church at a congregational meeting held on July 13. On July 20 he presented his resignation from the same position at the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church of Fayettevill!'. l~!I!Iii_~;";"ii!!!!! He had served the Fayetteville congregation for the past seven years.

Johnson is a 39-year-old na­tive of Charleston, S.C. He re­ceived . his education in the schools of Charleston, and holds a bachelor of science degree from C I em s 0 n University, where he completed his work in 1954, with a major in biological sciences, and minors in English, history a nd psychology. ..

In 1958, the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at Ft. Worth, Tex., conferred upon Johnson the master of religious education degree, with a major in administration and education and a minor in psychology and religion.

Johnson served r 25 months. in the Army, an as stationed for some . e' Germany. He held the r k of st lieutenant. Prior to g . g Fayetteville, he served e capacity of minister of cation at the Crestview B ist Church of Austin, Tex., and the River I Oaks Baptist Church of Ft. Worth.

Mrs. Johnson is the former Miss Kathryn Juanita Eddings of Pickens, S.C. She has served on church staffs in several t

capacities and in headquarters of denominational offices. She currently is devoting her time to her home. The couple has two children, Richard Leath, age three, and Lisa Lynn, age three ' months.

Johnson has traveled in Ger­many, France, Switzerland, Aw;tria and Italy. He has held several offices on the local, regional and state levels of the Baptist Church. He had been serving as arrangements chair­man for the Baptist State Convention to be held in No­vember in Fayetteville.

In a letter to the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Durham, Johnson said, "We look forward in great anticipa· tion to serving with your pastor, to our move to Durham and to our ministry with you. I wish to thank you for giving my family and me this opportunity of serving with you in this great church."

The Rev. R. F. Smith Jr., the pastor of the DUrham church, said, "It is with great antici· pation that we ' welcome the Johnsons to Durham and First Baptist Church. He will begin his ministry with us Sept. 1."

CLIPPING SERVICE • 1115 HILLSBORO

/ RALEIGH. NC 27603(!; TEL. (919) 833-2079

K~&·""'-~.\IUIUI ..._

STATF!W!llE, N. C.

JAN 14 96

I' J ~

LEATH JOHNSON

~Johnson1

"

~On Staff ~ p q According to an announce- 'l'\ ) ment made by Bill Brater and W. I ~eid Summers, IJr J.eath C.

Johnson has joined the staff of

IB'tinch-Johnson Funeral Home. Dr. J ohnson recently retired from the position of associate ministe r of education and administration of First Baptist ~ Church on Davie Ave. He held

I that post since 1975. A native of Charleston, S.C.,

Dr . Johnson holds a bachelor's degree from Clemson University, the master of religious educa­tion from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the spe­ciali st in education from Appalach ian State Univers ityand the doctor of ministry degree from Drew University in Madison N.J.

He has done additional study at the North Carolina Memorial Hospital in the department of clinical pastoral education and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He also served two years in the U.S. Army as a first lieu­tenant and three years in th e S.C. National Guard.

Before coming to Statesville in 1975, Dr. Johnson served on the staff of Crestview Baptist Church in Austin, Tex., and the River Oak Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Tex. In North Caroli­na, he has served on the staff of the Snyder Memorial BaptistChurch in Fayetteville and the First Baptist Church of Durham.

Dr. Johnson has been active in civic affairs and currently serves on the board of directors for the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center of Iredell County (SCAN Center). He has al so served on various committees in Association and North Carolina State Baptist Convention programs.

He is married to the former Kathryn J . Eddings and they have two children. "

"We are very proud to have Dr. Johnson become a part of the Bunch-Johnson family and we look forward to him ministering to the families we serve," Brater commented. ' ---- -~--~---;-

•

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CLIPPING SERVICE , 1115 HILLSBOR~3

RALEIGH. NC 2~079/ TEL. (919) 633·

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{ :::/;py BUR\ft;LL WHI'rl'£N.1'ON .. Admlnistrati()n~ Today the corll. ' . " ....Is there-ianytH19i lthat ..he .. gre'gafJon ' is paying tribute to ' "e8n'tdo?" 'f';I( . ,r-~c~ J l l~X::- :.,,: '," h~m ' wllh a celebrat~on ' party in ' " More thlln ' lon,~ :P'erso~)'..has . I hiS hoilor - alld saymg "tItanks'~

c' asked that qgestiQnaboQt~aW;.·, Cor the hundreds of times he has i~~J.o~Jlsolli~~p~_~.~&~ .stepped'.in:~to leadpl'Q, ~a~~ , or .' . ', has pJ'0ved Hilnself'to 'be'8~up&-' c' . otter a 'belpmg hand~' ~. .,1.:.. . -' i< ~~ri(fr 'org~ni~-er~~-nortS'ense" "'~-'" It's a <¥thanks" that ig.' espe- ::_ ~ administrator,' 1:* . d,edicated ' Cially h~artfelt because it comes ~\ . ' teache'r and·~reachef;':'\'·i.ofoua: only a few months before he will . song leader, skHlful .(cO~O~1··and be retiring from the ministry.- , energetic tour guide.. :~. ,. ••" " "1" One of his biggest jobs is to

. I, This month, Dr.! Johnson , plan and oversee the operation -, marks his 20th anniversary of of Sunday School and other edu- '

service at tirst Baptist Church cational programs, such as th.e . on Davie Ave., where he is Asso- annual summer Vacation Bibte ' - ciate Mini~, Education and . S~hool for c!tildren. . During

· . . ,•.•."' ,,.,;.,...,~,'.""·,'·c,"""';." · , · il BIble School times, he can more than likely be found climbing on a ladder to construct a temple out of cardboard boxes, or guid- . ing young hands in assemblingwoodcrafts. . ,

As church administrator, he mak~s sure finances are runningsmoothly and has gained' a repu­

· tation as. a for~idable bargainshopper for ' everything from office furniture to groceries. ,

· Whatever job he tackles, he ·does it with enthusiasm and sin­gle-minded' dedication ....:. whether it's the painstaking task of designing a poster display,decorating the fellowship hall

· for a senior adult banquet, over­· seeing volunteers in putting out achurch directory, or helping a stranded traveler find a place to spend the night. '

Some of his deeds have affect­ed only a single life in time of

, need. Others have had far-reach­ing impact on the lives of many. . When Hurricane~ Hugo devastat~ ,

d several states, Lea:tb JohnsoQ . ad appealed to the .community nd collected truckloads of S~P: lies while others were st' .

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.i. wonderiDg what they could do to ~· ·~lp. ..' , !'. , One of his favori te times of l' year is Christmas, when he and a ~l team of volunteers roll up their :; sleeves and pack a roomful of • boxes with food, toys, clothing

, r, and special gifts for each family , on a long list to be helped by the ! church. As one of the highlights -; of the season, he coordinates a o! big party for children who are ~, involved with the court system in " some way. ,[, Aware of the need for better o·health care in the community, he

organized a Health Care Min­t , istry at-First Baptist. He has also 9 directed the Baptist Men in , building Habitat for Humanity

houses and coordinated Redr Cross bloodmobile, visits at the t church. ' t Another major accomplish­, ment was bringing the ACTS ~ television network to the area, to , allow more people to hear the i Christian message - a message ~ he believes so strongly that he J. has built his life around it. ! A native of Charleston, S.C., , Dr. Johnson served as First .. ~ Lieutenant in the U.$. Army in ~ Germany. He and his wife" the ~ former Kathryn Eddings, came ~ to Statesville in 1975, after he t had served at churches in : Austin, Tex.; Ft. Worth, Tex.;

, , Fayetteville and Durham. The f-·Johnsons pave two adult chil­.. ,dren, Rick and Lisa. : Dr. Johnson graduated from ~ Clemson and earned a Master of : Religious Education degree: trom Southwestern Baptist Thea­~ logical Seminary and a Doctor of ~ :Ministry degree trom Drew Unt­~ \ versit)'. He also holds a Special­,. ist in Education degree, from

. : :Appalachian State University ~ ~ and has'done additional studr at : 'the N.C. Memorial Hospita in : the Department of Clinical Pas­ij 'toral Education and UNC-CH. '; During his tenure at First , ~ Baptist, he has been actively

--=== ~ involved in nearly every aspect " :of church ministry. He served as ~ ,senior staff minister during the i interim period between pastors ~ D ,,r. Frank campbell and Dr. Jack ~ 'Causey. In addition, he has ~ :served on committees of the ~ 'South Yadkin Baptist Associa­~ ,tion and the N.C. Baptist State

onvention.

If

1 Clemson and earned a Master of : Religious Education degree: from Southwestern Baptist Theo­t logical Seminary and a Doctor of ~ :Ministry degree from Drew Uni­• ,versity. He also holds a Special- . ~. :ist in Education degree from

, : .Appalachlan State University ~ :and has'ijone additional study at : the N.C. Memorial Hospital in ~ 'the Department of Clinical Pas­C'toral Education and UNC-CH. ~ During his tenure at First , Ii 'Baptist, he has been actively--=====- t involved in nearly every aspect =:of church ministry. He served as ~ ,. senior staff minister during the ; interim period between pastors ~ Dr. Frank Campbell and Dr. Jack ~ :Causey. In addi!ion, he has ~ served on commIttees of the ~ 'South Yadkin Baptist Associa­: ,tion and the N.C. Baptist State ~ Convention.

l = ' His efforts have reac eil far I .beyond the church, and into the w'local community, through his ~ :involvement with such groups as ~ :the Salvation Army, Stop Child ~ ·Abuse Now (SCAN), the United ~ Way's Information & Referral : Serv.ce and many , other agen­~ des. ,. : ' . " ~ ' "Few ministers !terve on the ~ same church staff or 20 years," ~ remarked Dr. Causey. "We here t. at First Baptist Church are fortu­, nate that Leath Johnson has ~ ,done just that. Our church and ~ our community have benefited. , ,from his dedication, abilitiest and concern for others. We are , , ,pleased to celebrate his twenti­: 'eth anniversary with us." : : Tonight's evening of celebra­• 'tion at the church will begin : with a program that will focus on , Dr. Johnson's twenty years of t service. Following the program, » heavy hors d'oeuvres will be ~ served as the guests have the : ~pportunity to fellowship with ;, e Johnsons. ­

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