Eddie Johnson - Lead Pastor

Family:  My wife Karen and I are former Nashvillians and were married May 20, 2000 at St. Paul’s Community Church in Green Hills.  We have 2 wonderful children in our son Keegan (6) and daughter Kaylee Rain (4).

Hobbies:  playing/watching basketball, going to the movies with my kids, date nights with my wife at the Melting Pot and surfin’ the net with some coffee at Starbucks.

Favorites:  I love experiencing Buckhead Church, watching Indiana University basketball while eating some Pizza King pizza with a raw vidalia onion, hangin' out & drinking coffee at Merridee's in Franklin and visiting the Rocky Mountains in Colorado

Food:  Cafe Tu Tu Tangos, The Bound'ry in the West End, Merridee's in Franklin, The Melting Pot and Pizza King pizza (it's an Indiana thing)

Movies:  Hoosiers, Rudy, Saving Private Ryan, Tommy Boy, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

My Teams:  Tennessee Titans, Chicago Cubs, Indiana University basketball, Notre Dame football

Books:  Heaven by Randy Alcorn, The Story of God by Tommy Nelson, Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg, The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

Music:  Ceili Rain, Michael Olson, Rich Mullins, Passion Worship, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, U2 and anything by John "Cougar" Mellencamp

Favorite Bible Verse:  Psalm 51:1,7  "God, give grace! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home." (The Message)

Leaders who have/are influencing me:  My Dad, Joe Stowell, Mark Malin, Tommy Nelson, David Foster, Bill Howard, Bob Russell, Kyle Idleman, Eugene DePorter, Greg Allen, Andy Stanley, Jeff Henderson,  David McDaniel and Kevin Mawae

5 leaders I don't know but would love to buy them lunch:  "Rudy" Ruettiger, Steve Alford, Brennan Manning, Beaker, Wayne Smith

Ministry Background:  I previously had the privilege of serving on the staff’s of Bellevue Community Church (Nashville, TN), Search Ministries (Nashville, TN) and Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY).  From Southeast Christian, I left to be the Lead Pastor/Planter of Watermarke Church, a North Point Strategic Partnership church in Canton, Georgia.  In August 2006, I moved to Franklin, TN to help launch North Point's 10th Strategic Partnership church plant, Cumberland Church. (and yes, in case your wondering... this will be my LAST move to start a new church!  We're home.)

Comments

[shaun m. dean]

Mr. Eddie,

it seems we have a connection or two and a mentor/dear friend of mine suggested that i get in touch. at 13, i became a Christian at Bellvue Community chruch, and my youth pastor/mentor mentioned above is Dr. Jason Pettus. in august, i'll be moving to NJ to plant a church with Reid Monaghan (lead pastor) formerly of Fellowship Bible church where i have been attending. plus i live in Franklin and love Puckett's.

i'd like the opportunity to pick your brain about what is/has worked for Cumberland in your early growth, and how the Lord as worked and blessed you in your current and past planting initiatives. would that be possible?

serving sincerely,

shaun m. dean

[J. R. Miller]

Eddie, you have an interesting history in ministry. How did your experience as a church planter equip you to become a successful Video Church pastor? Do you think church planters have an advantage when transitioning into the role of leading a campus/venue?

[Eddie Johnson]

Hey Nate,

Thanks for the email and introduction! If you don't mind, I'll have Billy shoot you over a response to your question since he's our Service Programming Director and leads that area.

Glad to help!

Eddie

[Nate]

Eddie,
I hope it's okay to ask this question on here, but I didn't know where your personal email address was. (i'm not very bright!) I lead a small-town ministry in Michigan that models NPCC's model and ministry but is too small to become a Strategic Partner. I have sooo many questions, but here's just one: how do you define the "win" for a music leader at your church? If you have some insight to this, please respond and if possible, by email would be great! I know you're busy...so thanks for your help!