Pastor Jim has served as Lead Pastor of St. Luke since January 1, 2001. Pastor Jim previously served as pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church outside Lake Stevens, Washington, and prior to that, his first call was at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sedro-Woolley, WA. He is a graduate of North Central High School in Spokane, WA. (1983), Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. (1987), and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. (1993). He is also a Pastor-Theologian (Pastor-Theologian Program through the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton – a three year, inter-denominational study program) and has pursued further studies in Martin Luther’s writings. In 2008, Pastor Jim was the recipient of the Pastoral Sabbatical Grant from the Louisville Institute which allowed he and his family to travel to Europe where he pursued further studies in Germany on Martin Luther.   

Pastor Jim was born in Vancouver, Washington; grew up in Spokane, Washington from the age of seven; the youngest of five children. His father, Wally Johnson, also a Lutheran minister, served as pastor of a Lutheran congregation in Spokane the last fifteen years of his ministry.  

Pastor Jim is married with four children. He enjoys outdoor recreation, basketball, cycling, time with his family, reading Greek, Hebrew, and Martin Luther’s writings, and preaching. He is a champion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and loves the Lord Jesus, his family, and this congregation he’s been called to serve.

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