Pastor Denise Johnson
Pastor Denise Johnson
Pastor Denise E. Johnson was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She grew up in the Isle of Patmos Baptist Church where she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at the age of 12. It was first as a student and then as a teacher in Sunday School that she fell in love with the Word of God and discovered her passion, purpose and life call.
Pastor Johnson was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1976 by Rev. Dr. George B. Rogers and the Isle of Patmos Baptist Church. In 1996, she was ordained as an Elder by Bishop Earl Ross and New Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church. She was blessed to serve the Body of Christ as a Bible teacher and evangelist for 20 years. Her love for God’s Word and God’s people resulted in open door opportunities throughout the United States and the Caribbean.
It was in 1982, during a Spirit-filled, mountain-top retreat that she received the prophetic promise, “You will one day shepherd my people.” That prophecy was fulfilled on Sunday, February 21, 1999 with the birth of Higher Calling Christian Ministries (HCCM). From core to culture, HCCM is committed to EVANGELISM, EDUCATION and EMPOWERMENT.
In addition to serving as under-shepherd of HCCM, Pastor Johnson is also the Founder of EXCEL Academy Public Charter School. EXCEL opened in 2006 as one of the first, and is now the longest operating public charter school in Prince George’s County, MD. The Vision and Mission of this K-8 school is to “provide quality choice in public education for a chosen, gifted generation.” EXCEL’s first kindergarten class, known as the Legacy Class, graduated from high school in 2019.
Serving the families of HCCM and EXCEL have been an absolute labor of love. Pastor Johnson graciously acknowledges the love of her family, the loyalty of her church and the anointed leadership of her spiritual covering, Pastor John K. Jenkins, Sr, and the First Baptist Church of Glenarden.
Lastly, Pastor Johnson summarizes her life and ministry with the following words of Scripture:
“… I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)