Throughout his ministry career, Gary Johnson has remained committed to helping churches grow.
During his decades serving as senior minister at The Creek Church in suburban Indianapolis, Gary invested in ministry leaders both in his church and throughout region. Believing education is critical to effective ministry, he encouraged The Creek to open up their campus to host seminary classes. For years, Gary has taught at TCM Institute, training ministers to serve throughout Europe and Asia.
It was there in 2009 that Gary had a conversation that would multiple his influence on church leaders. While teaching at Haus Edelweiss outside Vienna, he had a conversation with David Roadcup and James Estep about creating resources tailored to the unique role of elders. This simple conversation led to the beginning of E2 (Effective Elders), where Gary now serves as executive director.
And throughout this entire journey, his wife, Leah, has served faithfully by his side. The daughter of a preacher, she met Gary in college. The two have been married nearly 50 years. Both their sons, Jared and Aaron, serve in ministry. They have six grandchildren. She’s a cornerstone of the ministry the couple perform together.
The Cornerstone of Service
On September 24th, during the Spire Conference in Louisville, CDF Capital honored Gary and Leah with the annual Cornerstone Award. Previously known as the Kingdom Builder Award, the name change acknowledges that we, “like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). The ministry of CDF Capital rests on a spiritual foundation, and collaborations with servants like Gary and Leah are an extension of this. Together, we seek to expand the impact of the church, which is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).
The Johnsons have been connected with CDF for years.. Not only do the couple invest in the fund, but at one time, Gary served on the board overseeing ministry operations funded by CDF. In presenting the award to the Johnsons, President and CEO Eric Schroeder shared, “at CDF Capital, we’re about helping churches grow. E2 is about helping elders thrive. We can’t do the work God has called us to do without Gary and his team doing the work God called them to do to help elders.”
In remarks shared that evening, Gary quoted Philippians 1:3, where the apostle Paul wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” In the midst of listing those in the room for whom he was thankful—from E2 staff to members of The Creek—he reminisced about the long-term relationship between E2 and CDF. “When I think of who E2 is today,” Gary reflected, “it never would have happened had CDF not believed in the vision of what we were attempting to do. So I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, CDF.”
