Johns Installed as Professor for Fisher Chair of Spiritual Renewal
Cleveland, TN—The Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) recently held a special installation ceremony where Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns was appointed as professor for the Robert E. Fisher Chair of Spiritual Renewal.
Members of the Fisher family were in attendance for the event where a video clip of the late Dr. Fisher, who is a former assistant general overseer for the Church of God, shared why he initiated the chair. Dr. Lamar Vest, Seminary president, and the congregation prayed a prayer of anointing over Dr. Johns following her message entitled “But Now”.
Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns (center) is prayed over by members of the Fisher family, as well as PTS President Dr. Lamar Vest (far right). Click on photo to enlarge.
“Robert Fisher was an exceptional man of faith and prayer. He was a dear friend, and I greatly miss his counsel and fellowship. I believe Dr. Fisher would be proud of the Seminary’s choice of Dr. Johns to serve in the Fisher Chair,” said Dr. Vest. “We look forward to continuing our work with the Center for Spiritual Renewal and strengthening our relationship with them. Dr. Johns will be a driving force in this focus on spiritual renewal,” he added.
Dr. Johns is a fourth generation Pentecostal with a rich spiritual heritage. Her great-grandmother founded a church, and it was there, at the age of 16, that she preached her first sermon. She later received her B.A. from Lee College (now Lee University), an MA from Wheaton College, and a PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1985, she joined the faculty at what is now the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
In 1989, following in her great-grandmother’s footsteps, Dr. Johns partnered with her husband, Jackie, in the planting of the New Covenant Church of God in Cleveland, Tenn. She continues to co-pastor this church in addition to serving as a Professor of Discipleship and Christian Formation at the Seminary. Dr. Johns’ teaching and preaching ministry also includes many distinguished lectureships, as well as the seminary classroom and the local church.
In 1997, Dr. Johns was honored as a Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology. She is also a past-president of the Society of Pentecostal Studies. Her published works include: Pentecostal Formation: A Pedagogy Among the Oppressed, Finding Eternal Treasures, and numerous journal articles.
Johns and her husband are stewards of a small farm where they raise cows and grow blueberries. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.
“It is an honor for me personally and for PTS as an institution to continue Dr. Fisher’s vision of spiritual renewal. Dr. Fisher understood that renewal of the church was closely tied to the unity of the church. It is my desire to continue his work in bringing together the various streams of renewal in the spirit of Christian unity. We (at PTS) desire to be in the center of God’s continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and it is our intention to find creative ways in facilitating prayer, fellowship and discernment among all Spirit-filled believers. We look forward to working closely with the Fisher family and with the Center for Spiritual Renewal toward these ends,” replied Dr. Johns.
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The Pentecostal Theological Seminary is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC). Also, the Seminary and Master of Art in Church Ministry degree is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Additional information is available online at www.ptseminary.edu.
