Good afternoon congregation! It is a great day at our church as we welcome the addition of the Rev. Joy Johnston to Strawbridge United Methodist Church as our new Executive Associate Pastor beginning as of January 1, 2024. 

As most of you know, Pastor Beth has been working part-time in the position of the Executive Associate for over a year, even though she officially retired in July 2021. She has graciously and enthusiastically been helping the church during the growth we have been experiencing over the past year and half. Pastor Beth will continue to help with the transition bringing in Rev. Joy during the first quarter of next year, but she is also looking forward to retirement and spending more time with her family and grandchildren. Strawbridge has been very blessed to have Pastor Beth’s guidance and wisdom during this time of growth, and I believe we will be equally blessed with the arrival of Rev. Joy Johnston.

Rev. Joy Johnston is a passionate and dedicated ordained elder in the United Methodist Church (UMC) with a profound commitment to sharing the love of Jesus Christ and serving the community. She received her Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 2012. Prior to entering ministry, she worked as a geologist in the environmental field. She is thrilled to be a part of the UMC family and excited to join the talented team of pastors and staff at Strawbridge United Methodist Church. Strawbridge holds a special place in her heart and family history, as it is where her call to ministry was first revealed in 2008. Her connection to Strawbridge runs deep, with her children having spent their early years there. Her family has always considered Strawbridge their home church.

In addition to her role as pastor, Rev. Johnston is the proud wife of Joel Johnston and a loving mother to three college students: Jeremiah (age 22, Oklahoma State), Evija (age 23, University of Houston), and Josie (age 19, University of Minnesota). Rev. Johnston’s heart for the community extends beyond her immediate family, as she is also the host mom to two foreign exchange students, Peggy from Taiwan and Julia from Spain, both of whom attend Kingwood Park High School. Rev. Johnston and her family have been residents and active members of the Kingwood community for over twenty years.

Rev. Johnston brings a wealth of experience to her role as Executive Associate Pastor, with fourteen years of ministry experience spanning congregations from 40 to 14,000 members. She has a proven track record of effective leadership, strategic planning, and pastoral care. Her leadership has led to increased giving and ministry growth in congregations and ministry areas under her guidance.

Currently serving as the Lead Pastor for Pastoral Care and Special Needs Ministry at Chapelwood UMC in Houston, a thriving community with 7,000 members, Rev. Johnston also served in a similar capacity for seven and a half years at the 14,000-member The Woodlands UMC. In these roles, she oversaw ministry teams consisting of multiple clergy and administrative assistants, set visionary strategies, and managed ministry budgets, all while providing compassionate pastoral care to hospitalized and grieving congregation members. Furthermore, as the Pastor of Special Needs Ministry at both churches, she led initiatives with a focus on inclusivity and reaching all people with the love of Jesus Christ.

Prior to her time at The Woodlands UMC, she served as Senior Pastor at Splendora Countryside UMC in Splendora, TX, with a focus on being in ministry with the economically-challenged. While at Splendora Countryside, she planned and led weekly worship, increased giving, decreased expenses, aligned the finance committee with the Book of Discipline, and received a ministry grant from the Moody Foundation to provide playground equipment for the children and a freezer to support the church’s food pantry. Her dedication to serving diverse congregations and her exceptional leadership skills have made her a valuable asset to the churches she has served.

Rev. Joy Johnston’s unwavering commitment to ministry, strong leadership, and heart for the community will make her a valuable addition to Strawbridge UMC and we are excited to welcome her on to our staff.

In Christ,



Todd Mosel

Chair, Pastor/Staff-Parish Relations Committee

Strawbridge United Methodist Church