Corey Johnson is a pastor at Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas, where he has served in various ministry roles since 2011. He graduated from Midwestern Seminary in 2021 with his Ph.D. in Historical Theology.
MBTS: Tell us about your church and your current role there.
Corey Johnson: Providence Baptist Church is a confessional Baptist church planted in July 2000. When I initially visited, I wasn’t looking for a ministerial position; I was looking for a good, healthy church for my family to join. But the Lord had different plans, and in 2015 I was appointed as one of the church’s pastors.
I have worn many hats at PBC, but my primary responsibilities include preaching, teaching, and caring for the flock. I am grateful to God for PBC; the fellowship is sweet, and it is a joy to preach and teach to a congregation who loves God and His Word. While people initially visit for the expositional preaching and God-centered worship, they stay because of the people.
MBTS: How did God lead you to pursue pastoral ministry and seminary?
Corey: As a teenager, I felt the Lord constantly nudging me toward pastoral ministry, but I wanted nothing to do with it. Instead, I went the way of Jonah and spent many years pursuing the world. The Lord would not let me go, and through a series of events, He brought me back to Himself. This period of my life brought experiential meaning to Scriptures like Ephesians 2:4–5.
Along with deepening my understanding of His grace, God planted within me a desire to know Him more deeply and help others do the same. I spoke to my pastor at the time, and he recommended I attend seminary and pursue a Master of Divinity. I would not be where I am apart from the grace and guidance of the Lord through His Church.
MBTS: How have your studies in historical theology equipped you practically in ministry?
Corey: One great benefit of seminary is accumulating friends, some who you can call on the phone and others who have been in glory for many years. In my postgraduate studies at Midwestern Seminary, I became acquainted with Benjamin Keach (1640–1704), who has become a good friend that I often consult and a godly example to follow.
Keach has also been instrumental to my development as a preacher and teacher. Recently, I took a portion of one of his sermons and expanded it into a teaching series for the young people at PBC. In this sermon, Keach lists specific sins that are common to young people, such as pride, lusts of the flesh, and outbursts of anger. Adults, too, have these struggles, so Keach’s teaching on sins often finds its way into my preaching, both to the congregation and to myself. I am thankful that God uses men like Benjamin Keach to remind me of my daily need for Christ.
MBTS: How can believers in Church history help encourage Christians today in the spiritual disciplines?
Corey: When I look to the Puritans, I see men who spent ample time meditating upon God’s Word and subsequently drawing out pure gold from its pages. The inexhaustibility of Scripture is seen in the ministry of Thomas Brooks, who preached 58 sermons on Hebrews 12:14. While most of us will never preach 58 sermons on one verse of Scripture, his example is a good reminder that we will never exhaust the treasure chest of God’s Word, which is more desirable than fine gold (Ps. 19:10).
Church history provides us with countless examples of men and women devoted to God’s Word and prayer. Some of their prayers are available for us to read; as we read them, my hope is that we will be encouraged to slow down, contemplate the wonders of God, and enjoy the communion we have with Him.
MBTS: As a pastor, what are some ways you equip and encourage your members to pursue biblical spirituality in their everyday lives?
Corey: The primary means is the regular preaching of God’s Word. Through the preached Word, I seek to equip our people to live lives of godly obedience that flow from the life we have in Christ. More than anything, I strive to preach Christ crucified, for it is God’s love in Christ that stirs up our hearts to love God and our neighbors all the more.
We also strive to equip and encourage our members to pursue biblical spirituality by providing classes, seminars, and good books. At times during our Sunday school hour, we teach classes on biblical spirituality, and one book we have found helpful in this endeavor is Habits of Grace by David Mathis. We also host a yearly seminar in which we have taught various spiritual disciplines. We aim to remind our people that these daily habits of devotion are one of our great privileges as children of the Most High. God has spoken to us, we have our Father’s ear, and He has given us the gift of Christian fellowship.
