Bill Johnson

Bill Bryant Johnson (born July 18, 1951) is the senior leader of Bethel Church, a Charismatic megachurch in Redding, California. Under his leadership, the congregation reportedly grew from approximately 2,000 members in 1996 to almost 9,000 in 2026. Johnson promotes beliefs related to revival, faith healing, and supernatural manifestations—topics, which are central to the Bethel movement and have influenced contemporary charismatic Christianity.

In 1998, he co-founded the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Johnson is also an author and itinerant speaker, appearing in Christian media and documentary films. His ministry has attracted both widespread support and criticism, particularly in relation to theology, charismatic practices, and political involvement. Johnson has also gained recognition in popular media, appearing in documentaries like Father of Lights and American Gospel: Christ Alone, and in interviews with CBN and Charisma magazine.

Politically, he has expressed conservative views, endorsing Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 due to positions against abortion, same-sex marriage, and globalization. Johnson opposes homosexuality as a sin, aligning with Bethel Church's stance on heterosexual marriage. The church actively supports the practice of conversion therapy.

Biography

Johnson is a fifth-generation pastor and has held the position of senior leader at Bethel Church since 1996. His ministry is associated with a charismatic movement emphasizing revival, healing, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. According to Christianity Today, Johnson holds "considerable influence among charismatic Christians all over the world". Before joining Bethel, Johnson and his wife served as the senior pastors of Mountain Chapel in Weaverville, California from 1978 to 1996.

In 1987, Johnson attended a "signs and wonders" conference led by John Wimber in hopes of advancing healing ministry, but later expressed disappointment: “They had fruit for what they believed. All I had was good doctrine.” He identified this as a turning point, stating that embracing “faith”—understood as taking risk—opened the way for reported healing manifestations in his ministry. In 1995, he traveled to Toronto, Canada to attend some of the Toronto Blessing revival meetings, where he described being significantly affected by the spiritual atmosphere and shifted toward a stronger emphasis on charismatic gifts and supernatural ministry in his leadership.

Brenda ("Beni"), the wife of Bill Johnson, died of cancer on July 13, 2022.

Bill and Brenda Johnson have three children including: Brian Johnson, Eric Johnson and Leah Valenzuela.

In July 2026, Johnson announced his engagement while speaking at Kenneth Copeland's Southwest Believers' Convention, despite being on sabbatical at the time. He had proposed to Linda Francoeur on his 75th birthday and married her the following month in a private ceremony officiated by fellow Bethel Church senior leader Kris Vallotton.

Ties to the New Apostolic Reformation

According to scholars Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett

Christianity Today, an evangelical Christian magazine, says "Bill Johnson is regularly listed as an NAR leader." The Christian Research Institute, an authority on evangelical religions, says: "The vanguard of the NAR is Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by the charismatic (in both senses of the word) pastor, Bill Johnson, who has stretched Bethel's influence over the entire globe through the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM)." Salon magazine describes "Bill Johnson's Bethel Church in Redding, California" as one of the NAR's "star megachurch ministries". A 2022 dissertation from the Theology School of the University of Otago in New Zealand, titled "From Peter Wagner to Bill Johnson: The History and Epistemology of the 'New Apostolic Reformation'" also affirms that the teachings of Bill Johnson and Bethel Church are representative of the New Apostolic Reformation.

Pivec and Geivett point out that Bill Johnson's teachings at Bethel strongly align with core NAR beliefs: Bethel treats Bill Johnson as an apostle and Kris Vallotton as a prophet,

Pivec and Geivett point out that not only do Bill Johnson's beliefs align with core NAR beliefs; but also that he is treated as a leader and apostle by other NAR leaders, such as Lance Wallnau, with whom he co-authored the book Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate, and Che Ahn, who wrote the book, Modern-day Apostles. Bill Johnson further not only endorsed Che Ahn's book but also wrote the foreword to it. Finally, "NAR apostle C. Peter Wagner" ⏤ often considered the foundational leader of the New Apostolic Reformation ⏤ said Johnson was one of the "apostolic pillars of today's church" in 2008 on GOD TV.

Pivec’s blog post discussing C. Peter Wagner’s endorsement of Johnson reflects this view, being titled simply, “Yes, Bethel Redding and Bill Johnson are part of the New Apostolic Reformation.” He has also been interviewed and highlighted in several CBN news stories. He was featured on the cover of Charisma magazine in August 2016 with a story titled "Born for Revival." Johnson was also a guest on Sid Roth's It's Supernatural in October 2016. He was later featured in the 2018 documentary American Gospel: Christ Alone which criticized aspects of the prosperity gospel and portrayed Johnson as a key figure within that movement.

Political and cultural views

In a 2016 Facebook post, Johnson explained his decision to vote for Donald Trump, citing concerns about abortion, same-sex marriage, and globalization, which he described as contrary to biblical values. His wife, Beni Johnson, also expressed support for Trump. Johnson reaffirmed his endorsement during the 2020 presidential election.

Bill Johnson opposes homosexuality calling it a sin and "violation of design". In a Facebook video blog he elaborated on the issue stating that "God did not make those human bodies to come together, to fit, in that way". Bethel Church later published an official statement affirming its belief that sexual intimacy belongs within heterosexual marriage—but also expressing compassion and respectful engagement toward LGBTQ individuals.

In 2018, Bethel Church publicly opposed three bills in the California state legislature that would have restricted conversion therapy, expressing concern that the bills could limit their ability to provide ministry to individuals seeking to change their sexual orientation. The church released a public statement, submitted letters to lawmakers, and encouraged congregants to contact legislators. These efforts included a sermon titled "What Would Jesus Do in a PC World?" by senior associate leader Kris Vallotton, who also tweeted in support of individuals who had "come out of homosexuality".

After Joe Biden's victory Johnson stated in an interview with the David J. Harris Jr. Show that he is "100% confident it [Biden's victory] was done by fraud".

Published works

When Heaven Invades Earth (Destiny Image Publishers, 2003) The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind (Destiny Image Publishers, 2005) When Heaven Invades Earth Devotional & Journal (Destiny Image Publishers, August 2005) Shifting Shadow of Supernatural Power: A Prophetic Manual for Those Wanting to Move in God's Supernatural Power (co-author) (Destiny Image Publishers, August 2006) Dreaming With God (Destiny Image, December 2006) The Supernatural Ways of Royalty (co-author) (Destiny Image Publishers, 2006) The Supernatural Ways of Royalty Leader's Guide (co-author) (Destiny Image Publishers, 2006) The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind 40-Day Devotional and Personal Journal (Destiny Image, September 2006) Here Comes Heaven!: A Kid's Guide to God's Supernatural Power (co-author) (Destiny Image, October 2007) Face to Face with God (Charisma House, 2007) Strengthen Yourself in The Lord (Destiny Image Publishers, 2007) A Life of Miracles: A 365-day guide to prayer and miracles (Destiny Image, February 2008) Strengthen Yourself in the Lord (Audio Book) (Destiny Image, February 2008) Release the Power of Jesus (Destiny Imae Publishers, 2009) The Essential Guide to Healing (co-author) (Chosen Books, 2011) Walking in the Supernatural: Another Cup of Spiritual Java (Destiny Image Publishers, 2012) Hosting the Presence (Destiny Image Publishers, 2012) Hosting the Presence Every Day: 365 Days to Unveiling Heaven's Agenda for Your Life (Destiny Image Publishers, 2014) Hosting the Presence Workbook: Unveiling Heaven's Agenda (Destiny Image Publishers, 2013) Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate (co-author) (Destiny Image Publishers, 2013) Discovering Your Purpose: A Short Interview with Bill Johnson (Bill Johnson Ministries, 2014) Spiritual Java (Destiny Image Publishers, 2016) Healing Unplugged: Conversations and Insights from Two Veteran Healing Leaders (Destiny Image Publishers, 2016) Releasing the Spirit of Prophecy: The Supernatural Power of Testimony (Destiny Image Publishers, 2014) Experience the Impossible (Chosen Books, 2014) The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind Study Guide: Access to a Life of Miracles (Chosen Books, 2014) Strengthen Yourself in The Lord Leader's Guide (Destiny Image Publishers, 2015) Strengthen Yourself in The Lord Study Guide (Destiny Image Publishers, 2015) Power That Changes the World: Creating Eternal Impact in the Here and Now (Destiny Image Publishers, 2015) Defining Moments (Whitaker House, 2016) God is Good (Destiny Image Publishers, 2016) God is Good Interactive Manual: He's Better Than You Think (Destiny Image Publishers, 2016) A Daily Invitation to Friendship With God: Dreaming with God to Transform Your World (Destiny Image Publishers, 2016) Jesus Christ is Perfect Theology (Destiny Image Publishers, 2016) Encountering the Goodness of God: 90 Daily Devotions (Destiny Image Publishers, 2017) God is Really Good (Destiny Image Publishers, 2017) When Heaven Invades Earth for Teens: Your Guide to God's Supernatural Power (Destiny Image Publishers, 2017) Is God Really Good?: Bill Johnson Answers Your Toughest Questions about the Goodness of God (Destiny Image Publishers, 2017) The Way of Life (Destiny Image Publishers, 2018) The Resting Place: Living Immersed in the Presence of God (Destiny Image Publishers, 2019) Meeting God Face to Face: Daily Encouragement to Seek His Presence and Favor (Charisma House, 2019) The Way of Life Leader's Guide: Experiencing the Culture of Heaven on Earth (Destiny Image, 2019) Born for Significance: Master the Purpose, Process, and Peril of Promotion (Charisma House, 2020) Raising Giant-Killers: Releasing Your Child's Divine Destiny through Intentional Parenting (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) Raising Giant-Killers Leaders Guide: Releasing Your Child's Divine Destiny through Intentional Parenting (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) Raising Giant-Killers Participant's Guide: Releasing Your Child's Divine Destiny through Intentional Parenting (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) The Mind of God: How His Wisdom Can Transform Our World (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) How to Respond to Disaster: By Living Anchored in the Goodness of God (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) HOPE in Any Crisis: Stop Fear and Release God's Goodness In Uncertain Times (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) The King's Way of Life (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) Mornings and Evenings in His Presence: A Lifestyle of Daily Encounters with God (Destiny Image Publishers, 2020) Rejoice into Joy: Three Keys to Experiencing the Fullness of Heaven's Joy (Destiny Image Publishers, 2021) Your Journey to Significance: A Daily Discovery of Who God Created You to Be (Charisma House, 2021) Open Heavens: Position Yourself to Encounter the God of Revival (Destiny Image Publishers, 2021) Peace in Every Storm: 52 Declarations & Meditations for Difficult Times (BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC, 2021) Bible Promises and Prayers for Children: Releasing Your Child's Divine Destiny (Destiny Image Publishers, 2021) Born for Significance Study Guide (Charisma House, 2021)