About Me.

Pastor Slater Joel Johnson, a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, is widely recognized both nationally and internationally as a Christian recording artist and an emerging voice in pastoral leadership. His ministry in music has taken him across the United States and abroad, including touring Europe with Michael M. Smith and ministering on platforms shared with renowned gospel artists such as Earl Bynum, Peggy Britt, Marvin Sapp, JJ Hairston, Todd Galberth, Bishop Jason Nelson, PJ Morton, Pastor Norman Hutchins, Deon Kipping, and Kierra Sheard, among many others.

Born on July 9, 1987, to Bishop J. L. Johnson and the late Missionary Betheye Johnson, Pastor Slater was raised in a rich heritage of preaching, worship, and service. Though he experienced stage fright until his junior year of high school, his parents consistently nurtured his gifts—his mother urging him to sing and his father encouraging him to present his Sunday School lessons before the congregation. These early moments, though simple, were foundational; they planted the seeds of ministry that would later flourish.

While music has always been a significant part of his calling, Pastor Slater recognized early that God had placed a deeper pastoral and preaching mandate upon his life. Even during his years of worship leading, he would often find himself proclaiming God’s Word in the middle of songs. For years he hid behind singing and musicianship—until God made it clear that the season of hiding was over.

In 2010, Pastor Slater accepted the call to preach the Gospel and was licensed under the leadership of Bishop James E. Jones, Jr. It was during this time that he began learning to craft sermons, preach with clarity, and develop ministry leadership skills that would shape his early ministerial foundation.

He later served as a worship leader at The Mount Global Fellowship of Churches, ministering across the Chesapeake, Elizabeth City, and Charlotte campuses. After three years of faithful service, the Lord transitioned him to Calvary Revival Church under the leadership of Bishop B. Courtney McBath, where he served for eight years as Worship Coordinator and Assistant Youth Pastor. During this season, Pastor Slater also began his theological studies at Virginia Christian College, where he continues to pursue a degree in Christian Apologetics.

Pastor Slater went on to serve as Minister of Music at Mount Olive Baptist Church under Rev. Jason N. Knight, faithfully supporting the ministry until receiving release, confirmation, and apostolic covering to launch Rhema Word Community Church, where he now serves as Senior Pastor alongside his wife, Lady Shaunica Johnson.

When he is not actively engaged in ministry, Pastor Slater delights in spending time with his family. He is a devoted husband to Shaunica and a loving father to their children—Sarai, Angie, Phoenix, and Zephaniah. Above all, Pastor Slater’s life mission is simple: to use every gift God has placed within him to bring glory to Jesus Christ and to help as many people as possible draw closer to Him.