Associate Minister

Rev. Durwin F. Johnson, M. Div., MBA

Rev. Johnson ("Rev. J")was born in Newark, New Jersey but lived most of his life in Montclair, NJ before moving to South Orange. He is the son of the late Edward and Dr. Byerte W. Johnson.

Rev. Johnson has a BA from Brown University and obtained his Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School as a C.O.G.M.E. fellow. He also obtained his Master of Divinity degree from Drew University as a Community Scholar.

Rev. Johnson is a passionate social service advocate for the youth, homeless, the incarcerated, seniors and the addicted. He has been involved in the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center and was former chair of the Juvenile Conference Committee. He is Chaplain at Saint Barnabas Medical Center/RWJBarnabas Health. He is also the CEO of the Ren'e Group LLC in Orange and is the founder and Executive Director of the EDBERT Project INC.

Rev. Johnson began his Christian journey at St, Paul's Baptist Church in Montclair under the pastorate of Rev, Dr. Marvin McNickle. Thereafter joining New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ under the pastorate of Rev. Joe A. Carter. He was licensed to preach the Gospel and became ordained under the pastorate of Rev. Carter. He was most recently an Associate Minister at the First Baptist Church of Vauxhall under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Marion J. Franklin. He currently is a member of the ministerial staff of Nia.

Rev. Johnson is married to Penny and he is father to Nakia, Taheerah, and Al. He is also the grandfather of nine.