Rev. John R. Johnson, Jr. was born in Jackson, Mississippi on March 18, 1966. He is the son of John R. Johnson Sr. and Dorothy Johnson. He grew up in the Shady Oaks community and received his early education in the Jackson Public School system. He graduated from Murrah High School in 1984 and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served for nine years in naval intelligence as a Naval Cryptologist. During his naval service, he toured Misawa, Japan; Sinope, Turkey; and Augsburg, West Germany. In the United States, he toured Pensacola, Florida; San Angelo, Texas; and Chesapeake, Virginia; in addition, he served as minister of music, youth pastor, Sunday School teacher, discipleship training teacher, and in many other capacities as well.

Rev. Johnson’s enlistment in the military ended in December 1993 after a successful career. He received numerous awards, commendations, medals, and citations. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from S. Leo College in Florida, he began his matriculation in the School of Theology at Virginia Union University (STVU). He graduated from STVU (cum laude) in May 1996, and moved back to Jackson.

At an early age, he accepted Christ as Savior and Lord of his life, uniting with Cade Chapel Baptist Church, and later with Morning Star Baptist Church. His predestined call to the ministry came while attending and laboring at Faith Baptist Church in Augsburg, West Germany. He surrendered to the call on March 3, 1990, and was licensed to preach April 4, 1990. In January 1991, Rev. Johnson and new bride, Paulette Campbell Johnson,  joined New Hope Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he worked tirelessly as a minister to the youth, associate minister, Sunday School teacher, and instituted a Children’s Church ministry. Rev. Johnson was recognized as Man of the Year in 1992 and ordained as assistant pastor in 1994.

Rev. Johnson journeyed back to Jackson, Mississippi, where he served as pastor of the Mt. Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, before being called to Morning Star on March 9, 2002. God sent Morning Star a pastor deemed as a great shepherd to watch over His flock. Rev. Johnson came with zeal and a vision for the future. He presented himself not only as a servant to the people, but as a servant of the Lord. Under his leadership, Morning Star has experienced a growing membership and new ministries have been organized – ministries such as Prison Ministry, Crown Ministry, Youth Ministry, Children’s Church and the Young Adult Choir, just to name a few. Although Rev. Johnson has made valuable strides to win souls for God over the years through various ministries, there is a realization that there is still much to be done; however, with a leader dedicated to following God's guidance and leading His flock accordingly, Morning Star will be the church built upon the rock that the gates of hell cannot prevail against.

Rev. Johnson represents Morning Star Baptist Church as a man of God, happily married to Paulette Campbell Johnson. God has blessed their union with two wonderful and adorable children, Joy Nicole and Johnathan Paul.