Prentis Vasco Johnson, Sr. PH.D, TH.D.

Prentis Vasco Johnson, Sr. was born at McChord Air Force Base Hospital in Tacoma Washington. He is the fifth of nine children to parents Grover Cleveland (deceased) and Angie Mae (Johnson) Dubois. Shortly after his birth the family relocated to Newton, Mississippi until he was four years old and then moved back to Tacoma, Washington where he currently resides.

He graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington with academic honors as well as athletic achievements. He is listed in the Who’s Who among American High School Students, as well as in the International Achievers of High School Students. He served as the Vice President of his class, Junior Achievement Company President and was on the All City/All State Football and Track teams.

Prentis attended Pacific Lutheran University where he obtained a BA degree in Business Administration in 1978 and received several honors including Who’s Who among College Students in America, NAIA Little All-American Honorary Mention in football and track, and the Alumni Recognition Award for being one of the most outstanding students in Pacific Lutheran’s history. He also served on the Pacific Lutheran University Alumni Board of Directors for 10 years. He received his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Capella University (Summa Cum Laude) in 2005, a Doctorate Degree in Theology from the Midwest Theological University in 2016 and received his Ph.D. in Leadership/Organizational Management from Capella University in 2017.

Suffragan Bishop Johnson has been a member of the Greater Christ Temple Church in Tacoma Washington since 1963 and has served as the Assistant Pastor under the pastorate of Bishop Curtis E. Montgomery for several years. He accepted the Lord at the age of 9 years old and has held numerous positions in his local church. In 1991 he received his ministerial license from Aenon Bible College and was ordained into the ministry. He currently serves as the pastor of the Greater Christ Temple Church in Tacoma Washington since 2008. He was elevated to District Elder in 2010 and Suffragan Bishop in November 2016 in the Pacific Northwest District Council (PNDC) of the Pentecostal Assembly of the World, Incorporated. He served as the President of the Men’s Ministry of the PNDC and the Northwest Regional Representative of the International Men’s Ministry Auxiliary (IMMA) of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Incorporated. He also held previous positions in the IMMA as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, and Vice President for 22 years of service. He is currently the Co-Founder and Chancellor of the Greater Christ Temple Church Agape Bible College, established November 2017, a degree program and campus of Midwest Theological College and Midwest Theological University.

Prentis retired from The Boeing Company December 31, 2015 after 37 1/2 years. While at Boeing he received several recognitions and honors including Cost Savings Awards and Leadership Awards. He served as the Chair of the Shared Service Group Diversity Council & Engagement Team which he founded in 2002. He was a recipient of the Global Diversity Process Improvement Award (2005) and the Diversity Change Agent Award (2007) recognizing his support and creative ideas for influencing positive changes in the company workforce. In addition, he served as the President of the Boeing Track Team and as a member of the United States Corporate Athletic Association (USCAA) Board of Directors where he was inducted into the USCAA Hall of Fame in 2005 as an outstanding athlete and contributor to corporate wellness.

Prentis is very active in his community and served in the Tacoma Ministerial Alliance organization as a Director and currently as the Secretary. He is a member of the Tacoma NAACP, the A. Philip Randolph organization, the Political Destiny organization, the Tacoma Urban League, and several other community organizations. He served as a volunteer coach for the Todd Beamer High School track team from 2003 to 2006. He founded several mentoring and tutoring programs in Tacoma for the youth, including Youth for Christ, Black Achievers Program and Aprentis Learning Program. He is also a certified arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.

As the pastor of Greater Christ Temple Church, Suffragan Bishop Prentis Johnson helped to launch three new churches from ministers who were members of Greater Christ Temple Church. He also initiated improvements to the church facilities, governance, and organizational structure. Strategic plans for future land development of low-income housing complexes, senior citizens facilities, and an educational building were initiated and pursued. A new church logo was revealed and implemented in 2019 and internal church restructuring took place focusing on discipleship and succession planning for the future.

Prentis and his wife, Loretta, have been married since 1978. Together they have four grown children whom all reside in the Tacoma area. They also have 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Prentis gives all glory to God for his accomplishments and achievements in life.