Dr. Richel V. Sion-Johnson
Dr. Richel V.
Sion-Johnson
Dr. Richel Sion-Johnson is gifted as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. She has a special passion for the nurture and care of children, the development of strong family units, and for the promotion of women’s ministries. She was born and reared in the Republic of Suriname, located in South-America. Upon graduation, she worked in the banking field. She later relocated to Rotterdam, Holland, where she lived for three years.
In 1976, she relocated to New York City. There she joined the First Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn, under Bishops Frank and Ithiel Clemmons. At First Church, she met and later married Elder Alonzo Johnson in July 1982. They moved to South Carolina in April 1986, after her husband was appointed pastor of Bowman Temple C.O.G.I.C. At BowmanTemple, she organized the tutorial program, developed the Children’s church, taught Sunday school, and served as President of the Women’s Department. In the fall of 2000, she organized a Girl Scout troop for local children in their Columbia neighborhood. These efforts helped to lay the foundations for Universal Outreach, which was started in the summer of 2001. Dr. Johnson works in several capacities at Universal, including her role as the Church Administrator.
Dr. Johnson is employed as a Psychologist for Richland School District II in Columbia. She has also worked in the same capacity at the Department of Juvenile Justice, Richland School District I and in Lexington School District II. She has attended Hunter College and Fordham University in New York and received a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master’s, and a Ph.D. degree in Psychology from the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Garry James
Dr. Garry James
Dr. Garry James is the husband of Sister Lisa James and has served in the pastoral ministry since preaching his first sermon in April 1995. Over the course of the last 17 years he has served in numerous capacities in local churches and para-church organizations. His primary area of focus in ministry has been in Christian Education, Men's Ministry, Global Missions, and Community Development through secular and faith-based non-profit organizations. Dr. James has a God-given passion to improve the quality of life for individuals and families throughout our global communities by introducing them to Christ and the biblical principles that are relevant to living the victorious Christian Life and by providing resources to meet practical needs. He also serves as a community activist, seeking social justice for the most vulnerable members of our society.
Over the course of the last 14 years Dr. James has led several teams on mission trips around the world in an effort to fulfill Christ's Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. Long term relationships have been developed as a result of these efforts and he continues to spearhead initiatives to continue to minister to the lost and oppressed.
Before resigning from state government to pursue full time ministry Dr. James had the opportunity to train front line child protective services social workers. He enjoyed the experience of helping develop energetic staff who sought to make a difference in the lives of the children and families that they served. As a result of that experience, he was led by the Spirit of God to wrote his first book, Drying Silent Tears, along with an accompanying workbook.
This timely project combines the knowledge and wisdom gleaned from working on the front lines of the pastoral ministry and children services. This project provides the wisdom needed to assist in preventing and identifying child abuse & neglect. It also introduces individuals that harbor pain from traumatic childhood experiences to the Great Physician who willingly provides healing for them.
Dr. James is currently writing his third book and also beginning the process of developing his first film documentary.
Dr. Garry James holds a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology from Winthrop University, a Master of Divinity degree from Columbia International University's Biblical Seminary & Graduate School of Missions, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Revival & Social Reform.