Our Pastor

For some devotional reading and guidance in better understanding the Bible and living the Christian faith, see the resources below written by our pastor.

Incarnational Devotional 
(on the mystery of Christ/the God-Man)
Principles of Discipleship
(a study on the book of Mark)
Taking the Prophetic Word to Heart
(a study on the book of Revelation)
Christian Theology 
(sermon notes on our Statement of Faith)
Introduction to Salvation History
(the story line of the Bible)
Sharing Our Testimonies
(theological & practical principles)

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Marcus Johnson started serving as our pastor in November of 2002. He and his wife Gwen were married in 1992 and have three children and a son-in-law. Since that time they have served the Lord together in three local churches, an inner-city street ministry, a food & clothing pantry and in different children's and youth organizations.

Back in 1987, Marcus started teaching and preaching through the ministry of an interdenominational youth group, in his hometown of Prophetstown, IL. It was during that time that he sensed God's call into ministry. He later attended Wheaton College, where he and his wife Gwen met. Gwen earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology (1992) and Marcus earned a bachelor's degree in Christian Education (1992), and later a master's degree in evangelism at Wheaton Graduate School (1996). During their time here with us, Marcus has furthered his theological training by taking additional Bible and theology classes through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Since the late 1980's, Marcus has ministered pastorally, cross-culturally and evangelistically to people from a wide variety of backgrounds (e.g., in rural, suburb & urban neighborhoods, to children, Gen Z & millinennials, the eldery, special needs persons, Muslims, and the LGBTQ+ community). From 1990 to 1996, Marcus served with Emmaus Ministries in Chicago, a Christian outreach to young adult men involved in prostitution on the streets. He was an outreach volunteer for two years, and their outreach coordinator for four years. This outreach includes a presence and witness in the gay bars of Chicago, where Marcus and others working with Emmaus had the opportunity to meet and converse with numerous people in the gay community, and to help the evangelical church in reaching out in the love of Christ, long before befriending people in the gay community was the politically correct thing to do. His wife Gwen served as a case manager in foster care during this time, while they lived in Chicago and worshiped at Uptown Baptist Church.

Then in 1996, Gwen and Marcus accepted the call from Living Hope Church (Plano, IL) for Marcus to serve as their pastor, and he was ordained by this church as a minister of the gospel in 1997. During their six years with Living Hope Church, Marcus directed the ministry center called The Hope Chest, which offered food, clothes, and spiritual help to over sixty families a week.

Since coming here to Round Lake, Marcus has served with our elders and deacons in leading our church as we seek to be a God-glorifying, Christ-centered and Spirit-filled congregation. He gives priority to expository preaching and biblical teaching, youth ministry, outreach, fellowship, prayer and leadership development. He serves in and helps oversee our children's ministry and other areas such as administration and yard work. His wife Gwen has invested significant time in caring for and educating their three children (who are now adults), including working with and serving on the board of a home school organization called Apple Tree, and writing and directing plays for the high school students. She is gifted in hospitality and active in the fellowship and ministry of our church, and currently serves as a deacon and our church's Missions Director. Gwen has worked for several years at a local library, serving as the Head of Public Services since July of 2021.

While serving as our pastor, Marcus has also been instrumental in developing the vision for our youth and young adult mission called The Bridge (a cross-cultural, co-ed, relationship-based Christian outreach to Round Lake area students). He has served as the Executive Director of The Bridge since it started. Marcus is also active in the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). In September of 2006, his ordination as a minister was acknowledged and transferred to the EFCA. He also helps guide our church in living out the biblical model of "interdependence." We are an autonomous local church who chooses to support, cooperate with, and seek the guidance of the Evangelical Free Church of America, and its international mission called Reach Global. He also leads our church and The Bridge in working together with local ministries and community organizations, such as Informed Choices, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and the Round Lake Area Scouts.

"My wife and I are very grateful to God for His grace and to the way He has blessed us through numerous family and friends, who have impacted our lives with love and support and who we have served with in gospel ministry over the years. This includes loved ones from our hometowns, Wheaton College, Emmaus Ministries and Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago, Living Hope Church, the EFCA, Apple Tree, the Round Lake Community, and Lake Region Bible Church."  ---Marcus Johnson