Our Family
Our family holds a special place in my heart. Since Cristie Jo and I married in 1979, we have grown from two people to a unique group of seventeen and adding to that number with grandchildren of marrying age. Family time is always riveting, rewarding, and sometimes rowdy, especially with our nine-year-old triplet grandsons in this mix. Our children and grandchildren are following the Lord. Their gifts and talents are unique and diverse, and we love how compelled they are to share those with the world.
God blessed us with eleven grandchildren. Our tenth, precious Wesley Vance, passed at 25 weeks and is with Jesus. Two years later, God blessed our daughter Jenilee with another little boy, Wyatt Vance, who is pictured to the right and rounds out our grandparent quiver.
Remarks About Jerry from the Johnston Kids
“This is Jeremiah Johnston, the president of the Christian Thinkers Society, and I am delighted to endorse my parents, Drs. Jerry and Cristie Jo Johnston, in this tremendous, new movement called “This Is Christian Strong.” For years, both the scholarly and the media community have needed a new, curated, landmark data study of how we can parse, interpret, assess, and implement what we are discovering about the rise of the religious “nones” – those who are leaving the church, who don’t even identify, who can’t even think in religious terms. And for the last seven years, Jerry and Cristie Jo Johnston have been filming with the world’s brightest thinkers from all sides of the spectrum – religious, irreligious, former religious, converted, de-converted — and they have collated all the data points to tell us exactly how we got where we’re at today. But more importantly, they’re giving us the hope that we need as scholars, as thinkers, as those who engage in the media communities, and as people of faith who are concerned about what the world will look like if there is no religion if there is no faith. I heartily endorse this new movement. I’m excited for all that is to come considering what we’ve learned from “This Is Christian Strong.”
— Jeremiah Johnston, Ph.D., ChristianThinkers.com, Pastor of Apologetics and Cultural Engagement at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dean of Spiritual Development at Prestonwood Christian Academy
“I admire Jerry’s focus on his daily walk with Jesus and prioritizing his marriage. I know he spends time in Scripture and prayer daily, and he still dates his wife in a way that shows he is still pursuing her heart.”
― Christian Newsome, Son-in-Law, Senior Pastor, Journey Church International, Lee’s Summit, MO, takethejourney.cc
“Adapting and Pivoting!” There have been numerous moments in my relationship with Jerry where he has poured into me or built me spiritually. He has always been a fantastic resource for finding the truth in Scripture. But the most crucial lesson I continue to learn from him is persistence and willingness to pivot from the original plan and trust God. I have watched Jerry being able to adapt and change his plans over the years instead of giving up. Where most would get discouraged, he finds ways to pivot and turn it into something amazing for the Kingdom of God
― Jeff Mullikin, Son-in-Law, Lead Recruiter and Career Transition Coach at Mullikin Group
“Some of my earliest memories of my dad are finding him praying on his knees in his office. He was the first to teach me how to pray and read God’s word and apply it to my life. He’s created a legacy of loving God that is now being passed on to future generations. Dad is also the creator of fun in our family. His specialties are making memories, celebrating special days, and planning vacations and experiences. He taught me that memories are worth investing in and leave a lasting legacy. I’m so thankful for his example.”
― Danielle Johnston Newsome, Daughter, Executive Director of Ministries, Journey Church International, Lee’s Summit, MO
“Dad is a dreamer. New ideas are continually sparking in his heart and mind - it seems there are no limits to what he can dream. And what I love about Dad is that he has the unique ability to inspire those around him to dream big dreams for their lives. I’m not sure anyone has spent time with Dad without walking away encouraged and with a fresh vision for their future. He has taught me to try and try again. He has taught me that failure shouldn’t hold us back; it usually makes us more effective in the long run. With Dad, the sky truly is the limit.”
― Jenilee Johnston Mullikin, Daughter, Blogger, Home School Educator
“I admire Papa’s legacy of faith, passed down to my mom and now given to me. He genuinely practically loves Jesus for others to see and follow. I also love how Papa takes care of us and makes us laugh when we hang out. Thank you for loving us so well!”
― Gary Christian Newsome, Firstborn grandson, BS in youth ministry from Liberty University. Currently serving as Middle School Director at Journey Church, Castle Rock, Colorado.
“I admire my Papa for the legacy of faith he’s left for my family. He loves Jesus well and shows it in belief and passion. He inspires me to love Jesus and have a long life of faith. I love how much fun he brings into our family too.
― Kasey Marie Noernberg, Firstborn granddaughter, Master’s in Biblical Counseling, BA in Christian Ministry, Midwestern Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO. Currently serving at Journey Church International, Lee’s Summit, MO, as a High School Girls and Student Worship Arts Associate.