"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bishop J. Bradford Johnson Jr., Senior Pastor

Pastor J. Bradford Johnson Jr. is the founder and Lead Pastor of Victorious Empowerment Church Inc., one of Vidalia, Georgia’s foremost congregations. Victorious Empowerment Church Inc. is a growing ministry family that extends far beyond its local area.

Pastor Johnson was raised in household of faith and holiness by his mother, Leslie Bellamy. Pastor Johnson received the gospel message at an early age, and was licensed to preach in July 2002 by his Pastor and Mentor the late Superintendent Willie O. Little. A second-generation preacher with his father Superintendent Johnny B. Johnson Sr. and his step-mother District Missionary Denise Johnson mentoring him along the way, Pastor Johnson was ordained Elder in the grand old Church of God in Christ in August 2005 by Jurisdictional Prelate of the Northern Georgia Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Mark Walden. He served faithfully in many capacities in the Church of God in Christ Inc. both in the local church and within the district churches lead by his father Superintendent Johnnie B. Johnson Sr. July 2021, Pastor Johnson was duly consecrated into the office of Bishop in the Lord’s Church with Apostolic Succession.

In July 2015, Pastor Johnson heard God speak clearly calling him to be a leader of victory among the believers, and with that call Victorious Empowerment Church was planted. Pastor Johnson leadership style is innovative in philosophy. Birthed from the perspective if the church is the body of Christ, it should be moving into new areas and expanding the agenda of God. His mission is to move the church from fighting for victory to fighting from victory by empowering believers to win at life.

With I Thessalonians 5:23-24 as the backdrop to Pastor Johnson’ holistic approach to the pastorate, he has founded two non-profit organizations to enhance the entire person’s way of living. Victorious Life Consulting LLC and the Victorious Empowerment Community Cares Foundation. Both non-profits have been responsible for feeding the community events, clothing drives, and school supplies and backpack giveaways. The non-profit has also provided scholarships to those attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Pastor Johnson is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Psychology from Middle Georgia State College, and plans to obtain a Masters of Divinity and Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling through Mercer University. Married to his wife, Shikima Johnson, they both lead Victorious Empowerment Church into the called place of God. They have one son to the union Tyrese.