Tim Johnson is the senior pastor of Orlando World Outreach Center, a multi-cultural, multi-generational Christian church whose goal is to reach the people in the Orlando area for Christ, connect them to God and to one another, and then equip them to serve their local community.

An ordained minister, Johnson was inspired to launch Orlando World Outreach Center while serving as senior pastor of a large multicultural, multi-congregational church, Bethel World Outreach Church in Nashville, Tenn. He, along with the elders, oversaw the business and spiritual growth of the church. They led, supervised, ministered, and equipped both the church staff and the lay leaders to fulfill the vision of the church.

Tim Johnson’s history has given him invaluable experience in pioneering innovative discipleship-based ministries, church planting operations, and leading a thriving congregation.

His passion for seeing communities transformed can be witnessed throughout Johnson’s life.  During his time in the NFL, Johnson co-sponsored and led football clinics for communities in Washington, DC, and in his hometown of Sarasota, Florida.  In 1993, he co-founded the Good Samaritan Foundation along with long-time friends Art Monk, Charles Mann and Ernest Byner.   The Good Samaritan Foundation established the Student Training Opportunity Program.

After retiring from the NFL, Johnson served as President of the Youth Life Learning Center in Nashville, Tennessee.  His ties to the NFL remained, as Johnson was the chaplain for the New Orleans Saints from 2005 to 2008.

Johnson’s strong desire to build better communities has been passed on and is shared by his congregants.  Partnerships with local homeless shelters and homeless support organizations, adopting a local underserved school, football clinics, and city clean-up projects have made a huge impact on the City of Orlando.

Because of Johnson’s leadership in encouraging his congregation to reach those around them, one of his congregants nominated him for the John C. Maxwell Leadership Award.  From a pool of over 2,500 nationwide nominees, a team of nearly 60 judges had the difficult task of deciding upon the top leader in ten different fields.  In February 2014, Johnson was recognized as the national “Faith-based Leader of the Year” by the John C. Maxwell Organization.

Johnson founded the Orlando Serve Foundation, which is designed to be a bridge between those in need and the resources available to assist them.  On Easter 2016, Orlando Serve Foundation launched the initiative He Got Up!, a celebration service and resource fair.  Between 2016 and 2017, about 15,000 individuals either volunteered or participated and received much-needed help. Between 2018 and 2021, the Orlando Serve Foundation held in-person and virtual He Got Up! events in Osceola, Seminole, and Orange counties.

Most recently, Johnson has ministered internationally through speaking engagements at churches and conferences. He has overseen a church plant in Sweden. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson started and led an international Instagram Live weekly prayer time with people from all over the world.

Johnson is no stranger to winning. As a defensive lineman, he became a High School All-American in Sarasota, Florida. His senior year, he received awards for Lineman of the Year and Athlete of the Year.  In college, Johnson received the Walter Camp All-American award and won a national championship with Penn State in 1986 under coach Joe Paterno.  His NFL career began with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-1989).  He was traded to the Redskins (1990-1995) where he won the 1991 Super Bowl under coach Joe Gibbs as well as being awarded the Redskin of the Year and Sports Illustrated All-Pro in 1993.  Johnson retired from the Cincinnati Bengals in 1997.  In recent years, Johnson was named as one of Tampa Tribune’s “Tampa Bay’s All-Century Team” and was inducted into the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame.

Tim and his wife, Le’Chelle, currently reside in Orlando. They are proud parents of three young ladies: Christa, Kayla, and Karrah, and one son: Shaun.