God's Faithfulness in the Change

by Brian Johnson on July 10, 2025

For those of you I haven’t met yet, I’m your new Lead Pastor, Brian Johnson. (Williamsburg UMC also has a new Associate Pastor—Rev. Madison Ailinger. There’s a lot of change happening right now!) I moved in at the end of June, began preaching on July 6, and have been doing my best to hit the ground running ever since.

The last several weeks have been a whirlwind. I’ve met so many wonderful people and heard beautiful stories about how God is at work in and through Williamsburg United Methodist Church. I’ve participated in joyful worship, jumped into the fun of Messy Church Summer Camp, and visited with folks in homes, coffee shops, and here at the church. Alongside all that, I’ve unpacked what feels like hundreds of boxes and helped my family settle into our new home.

It’s been a lot—and it’s been beautiful. I’ve been deeply moved hearing what you love about this church, and what you dream for its future. I’ve been grateful for moments of hospitality—from neighbors who helped us move, to meals shared by church members—and for the gracious and generous spirit I’ve encountered everywhere.

So truly, thank you. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly to this place - and to this church community. I find myself deeply thankful and blessed to be part of Williamsburg UMC with you.

This thing we call the United Methodist Church—the larger denomination to which Williamsburg UMC belongs—is kinda strange. It has some quirks, including our rather unique process for sending pastors to new churches. And yet, through this weird system, I have consistently experienced God’s grace.

I once heard someone say that United Methodist pastors are sent to churches by bishops as a reminder that all of us are sent by God into the world. I think there's some truth in that. Every time I have moved to a new place – and to a new church – I have encountered God there. My experience of moving – of being sent to churches to join them in God’s work – is that God is always already present and active wherever I go. Moving here to Williamsburg has been another reminder that God is present to us in every moment, in every place, in whatever we face. I have seen God show up through the people of this church – you have been an embodiment of God’s love for me.

I have been so thankful for the gracious welcome that y’all have offered to me, to Pastor Madison, and to both of our families. And I’m even more grateful for the reminder that wherever we go, God is already there—working for good, multiplying peace, hope, life, and love.

I hope you remember that too: wherever you go, and whatever you face, God is already there, working for good. God’s love runs ahead of you. God’s love chases after you. In every new situation—in all the ups and downs, the challenges, frustrations, celebrations, and losses—God is with you. That’s the Good News. Wherever you go, God is there.

I can’t wait to get to know you better. And I’m excited for us to experience, again and again, the Good News of God’s faithful love—together.

Wherever we go, God goes with us. And that’s the best news.
Thanks be to God.

~ Pastor Brian

About the Author

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson is the Lead Pastor at Williamsburg United Methodist Church. A lifelong United Methodist and Virginian, he brings extensive experience from rural and suburban settings—from a nearly 250-year-old congregation whose building felt as storied as its history to a newly planted church worshiping in an elementary school gym. Brian has served churches in Northern Virginia, the Richmond area, and Mathews County, leading worship in a variety of styles and guiding congregations of all sizes. His primary passion is proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ: telling the story of Christ’s death and resurrection and inviting people to encounter that story through worship, mission, service, and radical hospitality.

Brian also delights in helping churches connect with their local communities and welcoming new faces into God’s unfolding story. At WUMC, he collaborates with staff and lay leaders to deepen community outreach and invite skeptics, seekers, and longtime members alike to find their place in God’s work. Whether organizing a neighborhood service project or crafting a sermon series, Brian aims to make the gospel tangible through both words and actions.

He lives in Williamsburg with his wife, Kim, and their two sons—Jeremiah (in high school) and Ezekiel (in middle school). They are avid sports fans, Star Trek enthusiasts, and eager Busch Gardens explorers. As a family, they savor Tex-Mex nights, long walks on quiet neighborhood streets, and weekends spent discovering Williamsburg’s historic trails and hidden gems.

Above all, he considers it a privilege to shepherd the WUMC family, learning every day how God is at work in and through this congregation, and partnering in Christ’s mission throughout the Williamsburg area.