More about Johnny
Pastor Johnny McCallister has moved to Sarasota, Florida where he accepted a call to be lead pastor for Sarasota Community Church in July. His heart for the local ministry has always been a strong passion of his which led to the decision to accept this opportunity. He will continue to be a part of REAL Care Ministry as opportunities rise to support pastors and church leaders.
Johnny McCallister brings over 35 years of pastoral and ministry leadership to REAL Care Ministry. He is a lead pastor, mentor, and church leader with a proven record of helping congregations move from crisis to health and of equipping leaders for lifelong ministry. Johnny’s ministry gifts include relevant preaching, creative planning, next-generation leadership, strategic program development, and building collaborative leadership teams.
Johnny served 14 years as Senior Pastor of First Church of God in Columbia City, IN, where he led a period of renewal that restored unity, doubled weekend attendance, baptized more than 450 people, expanded staff and ministries, and completed major campus and program improvements. His earlier ministry included associate pastor roles at several large churches in Fort Wayne, where he helped launch new services, grow student ministry, and lead capital and ministry development projects.
As Pastor/Coach assisting REAL Care Ministry (under Pastors in Prayer Ministry, INC.), Johnny walks alongside pastors and church leaders fostering their spiritual and emotional well-being. He has developed coaching and mentoring resources; organized staff retreats and peer-support gatherings and built networks that support pastors locally and across multiple states.
Johnny earned a B.A. in Christian Studies and Sociology from Alderson-Broaddus University and a Master of Ministries from Bethel College. He and his wife, Sherrie, have been married since 1988 and live in Sarasota, Florida. They have four children. Johnny is committed to ministry that combines faithful biblical teaching, practical leadership development, and compassionate care—helping leaders and churches trust God, grow in health, and multiply Kingdom impact.
Scripture anchors:
- Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- Ephesians 4:11–13 — “He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
These passages reinforce Johnny’s belief that healthy leadership is built on trusting God and empowering others for ministry.