In 1997, the Lord spoke Pastor Johnson’s heart concerning starting a work for Him. He informed his pastor, Bishop Combs, of his desire, and Bishop told him that he had a year to prepare.

In the spring of 1998, Bishop Harry L. Herman told Pastor Johnson to look in the Saginaw area for a building to open a church. After searching for 6 months with the assistance of 2 realtors, no place of worship could be found. While sitting in bible class one night at his home church, the Lord spoke to his heart and said “sow a seed”. Pastor Johnson thought what better way to do that than through radio. That’s when the present truth radio broadcast was birthed. After much prayer and searching, Pastor found a new Christian radio station in Bay City, MI called WTRK. The owners informed told him that he could broadcast for $25 per week. At the time of the negotiations, Pastor told the owners that he was in search of a church building. Much to his surprise, the station told him that the church building they were operating out of was for sale. They explained that they hadn’t listed it because they were waiting on God to send the right person.

The owners gave Pastor a tour of the church and when he walked in to the sanctuary, God immediately gave him a vision of people sitting in the chairs. It was at that moment that he told them he wanted the building. He then told the owners that now that he had a church, all he needed was to find a house to move his family into. Once again God amazed him because the radio station owned a house directly next door and said that it comes with the church. Then the Lord spoke suddenly to him and said “Now you have all that you need.”

On October 16th 1998, GBWT held its first service and the Lord has been taking us higher ever since. Greater Bible Way Temple is one of the fastest growing churches in Bay City with a mission to serve the people. As our Pastor always says, "we are the church in the heart of the city with the people of the city in our hearts".