.Leadership

 

Pastor Kjell and Marie Johansson are the Senior Pastors at Living Branch Church. Pastor Kjell is a teacher with a passion for helping people come to a real understanding of their relationship with Christ and how they can live an abundant life here and now. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, his background in teaching comes across in his creative teaching style that makes Biblical truths come alive.   Before immigrating to The United States, Pastor taught in the public school system in Sweden where he was also actively involved in founding the Private Christian School Movement. Pastor Kjell's heart for missions has taken him to places in the former Soviet Union, Europe, Pakistan and Japan. Married to the love of his life Marie for twenty-three years, Pastor Kjell and Marie have an amazing love story of how God brought them together from two different continents. After spending their first year of marriage in Sweden, they immigrated to United States to serve as Associate Pastors at Living Branch Church, which they did for fourteen years.   Possessing love and passion for people and ministry, Kjell and Marie love to work together. They are the proud parents of two young adults and two teenagers—Daniel, Rebecka, Alex and Hanna.   Heidi, their faithful German Shepherd, keeps them all in line! Recommended Reading:  Wild At Heart, by John Eldridge;   The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel; Ready Defense, by Josh McDowell;  Starting Your Day, by Joyce Meyer; Driven by Eternity, by John Bevere.

 

 

Currently serving as the Associate Pastors, Garry and Erin Miller coordinate the Youth Ministries, Music Ministries, and a number of other support ministries at Living Branch Church.  Hailing from Tulsa, OK, and Chicago, IL, respectively, Garry and Erin met and both received their Bachelor’s degrees in Biblical Literature from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK, in 2001.  Erin continued to complete a M.A. in TESL from ORU, and during part of that time lived in Japan.  Garry plays the saxophone and bassoon, and has been in ministry for over ten years.  Sharing a heart for the nations, Garry and Erin combined have participated in missions teams to almost 15 different nations.  Both Garry and Erin desire to see this generation reach the depth and fulfillment of life that is only found through a tremendous, vibrant, active relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They currently are loving life with their beautiful daughter, Abby, and their beloved Chocolate Lab, Jessie. Recommended Reading:  The Five Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman;   The Life God Blesses, by Gordon McDonald; Jesus, CEO, by Laurie Beth Jones;  Boundaries, by Cloud, Townsend, and Townsend; God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney.

Patsy Givens is the Director of The Promised Land Learning Center, one of the largest ministries of Living Branch Church.  After graduating from Nursing School, Patsy continued her education in Business, Law, and Logistics in Children and Family Protective Services, as well as logged over one thousand hours in child care training.  She joined the staff of Promised Land Learning Center 20 years ago, the last 10 of which successfully serving as the Director of the Learning Center.  Instrumental in assisting with the formation of its local chapter, Patsy currently serves on the governing board of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Licensing Child Care Association.  Patsy maintains that there is nothing better than watching a child develop their own personality and to see the light in their eyes when they venture out to take on a new task in life and realize they can overcome all obstacles, especially the obstacle of fear.  As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Patsy recognizes the importance of combining quality education and development with a strong foundation of Biblical principles, committing and challenging herself and her staff to striving for excellence as they shape the young minds of the next generation of leaders. Recommended Reading:  The Shack, by William Paul Young;   Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers To Move Heaven and Earth, by Dutch Sheets; Dare To Discipline, by Dr. James Dobson.