Johnson Bowie
Succession and Change with Johnson Bowie
About The Episode
In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean welcomes Johnson Bowie, lead pastor of Victory Church, to share his leadership journey. From stepping into the lead role during the chaos of 2020 to navigating staff transitions and fostering a culture of humility, Johnson offers candid insights on leadership, church transitions, and the weight of words in executive roles. Whether you’re a pastor in transition or leading a team, this conversation is packed with wisdom on faithfulness, leadership challenges, and staying mission-focused.
Welcome to Episode 129 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.
Insights from Johnson
Leading through change is never easy, but it can be incredibly rewarding. Here are some key takeaways from our conversation with Johnson Bowie:
- Transition is a Season, Not Just a Moment – The official handoff may take place on a single day, but real transition happens over years. Expect challenges and lean into the long game.
- The Weight of Leadership is Real – Moving from “on the team” to “leading the team” means your words and actions carry more influence. Be intentional with what you say and how you say it.
- Surround Yourself with the Right People – Not everyone who worked well in the past will thrive in the new season. Build a team that aligns with the future vision, not just the past success.
- Live Preaching Over Streaming – Victory Church embraces live campus preaching to foster localized leadership and ensure redundancy in pastoral care. This model strengthens the church in the long run.
- Immediate, Significant, and Sustained – When managing staff transitions, changes in performance should meet these three criteria. Clarity is kindness.
- Faithfulness Over Fame – True leadership isn’t about ambition but about stewarding what God has placed in your hands. Johnson never sought the lead pastor role, but he stepped into it with obedience.
If you’re in the middle of a leadership transition or preparing for one, this episode is full of practical wisdom to guide you through.
Episode Links
Spiritual Leadership, by J. Oswald Sanders
A Hero’s Farewell, by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld
If you’re a leader approaching a succession or transition. Or maybe you’re a few years in and beginning to see how complex transitions leadership is… go to The Art of Pastoral Succession and check out my brand new course in partnership with Carey Nieuwhof.
Are you in Transition or have one on the horizon? Check out our cohorts and get connected with us at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/
Who is Johnson Bowie?
Johnson Bowie is Senior Pastor of Victory Church, a thriving church with 4 campuses in the metro-Atlanta area and house churches around the globe. Victory Church is known for its diversity as it has grown to over 140 nationalities. Johnson and his wife, Summer, began attending Victory in 1998, came on staff in 2005, planted Victory’s first campus in 2010, and transitioned into the role of senior pastors in August of 2020. Johnson and Summer have two wonderful sons, Jeremiah and Isaac. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Wheaton College. He loves to jog, take walks with his wife, learn more about Jesus, and partake of the occasional Xbox binge!
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.
Combine your church’s heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.
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About the Host
Sean Morgan is a coach and speaker with a national reputation as a catalyst of fresh vision. His passion is to help ministries navigate obstacles and turn them into opportunities.
Throughout his career, Sean has pioneered initiatives impacting thousands of leaders across the country. He started out serving as Executive Pastor and CFO at New Life Church in northern California.
As host, Sean gives you access to amazing conversations, hard-won wisdom, and poignant insights from world-class leaders in intimate “living room” settings.
Your Host
Sean Morgan
Leaders in Living Rooms
Craft & Character
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