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With the Lord

Charles “Bud” Johnson, Church Planter

By May 31, 2012No Comments

CHEROKEE VILLAGE, Ark.—Charles “Bud” Johnson, a second-career church-planting missionary, died May 28 at age 85.

Bud trusted Christ as his Savior at age 14 at a Gull Lake Bible Conference in Michigan. He was active in Christian ministry beginning in his teens and sang and played his trumpet in the Voice of Christian Youth in Detroit, Mich.

Bud had been employed at the University of Michigan as a mechanical designer, but after five years he felt called to go into home missions to plant Baptist churches. During his 45 years as a church planter, he planted three churches: Berean Baptist, Davenport, Iowa; Calvary Baptist, Burlington, Iowa; and Calvary Baptist, Massillon, Ohio. Later he served as a fields director with Baptist Church Planters, retiring after 12 years. In retirement he served as interim pastor at Foothills Baptist Church, Hardy, Ark., and Mountain Shadows Baptist Church, Pueblo West, Colo.

Bud was fun-loving and jovial, diligent in preaching the Word of God. He also enjoyed ministering to young people and served many summers at camp. He never left behind his love of music, playing his trumpet and Austrian flugelhorn in the community band, along with singing and leading the singing at church.

Bud was preceded in death by his son Mike and daughter Deb and three sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Eunice; a son Randy; a sister, Florence Thomas; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be May 31 at Heath Funeral Home, Oak Hill Chapel, Highland, Ark., from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral service will be June 1 at Foothills Baptist Church, 54 Bobo Drive, Hardy, Ark., at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial for Pastor Bud has been established for Camp Hosanna in Mammoth Spring, Ark. Make checks payable to Ozark Regular Baptist Camp and mail to Mrs. Gwen Schatz, 17 Stonehaven, Bella Vista, AR 72715.