TBT History

A baby church, weeks old!

Pastor Johnson was attending a fellowship meeting in Detroit in 1961 when Charles Billington asked him to ride to the airport to pick up his father, Dr. Dallas Billington. Dr. Billington later came to Tucson to hold a revival at the church in Pueblo Gardens School. He was impressed with the young church, and invited the Johnson family to Akron to visit in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, founders of the Lawson Baptist Foundation, of which Dr. Billington was President. Dr Elmer Towns describes how the Lawsons so generously aided the Temple, enabling it to begin that first building:

The new Building was dedicated on January 28th, 1962. Over 500 people were in attendance and 39 souls came to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Pastor's Personal History

The Child

   Louis Wright Johnson was born in Paducah, Kentucky, the child of Lee and Ruby Johnson. His was a great heritage --- a free country; rich beautiful southern farmland; strong, honest, determined people; a Christian mother.
     Louis strongly resembled his tall, ruggedly handsome father -- a man who lived close to the earth, toiling through long days of farming and growing strawberries and tobacco. He was a highly respected man, a perfect example of workmanship and integrity. He loved to hunt and fish, and took Louis with him as he grew toward manhood.
     Ruby Johnson was a talented woman -- songster and pianist, and devoted wife and mother. Often she would gather the family around for a pleasant evening of singing. Each night after bath time, she would read the Bible and pray with her children at her knee.
     The family attended a little Methodist church where the "circuit-riding" preacher came once a month.
     Louis was not robust like most of his family, but rather thin and shy and sickly. Once, when suffering from typhoid fever, he overheard the doctor tell his mother, "Ruby, he won't make it; we've done all we can." Louis was determined to get well. Little knowing that God had a special plan for his life.
     When he was a boy of seven or eight, Louis almost lost his mother in an act of love that would have a profound influence on his life. While waiting in the old Model T car as their mother completed an errand, Louis and his brother was suddenly startled by the horrible sight of a runaway team of Belgium horses headed right for them! Hearing their screams of terror, and intent on rescue, their mother blindly raced to their side. As she jumped to the running board of the car, one of the wildly pawing horses struck her and she fell to the ground, her faced crushed.
     Later, as she lay near death, her head swathed in heavy bandages, Louis cried, "Mother, why in the word did you do it?" She softly replied, Louis, because I loved you." She would forever bear the heavy, jagged, curved scar of a horse's hoof across one entire side of her face, and Louis would forever remember the depth of a mother's love. Because of the accident, she had to undergo frequent surgery, and it took its toll on her health.

The Teenager
     When Louis was fourteen years old he was called to his dying mother's bedside. Though she had not yet seen

any of her family saved, she had an aura of peace about her as she whispered, "Lois, I'm going home!" When Louis awoke the next morning his world had changed; the light of the home had gone out; to him the world only contained one grave.
     Louis and his brother and two sisters continued to help their saddened, quieted father on the farm. High School years were a challenge, as Louis worked long hours on the farm and kept up his studies. One English teacher was particularly helpful to him, encouraging him to become an avid reader, and to ponder on what he had read. More and more he sought for meaning, not only in the books he read, but to life itself. Once, during a revival at the old Methodist church, he felt the strong, strange wooing of the Holy Spirit, but he would not yield his will.
     Louis lost his father in a tragic manner. After stopping by a bar to cash a check and buy a round of drinks, Lee Johnson was followed and robbed and murdered. A short time later Louis lost his grandmother that was close to him. The family scattered, and he felt very much alone. For a while he drifted.

The Adult
     Already used to hard work, and ingrained with the virtues of honesty and perseverance, Louis was able to find a job in the big city of Detroit, but couldn't seem to settle down. He worked for a while for International Shoe Company, and for a time on a river boat, then served a five year apprenticeship as a tool and die maker before going into construction work. The feeling of isolation persisted, especially when family days like Christmas were spent painfully alone in the cold city.
     When lovely Della Thomasson was introduced to him by his sister, a new happiness came into his life, for she was everything a companion should be. After their marriage he worked for Western Auto in Memphis, then for Magnavox, and finally went to work in a machine shop in Paducah.
     God gave the couple four lovely children. They named their youngest child Joy because of the happiness she brought them. But Louis still felt that something was missing in his life. Burdens and disappointments began to weigh him down.

The Acceptance
     Now and then the family went to church. Little Tommy went to Sunday School, and one day accepted Christ. Afterward, he frequently pleaded with his parents to go with him. A friend at work also kept inviting Louis to church. One day he said, "If you come just once, I'll never ask you again." So Louis reluctantly went to Broadway Baptist Church. When the next Sunday came, it was Christmas Day, 1949, and he went to church again. The preacher, William Estes, spoke on Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," and it seemed as though Christ himself were speaking! Such dear, sweet words! Realizing his need of a Savior, Louis accepted Christ before the sermon was over. Going home that day, the whole world seemed new. Never had the sky been so blue. It seemed as if every bird in McCracken County had burst into song. Louis knew either the world had undergone a drastic change, or he had.
     After Louis worked in the Machine Shop, he became a steel painter for the Atomic Energy Company and Tennessee Valley Authority. Day after day he painted steel far above the ground, first painting bridges, then giant industrial smoke stacks, often working from a narrow scaffold. He saw several fellow workmen fall to their death. Then God spoke again to his heart.

The Surrender
Within a year after accepting Christ, Louis knew that God wanted him to become a preacher. It was hard to ignore His message; every religious song, every sermon, every mention of Christ caused a tugging in his heart to surrender his life. But he did not want to be a preacher! Louis tried to run from God, and he could not find peace. He became apprehensive on the job; fear stalked him as he stepped onto the narrow scaffolding hundreds of feet above ground. One Monday morning in June, 1954, he started out and suddenly stopped, as a voice seemed to say, "Now!" Waving his friend on, he knelt in prayer and unconditionally surrendered his life to Christ.

This story was taken from the Tucson Baptist Temple 20 year Anniversary Book, Pages 11-13.

Della Marie Johnson, age 82, went to be with the Lord on March 10, 2003. Della was born in Paducah KY on September, 1920, and made her home in Tucson for 45 years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Laura Thomasson, three brothers, three sisters, and son Dennis. Della is survived by her husband of 57 years, Louis Johnson, three children, Tommy, Frank, and Joy, seven grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
Della was a kind and devoted friend to thousands of people as she fulfilled her role as wife and helpmate to her husband/pastor at Tucson Baptist Temple. Her smile and easy laugh made her a delight, she was loved by everyone. Della demonstrated the sterling values of a godly woman; her life is a testimony to all that is right and good. She will be sorely missed.