Superintendent Johnnie Taylor Sr.

Superintendent Johnnie Taylor, Sr. was Born in Purdue Hill, Alabama on June 11th in the year of 1936. Born to Mother Fannie Mae Benjamin and Mr. Johnnie Mose. When he was a child, he moved to Bay Minette to stay with his Great-Grandfather. After the death of his Great-Grandfather he moved in with his Step-Grandfather and Grandmother. As a child he learned the meaning of working hard. As a child, He worked and labored bringing his funds home at the end of the day to his Step-Grandfather. When he was a young boy there was a lady named Lucy Mims who lived in Bay Minette. Lucy Mims sent the young boy to the store to run errands for her. Lucy Mims also had a daughter named Delois Mims who caught the eye of the young boy and the rest was history. In his later teen years, he moved out of his Grandmother's and Step-Grandfather's house. Around the age of 18, he and Delois Mims became very much acquainted. On June the 25th in the year of 1955, Johnnie Taylor and Delois Mims joined together in Holy Matrimony. Together Johnnie and Delois shared seven Children (Listed from Oldest to Youngest) Johnnie, Jr. (John), William (Bill), Ronald (Ronnie), Nathan (Nay), Carl (Chubby), Linda and Wanda. During his young adult years, he attended and was a member of a Local Baptist Church in Bay Minette. The young man eventually followed his wife and joined The Old Ship COGIC (McGhee Temple) where He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior. On April 8th, 1958, He received the baptism of The Holy Ghost. Shortly after, At the age of 22 he was called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He described that one day the spirit of the Lord came upon him and led him to read the scripture "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach."
During his early years of the Preaching Ministry, Superintendent Taylor served as Assistant Pastor to Superintendent A.T. McGhee who came to Baldwin County and Escambia County from First Church Of God In Christ of Mobile, AL to set up churches in the Escambia County and Baldwin County Areas. At the time Minister Taylor even continued to serve as Assistant Pastor at Old Ship (McGhee Memorial Temple) COGIC in Bay Minette during his early years of the Pastoral Ministry at the request of Superintendent McGhee. At age 29, The members of Canaanland COGIC suggested to the leadership of the Jurisdiction of Alabama who they desired to become their Pastor. The leadership of the Jurisdiction heard the voice of the membership and Bishop J.M. Bailey (Jurisdictional Prelate of the State of Alabama) saw fi t to appoint Minister Taylor as the 4th Pastor in the history of the Church in Stockton called Canaanland Church Of God In Christ. In the same night Minister Taylor was Appointed Pastor he was subsequently Ordained as an Elder in the Church Of God In Christ.
Before becoming The District Superintendent, On the District Level he served for Twenty Years as President of the YPWW (Youth) Department. Then in the year of 1982, Superintendent A.T. McGhee of the Atmore District Churches (Old Ship, Canaanland, Holy Temple, Miracle Temple #1 and Miracle Temple #2) passed away. In 1982, Superintendent Taylor was appointed the Pastor of (Holy Temple) Faith Temple COGIC, The Interim Pastor of (Old Ship) McGhee Temple COGIC and the District Superintendent of The Atmore District Churches. Superintendent Taylor began to continue to oversee Holy Temple, Old Ship, Canaanland. On the Jurisdictional level, while a member of Alabama Second Jurisdiction, Superintendent Taylor served as the Chairman of the Jurisdictional Ordination Board Committee for numerous years. In the early 1990s, Superintendent Taylor expressed to his colleague Superintendent Dr. Wiley C. Neal that he was considering moving to Alabama First Jurisdiction under the leadership of the newly appointed Prelate Bishop O.L. Meadows. In 1992, Bishop O.L. Meadows, Sr. appointed Superintendent Taylor to be the District Superintendent of a newly formed district in Alabama
First Jurisdiction called The Atmore District. In the 1990s, Superintendent Taylor founded the East Side COGIC, a mission in the city of Bay Minette which later closed after the building was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan. In the year 2000, Superintendent Taylor retired from Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette. In the early 2010s, Superintendent Taylor started an outreach mission in the city of Brewton, AL.
Superintendent Taylor previously served on the Jurisdictional Ordination Board Committee for Alabama First Jurisdiction for numerous years. In 2012, Superintendent Taylor was appointed by Bishop O.L Meadows to serve on the Executive Board of Alabama First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction COGIC. He also served as one of the Jurisdictional Chaplains oftentimes Opening the Board of Superintendents Meetings with signing and Prayer. Superintendent Taylor was also often chosen by Bishop O.L. Meadows to pray during Official Day Services.
Superintendent Taylor attended the Douglasville Community School. Later furthered his education Majoring in Social Science (Sociology) at Faulkner State Community College. While employed as a Supervisor at Standard Furniture Company, he was recommended to pursue a degree in Management. The young man worked at Standard Furniture Company during the ending of Segregation which he was the first Black Shop Foreman to ever be employed by the company. Throughout the years Superintendent Taylor wore many hats: Farmer, Bus Driver, Highway Department Worker/Equipment Operator. Superintendent Taylor eventually retired from Faulkner State Community College in the Early 2000s.
Although the accomplishments of Superintendent Taylor are many, most importantly He would often be found on Wednesday Nights and Sunday Mornings preaching to the congregation and internet audience about Holiness, The Baptism of The Holy Spirit, End Times, Faith and Healing. His desire was to see Jesus glorifi ed above all else.
Superintendent Taylor was the epitome of a Father and a family man. He and the Love of his life the Late Mother Delois Taylor shared together Seven children, Fourteen Grandchildren, Several Step Grand-Children, Over fi fteen Great-Grandchildren and Great-Great Grandchildren.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness. - Isaiah 35:8