Ben Johnson
Executive Pastor
I’ve been a member at Beltway since 2000. I came to Abilene as a college student at Hardin-Simmons University. I visited several churches in town trying to find where God would want me to plug in and serve. It did not take long for me to hear God tell me that Beltway Park is my church home. I met my wife, Ashlee, at HSU and as we started seriously dating, we quickly made this our church home together. Ashlee and I have been married since 2004 and have three sons (Kress, Mayes, and Bozley). I received a ministry/theology degree at HSU and then went on to get my seminary degree. Ashlee got an education degree and then went on to get her masters in counseling/human development.
From 2004 - 2012, I worked mostly within Student Life roles at HSU and ACU. In 2012, I was blessed to come on staff at Beltway Park as a Groups Pastor. From 2012-2000, my role changed through various opportunities with Groups, Communication, the opening of the North Campus, the Weekend Services Pastor, and the Senior Team. Before I was on staff, I had the privilege of serving as a Life Group Leader, serving in A/V, and serving many years at student ministry camps. We continued to serve as Group leaders even after coming on staff. My wife has served in various capacities within Beltway Kids, Worship, and Groups.
In 2000, God clearly spoke to Ashlee and me about moving to the Austin area. He put this on our hearts about 10 years prior to that, but all through that decade, it’s like He kept saying “not yet.” We couldn’t seem to ever let that feeling go. On New Years of 2020, I was in my kitchen and I clearly heard the Lord say, “it’s time.” I immediately went into the living room where my pregnant wife was sitting in a chair and told her “I’m pretty certain the Lord just told me it’s time for us to move to the Austin area.” God continued to confirm that word to both of us over the coming weeks. I met with the leadership of Beltway about this word from the Lord and they blessed us as we went on a journey to figure out specifics with the Lord.
By June of 2020, we were moving to Bastrop, Tx. to serve at River Valley Christian Fellowship. We lived there for four years as God allowed us to be blessed and to be a blessing to that community. We love that church and the love the people there! I can tell story after story of how He showed up and moved! The entire time that we were in Bastrop, we stayed closely connected to Beltway Park. We would join in on weekend services through the online campus. I connected some of the River Valley staff to the Beltway Park staff. I had Beltway Park men come and speak at the River Valley men’s retreat, etc.
Then in April of 2024, God showed up in a surprising way again. In a similar way that the Lord spoke to us in 2020 about moving to the Austin area, He told us it’s time to return to Beltway Park. It was very unexpected but clearly a word from the Lord. I was given the opportunity to return to Beltway as the Executive Pastor. The Executive Pastor oversees the day-to-day operations of the church. I ensure that there is ministry and staff alignment with, and accomplishment of, the church’s mission and vision.