Holding the Plough, Offering Hope
Craig Johnson and his wife Liz, lead pastors of Christian Life Assembly (CLA) in Stroudsburg, PA, have a multifaceted ministry with a simple motive — to see the redemptive power of Jesus at work in those who have no hope or help. One particularly special aspect of their service began 15 years ago when they embraced foster parenting as a part of their lifestyle.
In studying Isaiah 1:11-23, Johnson was gripped by the Lord’s clear statements to go beyond religious activities to care for society’s most disadvantaged, including widows and orphans.
"God's desire is for more than just sermons and programs," he says. “This is about kids whose lives are falling apart. If we step out, we will see the power of God sweeping over them.”
DEFENDING THE VULNERABLE
The Johnsons, both 43, have six children, three adopted and three biological, ranging from 20 to seven years old. In their years of foster service, the Johnsons have had 35 children in their home.
December 2025 will mark 20 years since the Johnsons first began at CLA, first as youth and administrative pastors and then, since 2013, as lead pastors. Johnson also serves as Chair of Children and Youth Advisory Committee for Monroe County and states that this has given him a unique platform and inroad to keep his finger on the pulse of the community.
At one point, county commissioners were desperate to prevent a mass exit of social workers overwhelmed from the traumatic situations they regularly encountered.
In response, Johnson petitioned and was granted space within the county administration building. In this area the church now oversees a secure, quiet space for caseworkers to escape between traumatic cases. CLA’s phone number is provided for them to call as needed, and Johnson has received numerous calls from caseworkers coping with and recovering from involvement in traumatic and even fatal situations.
CLA also hosts events for the community’s annual adoption day, providing further opportunity to serve case workers and adoptive families. They developed a three-story house into Journey Outfitters — a resource for foster kids. When caseworkers decide children must be removed from a home, they pick them up and head to Journey Outfitters for needed supplies.
Johnson says, “Often, families start coming to church just looking for a break with kids who are a lot to handle. And in our doors, they get Jesus. Our heartbeat to help foster children has opened so many other doors. Out of the 400-500 people in our congregation, 150 are kids. We realized that 33% of them were/are adopted.”
Additionally, of the 15 county board members for the Children and Youth County Advisory Committee, five now attend CLA regularly. Even the caseworker who brought the Johnsons’ now 13-year-old daughter to their home for placement as a tiny baby has now accepted Christ and faithfully attends church with her family.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Youth pastor Jamal Fletcher, 40, has served alongside the Johnsons since 2021. He is a vital part of CLA’s community endeavors.
He says, “Pastor Craig and Liz are answering their call, it’s a Monday for them, simply doing what God has called them to do. I remind Pastor that what they are doing is beyond normal. They feel the pulse of the community and serve it. It takes a different type of person and pastor to pastor both the church and the community.”
Fletcher continues that sometimes the Johnsons are privy to more things due to their heavy investment into the community. In one such case, they were able to clearly see the need to help parents trapped in a cycle of incarceration. “So that’s when ministry spilled over from caring for the kids into also caring for parents,” Fletcher says. “It is now a holistic approach.”
Johnson says, “As our personal experience with foster parenting progressed, we realized that all the biological parents involved were in prison, going to prison, or getting out of prison. We then knew we needed to get deeper into the community.”
They began seeking necessary permissions and in 2023 were able to begin broadcasting CLA church services into a men’s correctional facility on Sunday mornings, and a women’s correctional facility on Sunday evenings. To date, they have seen five incarcerated persons saved by Jesus, with three being water baptized.
In 2024 CLA also collaborated to initiate Cornerstone Community Initiative, a non-profit residential facility for those coming out of incarceration and looking to reintegrate into society. Fletcher and Johnson explain the program has a Biblical baseline, with sundry community leaders involved.
When working with judges and other leaders to establish the program, Johnson was explicit: “We will offer people opportunities, but please understand it will be based on the Bible, which has all the answers to life.” His honesty was rewarded with a green light, and Monroe County gave a grant of $150,000 to help launch the initiative.
In the first week of October 2025, Cornerstone Community Initiative will begin offering 8-week classes called Life Skills to equip newly released individuals to live life on a better path.
One CLA congregant plays a unique role in Life Skills. David, who owns a barbershop and barber school, takes his students into the men’s correctional facility to give haircuts and build relationships with inmates.
“Just getting a haircut can really change these men’s perspectives,” Johnson says. “They look good again, they feel good again, and they can also begin to build trust and see credibility from the church.”
One former inmate who benefited from David’s haircuts was released, came to church, and has been water baptized. David continues to serve as his mentor.
PURSUING THE 93,000
Approximately 168,000 people — a blend of both the very rural and commuters to New York City — inhabit Monroe County. Of that number, 93,000 cite no religious affiliation.
CLA’s stated goal is to reach those 93,000. Two years ago, the CLA leadership team began with a simple prayer to reach just one percent of their county’s unreached. That Easter Sunday, exactly 930 people attended CLA services.
“Only two Sundays in 2025 have we not seen people accept Jesus. The more we’ve stepped into the community, the more we’ve seen the presence of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit coming into play in our lives and the lives of our congregation.”
He shares of one Sunday when he did not conduct an altar call, only to be approached after the service by a young man who said he needed Jesus, and that his life was falling apart.
“I was so grieved that I hadn’t given an altar call. I’ll not miss doing it again,” Johnson says.
The young man prayed with Johnson to accept Jesus, and just weeks ago the young man’s brother, who had been far from God, accepted Jesus as well.
Johnson concludes that as CLA “holds the plough,” God himself is performing the work.
