Johnson Dodla is appointed to serve the newly joined congregations of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Lionville and Crossroads, A United Methodist Congregation. Johnson was raised in Hyderabad, India and attended Centenary Methodist Church. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Theological Studies from Trinity Christian College. Upon graduation, Johnson moved to Leyland, England to become a community/youth worker. After working with urban youth for a year, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Johnson graduated with a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in New Testament. Upon graduation, Johnson accepted a position as a ministry associate at The Pittsburgh Project. The Pittsburgh Project is an inner city ministry that provides home repair and after-school tutoring to those living on the North side of the city. In 2005, Johnson moved to Downingtown, Pennsylvania and began working at Hopewell United Methodist Church as the Director of Youth Ministries. Johnson graduated from Palmer Theological Seminary with a M.Div. He is married to Christyn and they have two children Samara (3 years old) and Elijah (10 months). Both of the children have joined their family through adoption.
United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (UMCR) began in 1984 as a new church start to accommodate a rapidly growing population in the Exton area. UMCR’s mission is to be an open door church, sharing God’s love and equipping people with a faith that works in real life. They are an energized church providing powerful blended worship, true relationships, and real faith. Strongly committed to missions they focus on many mission projects, trips and local ministries. Great Beginnings Christian Preschool serves 253 pre-school and kindergarten children and Sunday School for children and adults as well as Bible Studies round out the Christian education program. The Community Life Center hosts many events for the church and community throughout the week including Boy Scout Troop 220 which they sponsor. The congregation values fellowship and regularly plans church-wide activities designed to nurture support of each other on their journey of faith.
Crossroads, A United Methodist Congregation is an innovative, missions-driven, young congregation that draws strength from its nomadic beginnings. Begun in 2003 jointly by Denny Emrick and Thomas Hall, Crossroads has gathered in a tavern, a fire hall, an elementary school, a hotel, and spent this past summer in a wedding tent. Currently they gather at Marsh Creek Corporate Center amidst beauty salons, a music store and beer barn. Though young and relatively small (60 to 80 folks), Crossroads continues to send congregational members into mission every year. They've sent teams to Mississippi each year since Katrina, have sent three mission envoys to South Africa (Hope Village) and summer trips to Coatesville (Good Works, Inc.). Internally, they have launched the Stephen Ministry program. A design team of presenters and musicians plan and shape worship services that result in single big idea that the congregation can live out. The current location of Crossroads is only a mile and a half from United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and its beautiful facility. In this new appointment both churches will combine their congregations and their and resources to serve the Lionville community.