Bill Johnson is a fifth generation pastor. In 1968 he moved to the area from Los Angeles to Redding, California, where his parents became the pastors of Bethel Church, and in 1970 the Holy Spirit began to move strongly in the church community .
It was at this time that Mario Murillo visited his church and would speak of being absolutely abandoned to Christ. It was there that Bill Johnson said yes to God, an absolute yes.
He was invited to pastor at Mountain Chapel in Weaverville, California, in 1978 and accepted only on the basis that this assignment was from the Lord. They served at Weaverville for 17 wonderful years.
During this time, the presence of God was as strong in Bill Johnson as in the church family that extended their time of worship and glorification to God.
According to Bill, his biggest breakthrough in ministry came after attending two conferences in 1987 organized by John Wimber. He realized that he needed to "put a claim" on what he believed: his risk factor had to be aligned with the audacity of his beliefs. By doing this, there was an immediate change in their ministry and they began to see healing and the increase of miracles.
In 1996 he returned to Bethel Church in Redding after the leadership there unanimously supported his only condition: I was born for revival and would seek revival; this was not negotiable.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit began at Bethel almost immediately, although in seed form, however, it grew rapidly and they began to see many cures that included multiple cases of cancer healed. Healings and miracles have become normal to this day in your church.
Bill Johnson has written numerous books including:
God is Good, Releasing the Spirit of Prophecy, Dreaming with God, Face to Face with God, The Power that Changes the World, Hosting the Presence, When Heaven Invades Earth, Friendship with God, The War in Your Head