Associate pastor is musician, composer

The Rev. Matthew W.H. Johnson brings a background in journalism and music to his role as associate pastor of the United Methodist Church of Geneva, a job he has just begun.

"It's a great blessing," Johnson said about coming to Geneva. "Pastor Bill (the Rev. William Obalil, pastor at the church since 2000) has great ideas about reaching out to segments of the population not usually included."

Johnson said a growing trend is called the "emergent church" which is open to engaging all kinds of people, including those who have been away from church for a long while, and those who have no church background.

Johnson is the manager for m28, a Christian music group and a two-time winner of the Rockford Area Music Industry Award for Christian music.

Johnson plays the guitar and sings, his wife Emily plays the keyboard and their drummer is Blane Sinderson of Harvard.

"We don't play in typical locations for a Christian group," Johnson said. "We have played in bars in Rockford, Madison and Barrington. We write 90 percent of our songs, and I do most of the composing."

From 1995 to 2003, Johnson worked as an editor for various community newspapers and professional journals. He received his associate's degree in journalism in 1995 from Kishwaukee College, Malta, Ill., and his bachelor of arts degree in English literature in 1997 from Western Illinois University in Macomb.

He attended the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, where he received his master of divinity degree in May.

Johnson, who grew up in DeKalb County, comes to Geneva from the Rockford area where he served as pastor of United Methodist churches in the communities of Capron and Chemung. He has also organized mission trips through a loose affiliation of churches called "Mission Possible." Work included helping in Florida after a hurricane, in an area devastated by drought in Iowa, and in an impoverished area in Colorado.

Johnson and his wife have a daughter, Liberty, who is 7 months. They will live in Geneva.

The United Methodist Church of Geneva, founded in 1850, is at Hamilton and Second streets in downtown Geneva.

For information, call (630) 232-7120 or visit www.genevaumc.org.

Girls night out

Girlfriends unite.

Women of all ages are invited to hear Julie Barnhill in a humorous presentation on the blessing of women friends at 7 p.m. today at the First Baptist Church of Geneva. The program is at the west campus, 3435 Keslinger Road in Geneva.

Barnhill is a keynote speaker and radio personality who has appeared on Oprah's TV show.

"It will be a fun celebration of friendship, and an inter-generational event," said Wilma Walls, who is helping to organize the event. "We're expecting seniors and younger women and we want them all to bring their friends. We have arranged to pick up women who don't drive at night anymore."

Cost is $5 at the door. Call (630) 232-7068, ext. 161, or visit www.fbcg.com.

More on Barnhill is available at www.juliebarnhill.com.

ngier@dailyherald.com