Dr. Todd Johnson - Gordon Conwell
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Dr. Todd Johnson

Eva B. and Paul E. Toms Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity

Address:
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
130 Essex St., Box 228
South Hamilton, MA 01982
Phone: (978) 468-2750
Email: [email protected]
First Year at Gordon-Conwell: 2003
Expertise: Religious Demographics, World Religions, Global Christianity, Missions


Biography

Todd M. Johnson is the Eva B. and Paul E. Toms Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity, and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Johnson is visiting Research Fellow at Boston University’s Institute for Culture, Religion and World Affairs leading a research project on international religious demography. He has published encyclopedias, atlases, databases, monographs, and scholarly articles on counting religionists around the world. In particular he has made detailed country-by-country estimates for ethno-linguistic peoples, religious diversity, Pentecostals, Sunnis and Shia’s, and other traditions within the world’s major religions.

Todd Johnson was born in St. Paul, Minnesota but has spent several years in Singapore and Thailand. Todd is married to Tricia and has three daughters, Laura, Claire, and Valerie. As a family, they take pleasure in bike riding, hiking, and international food. Todd enjoys haunting used bookstores, collecting music and film from around the world, and cross-country skiing in the winter. For the past 30 years, he has daily mined Christian history and global Christianity for insights into his own faith journey.

Major Publications

Full Publication List

BOOKS

Forthcoming (3 books)

Christianity in Oceania edited with Kenneth Ross and Katalina Tahafee Williams, Vol. 5 Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, May 2021.

Brill Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism edited with Michael Wilkinson, Jorg Haustein, et. al., Leiden: Brill, c2020.

Spirit-Empowered Christianity: Global Pentecostalism in the 21st Century with Gina A. Zurlo. Tulsa, OK: Oral Roberts University Press, 2020.

Published (20 books)

Christianity in East and Southeast Asia edited with Kenneth Ross and Francis Alvarez, Vol. 4 Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, May 2020.

World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd edition with Gina A. Zurlo. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2019.

Christianity in South and Central Asia edited with Kenneth Ross and Daniel Jeyaraj. Vol. 3 Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, May 2019.

Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2018 edited with Brian Grim, Vegard Skirbekk, and Gina Zurlo. Leiden: Brill, July 2018.

Christianity in North Africa and West Asia edited with Kenneth Ross and Mariz Tadros. Vol. 2 Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, May 2018.

Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2017 edited with Brian Grim, Vegard Skirbekk, and Gina Zurlo. Leiden: Brill, July 2017.

Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa edited with Kenneth Ross and Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu. Vol. 1 Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, May 2017.

Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2016 edited with Brian Grim, Vegard Skirbekk, and Gina Zurlo. Leiden: Brill, July 2016.

Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2015 edited with Brian Grim, Vegard Skirbekk, and Gina Zurlo. Leiden: Brill, July 2015.

Evangelicals Around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century edited with Brian Stiller and Karen Stiller, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, June 2015.

Our Global Families: Christians Embracing Common Identity in a Changing World co-authored with Cindy M. Wu, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, February 2015.

Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2014 edited with Brian Grim, Vegard Skirbekk, and Gina Zurlo. Leiden: Brill, July 2014.

The World’s Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography with Brian Grim. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, June 2013.

2010Boston: The Changing Contours of World Mission and Christianity edited with Rodney L. Petersen, Gina A. Bellofatto, and Travis L. Myers, Eugene: Pickwick Publications, May 2012.

Atlas of Global Christianity 1910-2010 edited with Kenneth Ross, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, December 2009.

World Christian trends, AD30-AD2200 edited with David B. Barrett. Pasadena: William Carey Library, October 2001, 952p.

World Christian encyclopedia: a comparative survey of churches and religions in the modern world with David B. Barrett, George T. Kurian. Second edition. 2 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, March 2001, 1,690p.

The AD 2000 Global Monitor with David B. Barrett, Vols. 1-40. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1995.

Our globe and how to reach it: seeing the world evangelized by AD 2000 and beyond with David B. Barrett, Birmingham, AL: New Hope, 1990.

Countdown to 1900: world evangelization at the end of the nineteenth century, Birmingham, AL: New Hope, December 1988.


DATABASES

World Religion Database, www.worldreligiondatabase.org, co-edited with Brian J. Grim, published by Brill, Leiden: The Netherlands, 2007-.

World Christian Database, www.worldchristiandatabase.org, co-edited with Gina A. Zurlo, published by Brill, Leiden: The Netherlands, 2008-.


ARTICLES/CHAPTERS

Forthcoming

“Christianity 2020: Key Findings from the World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition” in International Bulletin of Mission Research (January 2020).

“Christianity through the centuries” in Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Middle East edited by Mark Lamport. Routledge, 2020.

“Religion by Continent” in The Journal of Religious Demography, Vol. 6, No. 2, October 2019.

2019

“The World By Religion” in The Journal of Religious Demography, Vol. 6, No. 1, July 2019.

“Christianity 2019: What’s Missing? A Call for Further Research” in International Bulletin of Mission Research (January 2019).

2018

“Our Global Families” with Cindy Wu in Mission Handbook 2018 edited by Peggy Newell, Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2018.

“Religious Demography and the Future of Christian-Muslim Relations” in Charles Tieszen, Theological Issues in Christian-Muslim Dialogue. Portland, OR: Cascade Books, 2018.

Sola Scriptura and the Rise of Global Christianity” in Gordon L. Isaac & Eckhard Schnabel, eds. Reformation Celebration: The Significance of Scripture, Grace, Faith, and Christ. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2018.

“The Christian Scriptures and the Rise of Global Christianity” in Acta Missiologica, Vol. 12, No. 1. 1/2018, Slovakia.

“Church growth through the centuries” in Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South edited by George T. Kurian and Mark Lamport. Routledge, 2018.

“Country by country statistics” in Encyclopedia of Christian Education edited by George T. Kurian, Routledge, 2018.

“Country by country statistics” in Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States edited by George T. Kurian and Mark Lamport, Routledge, 2018.

“Christianity 2018: More African Christians and Counting Martyrs” in International Bulletin of Mission Research (January 2018).

2017

“Religious Demographics of Africa, 1970–2025.” With Gina A. Zurlo in Anthology of African Christianity, edited by Isabel Apawo Phiri, Dietrich Werner, Chammah Kaunda, and Kennedy Owino, 155–171. Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2016.

“Unaffiliated, Yet Religious: A Methodological and Demographic Analysis” With Gina A. Zurlo in Annual Review of the Sociology of Religion, vol. 7 (2016): 50–74.

“Crafting the Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity” with Kenneth R. Ross in International Bulletin of Mission Research 41(2):107-120 (April 2017).

“Christianity 2017: Five Hundred Years of Protestant Christianity” in International Bulletin of Mission Research (January 2017).

“Conversion in the Growth of African Christianity” with Gina A. Zurlo in Lamin Sanneh, Oxford Handbook of African Christianity, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

2016

“The Demographics and Dynamics of Christian Expansion” in Wiley-Blackwell Companion to World Christianity edited by Lamin Sanneh and Michael McClymond (Wiley-Blackwell).

“Persecution in the Context of Religious and Christian Demography, 1970-2020” in Christianity and Freedom edited by Timothy Shah and Thomas Farr. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

“The Art of Counting” in Glocal Conversations, Summer 2016.

“Global Anglicanism” with Gina A. Zurlo in David J. Goodhew, Growth and Decline in the Anglican Communion, Ashgate.

“Awakenings and Revivals in the Context of Global Christianity” with Cindy Wu in David Horn and Gordon Isaacs, eds., Great Awakenings: Historical Perspectives for Today, Hendrickson.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America” in Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016.

“Global survey of world mission” with Peter Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2016 issue.

2015

“Korean Christianity in the Context of Global Christianity” in Wonsuk Ma, ed. Korean Christianity, Oxford: Regnum Press.

“Chinese Christianity in the Context of Global Christianity” in China Source, Summer 2015.

“Tracking the Emigration of Christians from the Middle East” with Gina A. Zurlo in Grim, Johnson, Skirbekk, and Zurlo, Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2015, Leiden/Boston: Brill.

“Christians, Muslims, and Non-religionists in the Context of Religious Diversity, 1910-2010” in Grim, Johnson, Skirbekk, and Zurlo, Yearbook of International Religious Demography 2015, Leiden/Boston: Brill.

“Embezzlement in the Global Christian Community” with Gina A. Zurlo and Albert W. Hickman, Review of Faith and International Affairs, Summer.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America” in Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015.

“Global survey of world mission” with Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2015 issue.

2014

“Christian Martyrdom as a Pervasive Phenomenon: Critical Issues and Evidence.”with Gina A. Zurlo, Modern Society and Social Science.

Book Review of Witness to World Christianity and Unity in Mission for Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Fall.

“The Demographics of Religious Change” in Oxford Handbook on Conversion by Lewis Rambo and Charles Farhadian (Oxford University Press).

“Global Christianity and Global Diasporas” in Chandler Im and Amos Yong, eds, Global Diasporas and Mission (Regnum).

“Christianity in Asia” in Felix Wilfred, ed. Oxford Handbook of Asian Christianity (Oxford University Press).

“Counting Pentecostals Worldwide” in Pneuma.

“Global Christianity and the Holy Spirit” with Gina A. Zurlo in Johnson Lim, editor, The Holy Spirit: An Unfinished Agenda (Singapore: Word and Works).

“Ongoing Exodus: The Emigration of Christians from the Middle East” with Gina A. Zurlo in The Harvard Journal of Middle Eastern Politics and Policy (Spring).

“The impact of Ralph Winter’s thinking on missiological research in India” in India Church Growth Quarterly, March 2014.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America” in Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014.

“Global survey of world mission” with Peter Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2014 issue.

Book review, Hunter and Ormerod, The Many Faces of Global Pentecostalism, in The Pentecostal Educator, Vol.1, No. 1, Fall.

Maps and charts in Brazilian Study Bible.

2013

“From the Judsons to Global Christianity” in Allen Yeh and Chris Chun, editors, Expect Great Things, Attempt Great Things: William Care and Adoniram Judson, Missionary Pioneers, (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2013)  pp. 74-83.

“Global Pentecostal Demographics” in Spirit and Power: The Growth and Global Impact of Pentecostalism by Donald E. Miller, Kimon H. Sargeant, and Richard Flory (Oxford: Oxford University Press), pp. 319-328.

“Martyrdom” for Contact magazine

“Key findings of Christianity in its Global Context, 1970-2020” with Gina A. Zurlo in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, July.

“Highlights of Christianity in its Global Context, 1970–2020” in Lausanne Global Analysis, July.

Christianity in its Global Context, 1970-2020: Society, Religion, and Mission (Center for the Study of Global Christianity, June 1)

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America” in Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

“Global survey of world mission” with Peter Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2013 issue.

“Status of World Christianity” with Gina Bellofatto in GETI Theological Education (Seoul).

2012

“The Demographics of World Mission and Christianity, 1910-2010,” in 2010Boston ed. Todd Johnson et al. 3-12. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2012.

“The Demographics of Martyrdom,” in Sorrow and Blood, edited by William Taylor, 31-36. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2012.

“Atlas of Global Christianity: Its Findings” with Kenneth Ross in Edinburgh 2010: Mission Today and Tomorrow edited by Kirsteen Kim and Andrew Anderson, Oxford: Regnum, Edinburgh 2010 series, pp. 191-200.

“Global Statistics of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal” in Then Peter Stood Up by Oreste Pesare (Vatican Press, 2012).

“Migration, Religious Diasporas, and Religious Diversity: A Global Survey” with Gina A. Bellofatto in Mission Studies (Brill, 2012).

“Book Review” on The Role of the American Board in the World: Bicentennial Reflections on the Organization’s Missionary Work, 1810-1010 edited by Clifford Putney & Paul T. Burlin (Wipf & Stock, 2012) in BTI Magazine 11:2, Spring 2012.

“David Barrett’s Legacy” in International Bulletin of Missionary Research (January 2012).

“Saudi Arabia” in Religion Past and Present (translated from the German), Leiden, Brill.

“Status of the World Christian Movement,” with Gina Bellofatto in Rivers of God edited by Stephen Burris, Portland, OR: Wipf & Stock.

“From the Judsons to Global Christianity, 1812-2012” in MissioNexus journal, February.

“Reflection and Research methods” with LouAnn Stropoli, Asia Missions Association newsletter, January 2012.

“Global Demographics of Christianity” in Mission Maker Magazine, 2012.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas,” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America,” in 2012 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012.

“Global survey of world mission” with Barrett and Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2012.

2011

“Atlas of Global Christianity and the Global Demographics of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Renewal” in Interpretive Trends in Christian Revitalization for the Early Twenty First Century by J. Steven O’Malley (Emeth Press, 2011).

“International Religious Demography: An Overview of Sources and Methodology,” with Brian Grim in The Oxford Handbook of The Economics of Religion, ed. Rachel M. McCleary. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

“Emerging Global Church,” in The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization Volume II ed. by George T. Kurian, 826-830.  Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

“Historical Statistics of the Christian Church,” in The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization Volume IV ed. by George Thomas Kurian. 2601-2606. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Maps in The Future of the Global Church: History, Trends and Possibilities by Patrick Johnstone. Colorado Springs: Biblica, Inc., 2011.

With D. B. Barrett and P.F. Crossing.

“Christianity 2011: Martyrs and the Resurgence of Religion” with David B. Barrett and Peter F. Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2011.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2010” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2011 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2010

“Book Review Essay,” review of Boundless Faith: The Global Outreach of American Churches, by Robert Wuthnow; review of Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion, by Dana L. Robert; and review of The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith, by Mark A. Noll, Church History 79:2 (June): 410-421.

“Globalization, Christian Identity, and Frontier Missions,” International Journal of Frontier Missiology 27:4 (Winter 2010): 165-169.

“Christianity 2010: A View from the New Atlas of Global Christianity,” in International Bulletin of Missionary Research 34:1 Jan 2010, 29-36.

Historical Dictionary of the Reformed Churches, Second Edition by Robert Benedetto and Donald K. McKim, (Johnson and Albert Hickman supplied the statistics used and revised the ‘regional articles’) Lanham: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2010, see page xv for acknowledgement.

With D. B. Barrett.

“A statistical approach to the world’s religious adherents, 2000-2050 C.E.” (12 pages)  in J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, eds., Religions of the World, 2nd edition, 6 Volumes, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2009” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2010 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2009

“My two families” in Urbana News, St. Louis. (December).

“Christians by Region in 400,” “Christians by Region in 1600,” and “Christians by Region in 2010,” in Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion by Dana L. Robert. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.

“The Global Demographics of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal,” in Social Science and Modern Society 46:6 (Nov/Dec 2009): 479-483.

“From Western Christendom to Global Christianity,” with Sandi Lee in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, 4th Edition, Pasadena: William Carey Library.

“The Demographics and Dynamics of Christian Expansion,” in Crowther Center Monographs 30 June, Oxford.

“Statistical Report on Global Christianity” in Mission Maker 2009, 7 pages.

With D. B. Barrett and P.F. Crossing.

“Missiometrics 2009: Goals, resources, doctrines of the 350 Christian world communions.” International Bulletin if Missionary Research (2009 January).

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2008” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2009 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2008

“Global Religious Trends: Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy,” The Review of Faith & International Affairs (Fall 2008): 43-45.

“From Rome to Reformation: The Breadth and Depth of Christian Mission,” in His Kingdom Come, edited by Jim Stier, Richlyn Poor, and Lisa Orvis, 95-102. Seattle: YWAM Publishing, 2008.

“Evangelicalism- North America and Europe” in Religion Past and Present, Leiden: Brill.

“Counting Christians in India, AD 52-AD 2200” with Sarah Tieszen and Thomas Higgins in Dharma Deepika.

With D. B. Barrett and P.F. Crossing.

“Missiometrics 2008: Reality Checks for Christian World Communions,” with David B. Barrett and Peter F. Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2008, pp. 27-30.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2007” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2006” in 2008 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2007

“The Changing Demographics of World Christianity” with Sandra S. Kim in Antioch Agenda edited by Rodney Peterson, ISPCK, Delhi.

“Personal contact: the sine qua non of 21st century Christian mission” with Charles L. Tieszen in Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Oct.

“Christianity at 2010: Changes Today and Challenges Tomorrow” in O’Donnell, Doing Member Care Well, William Carey Library, Arabic Edition.

“Statistical Report on Global Christianity” in Mission Maker Magazine 2008. *7 pages.

“The Changing Face of American Religion, AD 1900-2050” in Nelson’s Guide to Denominations, edited by J. Gordon Melton.

“Demographic shifts in Global Christianity” in Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion Second Edition, edited by Robert Wuthnow, CQ Press, 2007, Volume 1, 243-247.

“Adherents of all Religions by country, mid-2005” in Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion Second Edition, edited by Robert Wuthnow, CQ Press, 2007,

“Missiometrics 2006: Goals, resources, doctrines of the 350 Christian World Communions” with David B. Barrett and Peter F. Crossing in J. Bonk, et.al., Speaking about what we have seen and heard: evangelism in global perspective, New Haven, CT: OMSC Publications, 2007, 131-146.

“Martyrdom,” in Dictionary of Mission Theology: Evangelical Foundations ed. By John Corrie, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2007. 220-222.

“Martyrdom” in Encyclopedia of Missions and Missionaries, edited by Jonathan Bonk, Routledge

“Missiometrics” in Encyclopedia of Missions and Missionaries, edited by Jonathan Bonk, Routledge

With D. B. Barrett and P.F. Crossing.

“Missiometrics 2007: Goals, resources, doctrines of the 350 Christian World Communions” in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2007, pp. 25-32.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2006” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2006” in 2007 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2006

“The Changing Demographics of World Christianity” with Sandra S. Kim. Four page report for the World Christianity Group at the American Academy of Religion, Washington DC, November.

“Three Waves of Christian Renewal: a 100-Year Snapshot” in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 30, No. 2, April.

“Tracking Global Christianity’s Statistical Center of Gravity” with Sun Young Chung in Ockenga Connections, Vol 11, No. 2, Summer.

“The Growth of Christianity Globally” in Contact Spring.

“Trends & Statistics: USA Evangelicals/Evangelicals in A Global Context,” in www.lausanneworldpulse.com January 2006.

With D. B. Barrett and P.F. Crossing.

“Missiometrics 2006: Goals, resources, doctrines of the 350 Christian World Communions” in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2006, pp. 27-30.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2005” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2006 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2005

“Priority peoples: a customized approach” with Peter F. Crossing in Mission Frontiers, Jan/Feb 2005, pp. 8-15.

“Christian Opportunities in the Changing Demographic Context of Global Buddhism” with Bobby Ryu, in David Lim, Steve Spaulding, and Paul de Neui, eds., Sharing Jesus Effectively in the Buddhist World, Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, p. 1-47.

“Collaboration and the World Christian Database” in Missiology, Vol XXXIII, Number 1, January 2005.

“Describing the worldwide Christian phenomenon: terminology for the 21st century” with Sandi Kim for International Bulletin of Missionary Research, April 2005.

“Christian Missions and Islamic Da‘wah: A Preliminary Quantitative Assessment” with David Scoggins in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2005.

“Response to ‘How Shall They Believe’” in International Journal of Frontier Missiology Winter 2005

“My Journey into the Future.” World Network of Religious Futurists. World Future Society.

“ The Coming Religious Wars.” Handout for Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, May.

“What is an Evangelical?” Handout for Media Forum at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

With D. B. Barrett.

“Missiometrics 2005: a global survey of world mission” with David B. Barrett and Peter F. Crossing in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2005, pp. 27-30.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2004” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2005 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2004

“Saudi-Arabien” in Religion in Geschichte und Gengenwart, 4th edition. Mohr Siebeck.
Review of “Religious Trends” in International bulletin of missionary research.

“Tracking Global Christianity’s statistical centre of gravity, AD 33-AD 2100” with Sun Young Chung in International Review of Mission, Vol. 93, No. 369, April.

“The Demographic Future of Christianity and World Religions” in Dialog (Berkeley).

“Looking forward: an overview of world evangelization, 2005-2025 with Bobby Jangsun Ryu and Peter F. Crossing, a special report (12 pages) for the Lausanne 2004 Forum on World Evangelization, Pattaya, Thailand, September.

“Does your church understand the world we live in?” in Ockenga Connections, Vol. 9, No. 2. Summer.

“Evangelizing China” in The Weekly Standard 9:25 March 2004, 34.

With D. B. Barrett.

“Quantifying alternate futures of religion and religions” in Futures, Vol 36, pages 947-960.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 2004” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 26, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2003” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2004 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2004” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2005 Britannica almanac.

2003

“The World in 2025” in World Christian News

“Religious affiliation”; “House churches”; “Protestant statistics”;  “Table of Protestants in 238 countries”; “Table of Protestant traditions” in Hans J. Hillerbrand, ed., Encyclopedia of Protestantism. New York: Routledge.

Review of “One World or Many?” in Connections (World Evangelical Alliance).

Review of “The Future of Christianity” in Evangelical Missions Quarterly

“Christianity at 2000” in Contact magazine

Review of Philip Jenkins’ “The Next Christendom” on Urbana web site

Launch of World Christian Database, online at www.globalchristianity.org, Oct 10, 2003.

“ ‘It Can Be Done’ : The Impact of Modernity and Postmodernity on the Global Mission Plans of Churches and Agencies” in Jonathan J. Bonk, ed., Between Past and Future: Evangelical Mission Entering the Twenty-first Century (Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library).

With D. B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 2003” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 26, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2002” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2000” in 2002 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2003” in 2004 Britannica almanac.

“Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2005” in 2004 Britannica almanac.

2002

“Christianity at 2000: changes today and challenges tomorrow” in O’Donnell, Doing Member Care Well, William Carey Library.
“Which Peoples Need Priority Attention? Those With the Least Christian Resources” with Peter Crossing in Mission Frontiers Vol. 24 No. 1 Jan/Feb 2002, 16-23.

With D. B. Barrett.

“A statistical approach to the world’s religious adherents, 2000-2050 C.E.” (12 pages)  in J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, eds., Religions of the World, 4 Volumes, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio.

Statistical summary of religious adherents by country in J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, eds., Religions of the World, 4 Volumes, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, Inc., 2002.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 2002” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 26, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2001” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2000” in 2002 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

Statistical tables, The encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 2, J-O. Eerdmans. (uncredited)

2001

“Chinese house churches after 1950” in New international dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. S. Burgess, editor. Zondervan.
“Evangelicals in North America” in Religion in Geschichte und Gengenwart, 4th edition. Mohr Siebeck.

“Evangelicals in Europe” in Religion in Geschichte und Gengenwart, 4th edition. Mohr Siebeck.

With D. B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 2001” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 25, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-2000” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2000” in 2001 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

“Global Statistics of Christianity and Religions” in Lexikon fur Theologie und Kirche. Verlag Herder. 24 p.

Global table and chronology in The century of the Holy Spirit: 100 years of Pentecostal and Charismatic renewal, 1901-2001. Vinson Synan. Nelson.

Global table in New international dictionary of Pentecostal/Charismatic movements. S. Burgess, ed. Zondervan.

2000

“All Humanity in Mission Perspective in 2000 AD” in Mission frontiers. Summer.

“Andorra”, “Brunei”, “Bulgaria”, “Cape Verde”, “Christmas Island”, “Cocos Islands”, “Comoros”, “Djibouti”, “Eritrea”, “Falkland Islands”, “Fiji”, “Guam”, “Independent Charismatic Missionaries”, “Macedonia”, “New Caledonia”, “Norfolk Island”,  “Reunion”, “Romania”, “Saint Helena”, “Slovenia”, “Solomon Islands”, “Vanuatu”, “Yugoslavia”, in Evangelical dictionary of world missions, A. S. Moreau, editor, Baker Books.

“Reflecting back, looking forward: forty years of YWAM in global mission” in International YWAMer, Summer.

Statistical tables, The encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 2, E-I. Eerdmans. (uncredited)

With D. B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 2000” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 24, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-1999” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2000” in 2000 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

“The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, 1959-2025” in Then Peter stood up. 117-124. Oreste Pesare, editor. ICCRO, Vatican City. (translated into 10 languages including Polish, Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Chinese)

“Religiometrics” in Lexikon fur Theologie und Kirche. Verlag Herder.

“Global Christian Finance: Significant Findings of the World Christian Encyclopedia”. Handout and Powerpoint Presentation. Presented at The Gathering, Washington D.C., September.

1999

“Decline or rise of religions” in The 21st century. New York: Macmillan. ed. by George T. Kurian and Graham T.T. Molitor.

“Statistical projections of religions” in The 21st century. New York: Macmillan. ed. by George T. Kurian and Graham T.T. Molitor.

Review of Biographical dictionary of Christian mission in Mission frontiers. Summer.

“All Humanity in Mission Perspective in 2000 AD” in Perspectives on the world Christian movement. Ralph D. Winter, Steve Hawthorne, editors. William Carey Library.

Statistical tables, The encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 1, A-D. Eerdmans. (uncredited)

With D. B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 1999” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 23, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-1998” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2000” in 1999 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

1998

With D. B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 1998” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 22, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-1997” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2000” in 1998 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

“Conflict in Orthodoxy” in 1997 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

1997

With D.B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 1997” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 21, No. 1, January.

“Worldwide adherents of all religions by six continental areas, mid-1996” and “Religious adherents in the United States of America, AD 1900-2000” in 1997 Britannica book of the year. Encyclopedia Britannica.

1996

“Decline or rise of religions” in Encyclopedia of the future. George T. Kurian, Graham Molitor, editors. Macmillan.

“Statistical projections of religions” in Encyclopedia of the future. George T. Kurian, Graham Molitor, editors. Macmillan.

With D.B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 1996” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 20, No. 1, January.

Co-editor through 1999. AD 2025 Global Monitor. Richmond, VA. 21 quarterly issues.

“Six watersheds in YWAM Frontier Missions” presented at US Center for World Mission, December.

A Global Reader’s Companion, editor, bimonthly 1995-2000.

1995

With D.B. Barrett.

“Annual statistical table on global mission: 1995” in International bulletin of missionary research. Vol. 19, No. 1, January.

1994

“Who are we and where are we going?: the present status of world mission and the targeting of human segments” in German mission volume, Bpsingen, Germany.

“The quantitative future of religion” in Encyclopedia of the future, Kurian and Molitor, eds., New York: Macmillan.

“Views on the future of religion” in Encyclopedia of the future, Kurian and Molitor, eds., New York: Macmillan.

1993

“In pursuit of good communication in frontier missions” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 10:1, January, pp. 29-30.

“Will we fail again? A look back at the first ‘Call to Disciples Everywhere’ and why they failed” in Mission frontiers, July/August, pp. 12-15.

“Quantitative futures for Christianity and world religions, AD 1900-2200: development and application of a projection methodology based on the United Nations Demographic Database, their related Long-Range World Population Projections 1950-2150, and the World Christian Encyclopedia 1900-2000.” Doctoral Dissertation. William Carey International University. October. Unpublished.

1992

“True balance in mission” editorial in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 9:2, April, pp. 43-44.

“The environment and evangelization” editorial in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 9:3, July, pp. 79-80.

“Two opportunities, two obstacles” editorial in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 9:4, October, pp. 115-116.

“Global Plans in the Pentecostal/Charismatic Tradition and the Challenge of the Unevangelized World, World A” in Pentecost, Mission, and Ecumenism: Essays on Intercultural Theology. Jan Jongeneel, editor. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. 197-206.

With D.B. Barrett.

“Global Diagram 47. Component elements and structures of global Christianity” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 9:1, January, p. 39.

“Global Diagram 48. Quantifying the origin, creation, and global distribution of evangelization” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 9:2, April, p. 73.

“Global Diagram 49. The problem of unequal distribution” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 9:2, April, p. 75.

1991

“The old must become new once again” editorial in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:1, January, p. 1.

“Another society, another journal?” editorial in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:2, April, pp. 41-42.

“The present status of frontier missions” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:2, April, pp. 65-67.

“An encyclical and the obstacle of innumeracy” editorial in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:3, July, pp. 69-70.

“Are the pioneers enough?” editorial in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:4, October, pp. 113-114.

With D.B. Barrett.

“’Evangelize!’ and ‘Disciple!” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:1, January, pp. 32-33.

“Global Map 1. The great unevangelized belt” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:3, July, p. 109.

“Global Diagram 35. Matching up holistic resources with legitimate targets” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:3, July, p. 110.

“Global Diagram 41. Global and confessional deployment globes or ‘sharing globes’” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:3, July, p. 111.

“Global Diagram 42. Mega-agency deployment globes” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 8:3, July, p. 112.

“Global Map 2. Resource countries now implementing world evangelization” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 8:4, October, p. 151.

“Global Diagram 43. Hijacking the international sharing of personnel in mission” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 8:4, October, p. 152.

“Global Diagram 44. Resource countries from World C for world evangelization” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 8:4, October, p. 153.

1990

“Harmonizing unreached peoples” editorial in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:2, April, pp. 33-34.

“Illusory progress in finishing the task” editorial in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:3, July, pp. 73-74.

“The fatal attraction of pseudo-frontier mission” editorial in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:4, October, pp. 105-106.

Co- editor through 1994. AD 2000 Global Monitor. Rockville, VA: Global Desk. 36 monthly issues.

With D.B. Barrett.

“Global human need: introducing a series of global diagrams depicting various aspects of world evangelization” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:1, January, pp. 13-14.

“Kaleidoscopic glossary: concepts and terms relating to world evangelization” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 7:2, April, pp. 60-62.

“Visualizing the global task” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:2, April, pp. 63-69.

“Today’s resources for world mission: unlocking the storehouses for the needs of World A” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 7:3, July, pp. 101-102.

“Today’s Great Commission harvest force” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:4, October, p. 135.

“Tomorrow’s Great Commission harvest force” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:4, October, p. 136.

“The world’s 251 countries in statistics” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7 frontier missions, Vol. 7:4, October, p. 136.

“Our globe’s 170 least evangelized megapeoples” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 7:4, October, pp. 133-134.

1989

“Prioritizing the Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 6:1-4, January-October, pp. 63-71.

“The future is not what it used to be” in Caleb Project newsletter, December, pp. 4-8.

“A Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 6:1-4, January-October, pp. 3-62.

1988

“The crisis of missions” in Mission Frontiers, August, Supplement, pp. 2-32.

“A.T. Pierson and the year 1900: a challenge for our day” in Mission frontiers, August, pp. 6-9.

“The crisis of missions: the historical development of the idea of the evangelization of the world by the year 1900” in International journal of frontier missions, Vol. 5:1-4, January-October, pp. 3-106.

1987

“Contextualization: A New-old Idea: Illustrations from the Life of an Italian Jesuit in 17th-century India” in International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 4:1-4, January-October, pp. 9-21.

1986

“1991, 1891, and the present status of the student movement” in Mission Frontiers, August.

“Ecclesiastical Cliometrics: Tracing Spiritual Movements by Measurable Footprints” with Ralph D. Winter and Brad K. Cronbaugh, American Society of Church History.

1985

Review of Habits of the heart by Robert Bellah in International Journal of Frontier Missions 2:3, 30-32.

1984

“YWAM and the frontiers: A Short-term Agency Takes a Long Look,” in International Journal of Frontier Missions 1:3, 257-262.

1982

“Building A Strong Foundation for a Student Movement in Missions in the 1980’s.” YWAM.

Degrees

William Carey International University, 1983–1993

  • PhD in International Development, 1993
    Concentration in empirical analysis of Christianity and world religions
  • MA in International Development, 1989
    Concentration in history of religions
  • BA in International Development, 1987
    Concentration in anthropology, sociology, and history

Other Institutional Training

  • Columbia Bible College, 1982
    Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course
  • Oxford University, Summer 1981
    Russian Language Course, Krasnodar, USSR
  • American Alumni Association, 1980
    Thai Language Course, Bangkok, Thailand
  • University of Minnesota, 1977
    Montana State University, 1976–1977
    Chemical Engineering, 1 year

Employment & Academic Posts

  • Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Paul E. and Eva B. Toms Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity, 2019–
  • Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Associate Professor of Global Christianity, 2010–2019
  • Boston University, Associate Faculty, CURA, 2015–2017
  • Boston University, Visiting Fellow, Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs, CURA, 2007–
  • Gordon College, Adjunct professor, 2006–2008
  • Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Research Fellow in the Study of Global Christianity, 2004–10
  • Boston Theological Institute, International Missions and Ecumenism Committee, 2003–
  • Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Director, Center for the Study of Global Christianity, 2003–
  • Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Adjunct professor, 1995–2002

Ecclesiastical Posts

  • Senior Associate for Global Christianity, Lausanne, 2004–2017
  • Editor, Lausanne Global Analysis, 2010–2017.
  • Lausanne Strategy Working Group, 2002–2015
  • World Evangelical Alliance, Missions Commission, 2002–
  • Co-editor, World Christian News, 2002–2004
  • Co-editor, AD2025 Global Monitor, 1995–1999
  • Lausanne/Global Statistics Task Force, 1989–2004
  • Editor, International Journal of Frontier Missions, 1989–1993

Other Posts

  • Professional member, World Future Society, 1989–
  • World Network of Religious Futurists, 1995–
  • Co-founder, Christian Futurists Network, 1998–
  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, 1989–
  • Charter member, The Encyclopedists: An International Society, 1990–
  • World History Association, 1995–
  • American Academy of Religion, 1993–

Courses

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2010–2019)

  • WM 603 History of Missions
  • WM 619 Global Pentecostalism
  • WM 662 NGOs and Development in Mission
  • WM 684 Trends in Global Christianity
  • SF 670 Global Spirituality
  • CH 621 Religions on the Silk Road (Uzbekistan, Turkey) Study Abroad, 2014, 2018
  • CH 658 History of Christianity in Asia
  • CL 510 Introduction to Global Leadership
  • WM 612 Introduction to Intercultural Studies
  • D.Min. track Global Christianity, Global Development, and Global Leadership
    (3 cohorts, 2013, 2016, 2019)

Boston University (2010, 2013, 2015, 2017)

  • TH 847 Rise of Global Christianity, 1910–2010
  • Gordon College (2006–2007)
  • CH Religions on the Silk Road
  • CH History of Christian-Muslim Relations

Recent Grants

2019 $36,000 SIM International Assessing Mission Strategies
2018 $150,000 Oral Roberts Univ. Global Pentecostalism
2015 $15,000 Tyndale Foundation World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd edition
2012 $15,000 World Council of Churches Directory of Theological Training Centers
2011 $80,000 Pew Research Center Study of Global Pentecostalism

Explore Dr. Johnson’s Work

As the Co-Director for the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Dr. Johnson provides numerous resources for researchers in Global Christianity.

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