Global Church Team
At Global Church we believe everything is done better in teams, and our Leadership Team is here to serve you.
Russell Johnson
Senior Pastor
Russell Johnson was raised in Lima, Peru and grew up along with the mission work of his parents, Dr. Rudy & Lorraine Johnson.
While studying at North Texas State University, he served as associate pastor and minister of music at the Denton Baptist Temple. While there, he met and married Beverly Marshall in 1974. They are the parents of two children: Brenda, who works and ministers at Global with her husband Francisco and 2 daughters; and Ryan, along with his wife Sarah and 3 sons, are missionaries in London, England.
After serving for several years in Texas, Russell felt God’s leading to use his bilingual abilities to help reach the growing Hispanic population of the United States.
In 1976, the Johnsons moved to Miami to work with a team to establish the Spanish Baptist Bible Institute and the Bible Baptist Church. Today Russell still serves as pastor of Global Church.
You can contact Russell here
Marcel Sanchez
Executive Pastor
Marcel Sanchez was born and raised in Carol City, Florida. He started attending GLOBAL in Middle School after his parents noticed the church sign along Red Road and decided to attend a worship service. Marcel was saved and baptized shortly after.
As the Lord increased his desire to study the Scriptures and serve, Marcel began to actively engage in the work of the ministry. Marcel has served in several areas throughout his years at GLOBAL including Middle School Ministry, Men’s Ministry, College & Career, The Teaching Ministry and LifeGroup Ministry.
Marcel graduated from Trinity International University with a B. A. in Human Resources Management in May of 1996 and from the University of Phoenix with a Master of Arts in Organizational Management in October 2002. Marcel is working through an Advanced Seminary Degree from Tyndale Theological Seminary along with pursuing a Master of Divinity.
After serving more than sixteen years to enable global commerce, Marcel sensed the Lord’s call to leave the largest supply chain solutions provider in the world and enter the ministry full time. Marcel prayerfully and enthusiastically accepted the position of Associate Pastor at GLOBAL Church in April of 2006.
Marcel and his wife Yami have been married over 20 years and have two children, Luke and Savanah.
You can contact Marcel here
Tony Merritt
Pastoral Resident
Tony has served through ministry and education in various locations. He has taught Social Studies and Music in South Florida for many years, and has also taught internationally. Within Global Church, Tony has participated in various aspects of ministry. He has led Life Groups, participated in the music ministry, the youth and college ministry, TIME missions trips, and has helped the church in ministry in Weston, FL.
In 2014, Tony and Erline were sent out from Global Church to London, England as missionaries. They served alongside Ryan and Sarah Johnson for three years. While in London, they served Slade Church and helped to plant Abbey Wood Community Church in Southeast London. In 2017, Tony participated in a pastoral internship program at Capitol Hill Baptist in Washington, D.C, then moved back to South Florida to help plant Kendall Baptist Church.
Currently, Tony serves as Pastoral Resident at Global Church, and is pursuing a Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
You can contact Tony here
Janet O'Rear
Administrator - Music
Janet, along with her husband David, joined the GLOBAL team in 1985. She serves as the Church Administrator and is also the Director of our Music Ministry and has been involved in leading LifeGroups.
Since 1996 Janet and David have been involved in sending youth and young adults on Summer Missions Trips through TIME International. They took over full operations in 2001.
You can contact Janet here
Beverly Johnson
KidZone Tots & Jrs
Beverly grew up in Texas and moved to Miami with her husband Russell to begin GLOBAL Church in 1977. She has been a part of almost every ministry through the years including hosting/leading the Middle School LifeGroup with Russell.
Beverly coordinates our KidZone Tots & Jrs ministry that serves kids ages 2 1/2 through 1st grade.
You can contact Beverly here
David O'Rear
LAMP International - Facilities
David, along with his wife Janet, moved to Miami in 1985 to be a part of the team at GLOBAL Church and start the ministry LAMP International.
LAMP stands for Looking After Missionary Personnel and serves missionaries around the world assisting them in a variety of ways, becoming a supply line for many of the practical things needed to carry out the work of missions.
At GLOBAL David serves on our Technical Teams, LifeGroups and has served in a variety of other ministries through the years.
You can contact David here
Brenda Ulloa
Communications Director-KidZone Coordinator
Brenda has been part of the GLOBAL Team since 2000 and handles our graphics, video, web, social media and other tools to communicate within the Church and to the community. She also helps coordinate our KidZone ministry.
Brenda is also part of our music team and serves with her husband Francisco as LifeGroup leaders.
You can contact Brenda here
Angie Hernandez
Administrative Assistant - BabyZone
In addition to assisting the team, Angie coordinates our BabyZone ministry that serves Infants through 2 1/2 years old. She also works closely with our PuraVida group and FUSION Singles.
You can contact Angie here