Personal Life and Ministry
Johnstone comes from a religious background. His father, Cecil Johnstone was a Baptist Minister and his sister has been a missionary in Colombia for over 40 years. In the 1970s, Johnstone and his wife, Raema were missionaries with New Tribes Mission in Papua New Guinea for four and a half years, which give Johnstone the basis for his ministry. When he returned to Northern Ireland, Johnstone studied Hebrew, Greek and Theology at the Whitefield College of the Bible, which is run by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. Johnstone began his ministry in the Free Presbyterian congregation in Carrickfergus, before moving on to Clogher Valley and Moneyslane Churches. Johnstone became minister of Armagh Free Presbyterian Church in 1996.
Ron Johnstone is married to Raema, with whom he was a missionary in the 1970s.
Johnstone claims no political ties, and was quoted as saying "I am not a member nor involved in the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party); my work is in the church and in the spiritual aspect of life, in relation to my congregation in Armagh and wider society.". In another interview, following protests at his church (see Controversies), he stated "It cannot be political as I'm a non-political person. I am not a member of any political party and my sojourn within the church is purely to evangelise."
Johnstone accepted a call to be the minister of Grace Free Presbyterian Church in Newtownards, leaving Armagh after 12 years in the post. He was installed to this position on Thursday 28 May 2008.
Johnstone is a member of the "Council of Reference" of a creationist lobby group, the Caleb Foundation.
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