Pastor Phyllis Towles is a distinguished leader in ministry and the corporate world. She blends over 35 years of diverse professional experience with her deep commitment to Christian service. Currently serving as the Director of Ministry Advancement and Development at Center of Praise Ministries, Pastor Towles brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her previous roles, including Manager at Intel Corporation, Greater Sacramento Area Coordinator for My Hope with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Executive Pastor at New Season Church.

A certified executive leadership coach, Pastor Towles is renowned for her ability to empower others through dynamic speaking, teaching, and mentoring. She is also a certified Executive Coach, Life Coach, and Organizational Development Coach and a trained facilitator of The Leadership Challenge. Her academic background, which includes theological studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, underpins her innovative and heartfelt approach to ministry.

Beyond her professional achievements, Pastor Towles is celebrated for her magnetic warmth, integrity, and authenticity. She is a passionate lifelong student of leadership, dedicated to the spiritual and personal growth of those she serves. Her transformative impact extends far beyond the pulpit, bringing hope and optimism to both religious and professional circles

As an experienced and successful nursing professional, Dr. Johnson received her BS and MA from St. Mary’s College of Moraga, California. After accepting her call to gospel ministry in 1996, she earned a doctorate degree in Theology from Sacramento Theological Seminary (STS). She was ordained to Gospel Ministry in 1997 and has served thriving ministries for more than 24 years,

Dr. Joy enjoyed a rewarding appointment at New Testament Baptist Church under the tutelage of Reverend Dr. CM Cummings for ten years.  She was responsible for developing and monitoring the ministry of a thriving Christian Education Department and served as a scribe for vital memos and other communiques from the office of the pastor.

In 2000, Dr. Johnson was one of four ordained preachers to launch a new ministry, Faith Fellowship Community Church. (FFCC) At FFCC, she led the pastoral search committee and later became the Pastor of Ministries.  In this role, Dr. Joy recruited, developed, and trained ministers and leaders for more than fifteen active and growing ministries for discipleship, outreach, and fellowship.  Over the next seven years, Dr. Joy developed and led a flourishing ministry growth campaign through small-group cell groups.  

Since 2008, Dr. Johnson has led at the local nonprofit level with her low-income, housing-based social services organization, Life Matters, Inc. (LMI). She is deeply committed to supporting and mentoring youth. Dr. Johnson founded and led Sankafo and Sacramento Rites of Passage programs, the first comprehensive adolescent programs in Sacramento County. Many of the youth mentored through the adolescent rites of passage programs have gone on to do outstanding work in their own right within their families and communities.

Currently, she is the driving force behind Dr. Joy Johnson Ministries, LLC, the director of peer-learning at the Brehm Center of Preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary, and the founder and lead clergy for Sacramento Black Clergy Fellowship. 

Pastor Joy was the first woman president of Sacramento Area Congregations Together, where she mobilizes public sentiment around social justice advocacy grounded in faith – working alongside clergy/leaders of varied faith traditions and ethnic backgrounds.

Dr. Johnson is widely recognized throughout the region for her prophetic voice as a preacher, teacher, and community healer. Her commitment to trauma healing and restoration for individuals and communities is well known.  She is a master leader in building bridges between churches, working alongside white pastors and pastors of color. 

Dr. Joy and her husband, Mai-Gemu, boast of 40 years of holy matrimony and are the parents of three adult children.