Ben is a native New Mexican and spent most of his childhood years growing up in either New Mexico or Texas.  While attending the University of New Mexico in 1980, he felt his belief in the existence of God was constantly being opposed by those who were in authority and he became increasingly discontent.  He came to feel that the education he was receiving at UNM did not fit with his beliefs and so decided to attend a small Christian college in Southern California that was affiliated with his church where he received his BA in Theology in 1984.

It was there that he met his wife, Kathy, and they became good friends throughout their college years.  After graduating, their friendship continued to grow.  They finally realized they were in love and, in July of 1986, they got married.  In 1990, Ben was ordained as a minister and was sent to work with two congregations in northeastern Pennsylvania.  Not long afterward, God led the organization he worked for into a radical transformation of understanding that salvation is solely by God’s grace, and that the legalistic practices that they were entrenched in had absolutely no bearing on their salvation.  This truth was incredibly freeing to Ben and Kathy.  However, the process led to a tremendous division in the organization between those who had their eyes opened to it, and those who could not or would not understand nor accept these changes.  In 1995, the Johnsons were transferred to central Pennsylvania to pastor two congregations there to help them transition from a life of legalism to one of freedom and grace through Jesus.

Unfortunately, though, there continued to be a constant decline in the overall membership and finances of the organization which had churches all over the world.  It finally came to the point that the administration asked for volunteers from the pastors to leave the full-time ministry.  It was at that time that Ben chose to leave the full-time ministry and ultimately the Johnsons returned to New Mexico to be closer to his parents.

In January of 2002, Ben, Kathy and their two daughters, Megan and Meredith, walked through the doors of Rio West Community Church and discovered a new church home.  Jumping back into service of the church, Ben was recognized as a deacon a couple of years later, and then in 2006 he was recognized as pastor, giving him the opportunity to once again serve in the capacity he felt God had called him to.