A New Chapter at All Saints: Welcoming Fr. Darren Johnson

Canon Sean George & All Saints Vestry/Search Team

There is much to celebrate at All Saints Anglican Church in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, as the parish welcomes its new Rector, Fr. Darren Johnson.

The call of a new Rector marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, but for All Saints, it also represents the culmination of a season of prayer and discernment. We invited Margie Lambert, Search Team Chair, and Margaret Buford, Senior Warden, to reflect on the journey that brought Fr. Darren to All Saints. We also asked Fr. Darren to share what drew him to the parish and what he hopes lies ahead for this new chapter of ministry.

A Search Rooted in Prayer and Discernment

One of All Saints’ Search Committee’s greatest strengths is their shared desire to prayerfully discern God’s will for All Saints. Although members come from different backgrounds and perspectives, they are united by their love for the parish and their desire to see its ministry continue to grow. Prayer was an important part of the process, as was learning to listen to one another. There were times when members did not immediately agree, but they were able to talk through their concerns, respect different viewpoints, and return again and again to the question, “What is best for All Saints?”

The committee also worked to keep their hearts open throughout the process, recognizing that the person they initially imagined might be the right candidate was not necessarily the person God would ultimately place before them. That spirit of openness proved especially important in the search process.

Preparing for the Journey

The combined Vestry and Search Committee retreat led by Canon Sean George, Canon to the Ordinary & Director of Communications at the Anglican Diocese of the South, was an especially valuable part of the process. The retreat gave the group an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day details and prayerfully consider not only what they were looking for in a Rector, but what they believed God was calling All Saints to become.

The retreat also helped bring the Vestry and Search Committee together as one team. They came away with a clearer understanding of the parish’s strengths, challenges, and priorities. Canon Sean provided guidance without trying to tell the parish who its Rector should be. Instead, he helped the committee understand the process and encouraged them to approach it thoughtfully and prayerfully.

The parish profile became another important starting point, requiring the committee to take an honest look at who All Saints is and what the parish was truly seeking in a Rector. Interview questions and evaluation forms helped the committee approach each candidate with consistency, while phone interviews and Zoom conversations allowed them to narrow the field before inviting candidates further into the process. Yet, perhaps the most valuable “tool” of all was simply conversation.

After every interview and reference check, the committee talked extensively together. They discovered that while a candidate might look wonderful on paper, deeper conversations often revealed whether that person was truly a good fit for All Saints. Reference checks were particularly helpful in providing insight into how candidates had actually served in previous ministries, not simply how they described themselves.

“There Was a Sense That He Understood Who We Were”

Looking back, the Search Committee says the process was more time-consuming and occasionally discouraging than they initially expected. The list of qualities they thought they needed at the beginning evolved as they met candidates and discussed what those qualities would really mean for All Saints. Some promising candidates ultimately proved not to be the right fit. At times, the committee wondered how long the process would take, or whether the right person would ever appear.

Then they met Fr. Darren Johnson.

What stood out was not just his experience, but his pastoral heart. When he visited All Saints, there was a sense that he understood who they were and that they could genuinely envision him becoming part of the community. Both the Search Committee and Vestry felt a remarkable peace about moving forward. For the committee, the time and patience required by the search ultimately proved worthwhile. As they reflected on the journey, they shared their belief that God was preparing both Fr. Darren and All Saints for this new chapter.

Getting to Know Fr. Darren

What was it about All Saints that drew Father Darren to the parish? For him, it was the warmth of the congregation, the parish’s reverence for Anglican worship, and its genuine desire to be faithful to Christ. Through prayer, conversation, and time with the congregation, he developed a real affection for the people of All Saints and sensed that his experience in parish ministry and pastoral care could serve the church well. He also sees Hot Springs Village as a unique mission field.

Fr. Darren is especially excited about offering pastoral care to those facing illness, grief, and major life transitions, while also reaching people who may be searching for a church home or returning to the faith. He hopes to share the richness of Anglican worship, Scripture, and the sacramental life with the wider community.

What does he look forward to most? In many ways, it’s the ordinary life of parish ministry – worshiping together, preaching, celebrating the sacraments, visiting people, and building relationships. Additionally, Father Darren hopes to see All Saints grow deeper in its Anglican identity while becoming increasingly outward-looking in evangelism, discipleship, and service to the community.

A New Chapter, Together

The Search Committee’s experience offers encouragement and wisdom for any parish beginning its own Rector search. Their advice is simple, but deeply meaningful: Pray, and keep praying.

• A Rector search is too important to approach simply as a hiring process. It is a time of discerning who God may be calling to shepherd the parish.
• Take time to understand your own congregation. Be honest about your strengths, your challenges, and your hopes for the future before deciding exactly what kind of priest needed to lead your congregation.
• Ask difficult questions. Look beyond a resume. Listen carefully to the person. Speak with provided references. Pay attention to how candidates speak about people and about ministry.
• Finally, be patient. There may be moments when you wonder whether God willl ever send the right person, but the pressure to fill a position should never lead a parish to settle for someone who is not the right fit.

For All Saints, the process took time. But now, with Fr. Darren’s call joyfully accepted, the parish looks forward with gratitude and anticipation. As this new chapter begins, Fr. Darren asks the All Saints community and all parishes across the Anglican Diocese of the South to pray for wisdom, humility, and unity during this transition. Pray that the parish will listen faithfully to the Holy Spirit, welcome those God sends to them, and remain centered upon Jesus Christ.

Above all, pray that All Saints will continue to be a place where Christ is proclaimed, people are loved, and the Gospel is carried into the community. What began as a search has become an invitation into something new, and All Saints is stepping into that future with faith, hope, and joy.

Join us in welcoming Fr. Darren!