Alumni Spotlight
John Wootton ’88
Major: Biblical Studies
Occupation: Superintendent of the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God
John Wootton graduated from Evangel University in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies. Twenty years later, he is the first Evangel graduate to be elected as a District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God. In May, he was elected superintendent of the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God, which includes 265 churches and 812 ministers.
“I chose Evangel to pursue a desire to help people become healthy,” John said. “I started in pre-med training with chemistry and biology, and it was during those opportunities and experiences of my freshman year that I sensed the Lord’s refining of my call to full-time ministry. Consequently, I began working on a Biblical Studies major as a sophomore.”
Before assuming his current position John served alongside the previous district superintendent, Doug Clay, as the Ohio District’s secretary for five years and as the district HonorBound men’s ministries director for eight years. He also served as assistant to former district superintendent, Robert Crabtree.
“In recent years, my appreciation for Evangel has only grown, as I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous merit and fulfillment of helping churches and ministers become as healthy as they can be.”
Prior to his work in the district office, John was on the ministerial staff at two Ohio churches, Trinity Assembly of God in Columbus and Bethel Temple Assembly of God in Parma.
“Twenty years later, I still keep in touch with my Evangel friends in a variety of fields including business, insurance, education, etc. I am a firm believer that pastors function at their best when they interact with and draw from the expertise of outstanding Christians in every arena of life. My Evangel education helped me grasp and appreciate the concept that the Body of Christ is indeed very diverse and excels when there is a deep appreciation for the role every member was created to play.”
John and his wife, Brigette, live in New Albany, Ohio, with their four children, Ty (16), Clayton (14), Abby (11), and Olivia (8).