Professor of Hebrew, Bible, and Theological Studies Boaz Johnson’s path to North Park was a winding one. Originally from India, Johnson was teaching at a seminary in Pune, India, when he was introduced to the Hindustani Covenant Church. He was taken by the depth, breadth, and international vibrancy of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), so when he learned of an opening at North Park in 2003, he was thrilled to have the chance to learn more about what made the ECC special.
Tell us a bit more about your family.
We are the only people in Deerfield that look like us. Our kids’ school was all white. North Park was a place of healing for my daughters when they came here. They studied among young people from all sorts of different backgrounds and flourished as students.
What’s the best part of your job?
When students come to my office to ask questions or talk. To me, the ages of 18–21 are the best years of a person’s life, when you seek to shape your mind. I also love going on long runs with students along the North Branch, taking them to museums, and watching movies together.
What is your favorite place on campus?
The prayer room in the Johnson Center. I like to gather there with students and pray. It’s shaped like the trunk of the former Prayer Tree that stood where the Johnson Center is now.
How has North Park changed over the past 20 years?
In the last 20 years, North Park has become an increasingly diverse place. When I first began teaching, in 2003, my classroom was full of white Covenant Church students. Now it is people of all colors, religions, races, and denominations. These are students who are first-generation immigrants. They are refugees from Iraq, Myanmar, Venezuela, and Colombia to name a few.
What lessons resonate most with your students?
I teach the Bible, primarily the Old Testament. This is a book which is written by refugees and immigrants, for refugees and immigrants. Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Jesus, were all refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. I hear my students share with me that they resonate with all the narratives in the Bible, especially stories of Mary.