An ambitious visionary, sophisticated theologian, keen administrator, pioneering church planter, brilliant homiletician, arduous professor, trusted advisor, trained musician, passionate worship leader, loving pastor, and dedicated family man, Bishop Johnathan E. Alvarado is indeed many things to many people, but holds being a friend of God at the very center of his life. As a twelve year old preacher at Union Grove Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio in 1978, what appeared to be a humble, nondescript beginning in ministry was actually the launching point of an amazingly productive Christian journey still in its summer season.
Relocating to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College, Bishop Alvarado demonstrated early the spirit of launching successful ministries when, in 1984, he started the New Life Inspirational Gospel Choir for all of the institutions within the Atlanta University Center. This choir, over twenty years later, is still the premier choir for the Atlanta college community. Before graduating Morehouse in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music, Bishop Alvarado served as the last Student Director of the famous Morehouse College Glee Club under the Directorship of the late Dr. Wendell P. Whalum.
Having served as Minister of Music at many churches throughout Atlanta in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the anointing to grow and develop people and ministries was apparent in Bishop Alvarado’s life as struggling choirs would routinely double and triple in size, staff, and strength under his tenure. Bishop Alvarado, in his typical hardworking fashion, soon carried two and three jobs at once while serving as an elementary school music teacher in the Dekalb County School System and Music Director for Pastor Daryl Coley.
As the call to a pastoral life grew, Bishop Alvarado began holding Friday night Bible studies in the homes of men and women that felt connected to his ministry. Out of these sessions, with three adults and nine teenagers, Bishop Alvarado was ordained and commissioned in 1992 to establish Total Grace Christian Center by his father in the faith, Apostle LaFayette Scales. Starting in rented churches and strip mall storefronts, Total Grace Christian Center now has nearly 5000 members and 40 active ministries in two thriving metropolitan Atlanta locations. Celebrated throughout the world for its awesome praise and worship and intellectual, Pentecostal preaching, when people say “there is no place like Total Grace,” they actually mean it.
As the demand for covering and guidance from Bishop Alvarado grew, a collection of pastors wanted to further express their covenant relationship with him by forming an official fellowship. In 2005, Bishop Alvarado was elected by these pastors to the Office of Bishop for the newly founded Grace Fellowship of Churches and was consecrated for this office in June, 2006. With his heart for pastors, love for church planting, and his own dual Latin and African American heritage, Bishop Alvarado is uniquely positioned to serve as presiding prelate over an international movement in contemporary Christendom.
Having earned a Masters of Arts in Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Church of God Theological Seminary where he was also the recipient of the prestigious F.J. May Preaching Award, and a Doctor of Ministry (abd) from Regent University, Bishop Alvarado brings a life of academic preparation to his work in the church and society at large. As an Associate Professor, and as Dean of the Chapel at Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, he instructs thousands of future church leaders through classes and regular chapel services. In addition to being elected into the Morehouse College Board of Preachers and serving on the Board of Gospel Today Magazine, Bishop Alvarado serves as a Chaplain to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
The loving husband of Pastor Toni G. Alvarado, Bishop and Co-Pastor Alvarado are the proud parents of three phenomenal children, Johnathan II, Joshua, and Ariel and serve as role models to countless families on how to strike the delicate balance of a healthy life at home, work, and church. |