Four months after Northview Church fired him, C.J. Johnson announced plans to return to the pulpit-and the location gives his comeback an especially striking twist. His new congregation, Patmos Church, scheduled its October 25 launch less than a mile from Northview's Noblesville campus, according to The Roys Report.
The venue adds another layer to the story: it is reportedly the same event space where Northview celebrated the retirement of Steve Poe, the founding pastor Johnson succeeded. While Northview continues searching for Johnson's replacement, its former senior leader has been preparing a new ministry practically around the corner.
Patmos initially appeared on Instagram as a Bible study on October 10 before updating its branding to identify itself as a church. Announcements promoted a soft launch with services at 9 and 11 a.m., drawing enthusiastic comments from supporters eager to hear Johnson preach again.
But the upbeat rollout comes with unresolved questions about the leadership controversies that preceded his dismissal. According to The Roys Report's October 23 account, former Northview elder Scott Meyer remains concerned that serious issues surrounding Johnson's tenure have never been adequately addressed.
Johnson became Northview's senior leader in 2022, overseeing a multisite ministry with nearly 9,000 weekly attendees. The Roys Report reported that dozens of employees subsequently departed and that, by 2025, 10 campus pastors had quit, citing concerns about toxic leadership.
Former elders also raised questions about financial arrangements, including church payments covering Johnson's personal expenses and compensation for his wife, who reportedly held no official staff position. Those concerns are allegations described in the reporting; the supplied account does not establish findings of financial wrongdoing.
The report also recounted an allegation that Johnson propositioned a woman during marriage counseling. Johnson denied propositioning her, reportedly explaining that he introduced the subject of cheating as a counseling pressure technique.
When Northview announced his termination in June, elders attributed the decision to the effects of his leadership style and interpersonal conduct. Their explanation described recurring behaviors that had continued without change, but the church disclosed few specifics about what ultimately prompted the dismissal.
Against that backdrop, Patmos's public presentation leaves significant questions unanswered. As of The Roys Report's publication, the new church did not appear to identify leaders besides Johnson, and critical comments questioning the speed of his return had reportedly been deleted from Instagram.
Northview, meanwhile, has sought to distance itself from the new venture. Executive pastor Jason Pongrantz told The Roys Report that its elders did not consider Patmos a church split, while the church's leadership said its attention remained on biblical faithfulness and sharing the hope of Jesus.
The contrasting reactions reveal the tension surrounding Johnson's return: supporters see a fresh ministry beginning, while critics want evidence that earlier concerns have been addressed. A new name and a nearby venue can establish another place to preach; the unanswered question is what accountability will accompany the comeback.
