Pastor Tim Johnson's Mission to Heal the Fatherless
From the NFL to Rikers Island: Pastor Tim Johnson and Daughter Kayla Bring Healing Through ‘Fatherless No More’
Pastor Tim Johnson, founder of the Fatherless No More initiative, and his daughter, director Kayla Johnson, recently joined Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell to discuss the powerful impact of their work, which began as a book and has since evolved into a documentary making waves across the country.
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Pastor Tim, a former NFL player turned full-time minister, shared how the calling to launch Fatherless No More came during a deeply personal and spiritual turning point. “My own personal journey was not a book I ever wanted to write—it was His story,” he explained. “I had to just surrender and believe that wherever He wanted to take me, my answer was yes. And it happened to be Rikers Island.”
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Kayla Johnson, who directed the Fatherless No More documentary, reflected on the emotional and transformative experience of capturing her father’s work on film. “I grew up with my dad my whole life, so I felt like I knew him. But being in close quarters with him and seeing him in a different environment like Rikers, I got to see not only a different side of him, but how much he truly loves people with the Father’s love,” she said. “It was incredible to capture that on camera so others could experience it—and we became besties during the process.”
The initiative has had a profound effect on incarcerated men, particularly at Rikers Island. Pastor Tim described the atmosphere when he first arrived as “an all-time high” for violence, addiction, and destruction. What followed was nothing short of a miracle. “We began to journey with a group of young men who should’ve never been in the same room together—men from opposing gangs who were killing each other on the street. But for the sake of something greater, they signed on and said yes,” he said. “Instead of a bloodbath, they became brothers.”
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As a result, 11 of the original participants were baptized. Over three years, nearly 100 young men have come through the initiative, with more than 80 baptized. According to jail officials, violence at the RNDC facility dropped by approximately 60 percent.
With the documentary receiving widespread acclaim, the Johnsons are preparing to expand the movement further. A video series is currently in development to help churches, community groups, and institutions bring the Fatherless No More message into their own communities. “We’re codifying the material so it’s in a form people can use,” said Pastor Tim. “This is about taking the journey and seeing how the Father’s love can change everything.”
To learn more, watch the documentary, or get the book, visit fatherlessnomoreinst.org.
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