John Ed Mathison

Dr. John Ed Mathison, who retired in 2008, served for 36 years as Frazer's Senior Minister during a period when God blessed the church with rapid growth and the formation of many of the core values found in the church today.

The son of a Methodist minister, John Ed dedicated himself to serving Christ at a young age. He also excelled in sports, opening up many doors for him to share the gospel around the world and influencing a legacy of a vibrant sports and fitness ministry at Frazer. Following in his father Si's footsteps, who was one of the first to utilize radio broadcasts to share Christ, John Ed pioneered media ministry at Frazer, as seen in the legacy of the WFRZ TV station.

Perhaps John Ed's greatest impact on Frazer was his championing of the philosophy "every member in ministry," emphasizing that the work of the church is done not just by the clergy but by every single believer through volunteering in the church and making a difference in the community. Frazer is known today as "the serving church" because of John Ed's influence.

John Ed remains active in retirement, helping to train a new generation of pastors around the world through his organization, John Ed Mathison Leadership Ministries.

He and his wife Lynn have four children and ten grandchildren.