Bishop Dion Johnson discusses how churches must change to survive by focusing on hospitality, listening to their communities, and adapting worship and spaces to meet real needs—especially of younger generations and families. He shares practical examples of asking honest questions, welcoming feedback, and reimagining church life to be more accessible and relational. Johnson emphasizes empowering lay leadership, doing fewer ministries well, and shifting toward a "lay-led, clergy-supported" model. He also reflects on his personal spiritual practices—daily prayer, walking, and listening—and concludes with a central message: remember that each person's first and lasting identity is being God's beloved, and live accordingly.

In Season 3, Episode 2 of Seekin' Deacon, Rev. Cuyler O'Connor continues his conversation with Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri. Bishop Johnson reflects on the power of mystery in faith, the formative influence of his grandmother, and the importance of embracing God's messiness rather than sanitizing it. Addressing today's social and spiritual challenges, he speaks about planting seeds for long-term justice, sustaining hope amid division, and reimagining the church's future by returning to Jesus' practice of listening, asking questions, and meeting people where they are.

In the season three premiere of Seekin' Deacon, vocational deacon Rev. Cuyler O'Connor is joined by Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, vocation, and spiritual depth in times of crisis. Bishop Johnson shares his journey from Barbados to New York, seminary formation during 9/11, parish ministry in Michigan, and his consecration as bishop on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting on ministry shaped by crisis, he speaks to the church's call to compassion and presence. The conversation concludes with a thoughtful exploration of the deep spiritual hunger of younger generations and the church's opportunity to reclaim mystery, contemplative practices, and experiential faith as pathways to authentic connection.