The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church is excited to announce Julia Royall Johnson as the new Director of Youth Ministries, effective January 1, 2026.
For many months, the position has remained vacant while a dedicated search team prayerfully reviewed applications, conducted interviews, and discerned the right leader for this vital ministry. After a thoughtful and Spirit-led process, the team joyfully recommended Julia for this role.
Julia’s connection to the North Carolina Conference runs deep. She grew up at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smithfield, where she was confirmed in seventh grade and quickly became an active youth leader. Her passion for ministry continued to grow through years of service at the local, district, and conference levels, including roles as Harbor District Youth Coordinator, Sound District Youth Coordinator, and Co-Chair of the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM).
Currently serving on the full-time team at Don Lee Camp and Retreat Center, Julia has been part of the camp community since her own days as a camper. Her journey through youth and camping ministries spans more than 20 years and reflects a lifelong calling to nurture faith, leadership, and service among young people.
Dail Ballard, Executive Director of NC UM Camp & Retreat Ministries, said, “The NC UM Camp & Retreat Ministries is extremely excited to partner with the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church in the deeply valuable and powerful Youth Ministries of the Conference. Our excitement comes from the hiring of our Don Lee Camp & Retreat Ministries employee, Julia Johnson, as Director of Youth Ministries. Julia will hold this position as a half-time employee while maintaining her alignment and employment with Camp. We are excited for this partnership and look forward to the opportunities it holds to strengthen and expand both the Camp and Conference ministries for our youth.”
In introducing Julia at Pilgrimage 2025, Matthew Wong, Conference Youth President, prayed, “Thank you for calling [Julia] to serve in this role and for the gifts, passion, and spirit that you have placed within her.”
We invite you to join us in prayer for Julia and the youth of our conference as we continue to grow together in faith and service.
About Julia
Julia Royall Johnson grew up at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smithfield, North Carolina, where she was confirmed in the seventh grade. From a young age, she was deeply engaged in the life of the church, actively participating in youth leadership both at her local congregation and at the conference level. As a youth, she was highly involved in conference youth ministry, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for service and discipleship.
In her early twenties, Julia reconnected with conference youth ministries as a volunteer and began serving with the youth group at Wrightsville United Methodist Church. She later joined the staff at Ann Street United Methodist Church as the Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries. Over the years, Julia has held several leadership roles within the North Carolina Conference, including Harbor District Youth Coordinator, Sound District Youth Coordinator, and Co-Chair of the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM). Her continued involvement reflects a deep commitment to nurturing young people in their faith.
Julia currently serves on the full-time team at Don Lee Camp and Retreat Center, a United Methodist-affiliated camp located on the coast of North Carolina. Her journey with Camp Don Lee and in youth ministry spans decades—beginning as a camper in elementary school, continuing through her years on summer staff, and now in her professional role. With over 20 years of experience in youth ministry at the local, district, and conference levels, Julia brings a deep well of passion, experience, and a servant’s heart to everything she does in service to the youth in this conference.
