Born on August 20, 1965, in Buffalo, New York, John Harrison Young is the son of the late Reverend Guy J. Graves, Sr. and Marion Y. Young. His journey of faith, leadership, and innovation has made a lasting impact in ministry, media, and the lives of countless individuals.

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A 1983 graduate of the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, John continued his education at Erie Community College and later pursued studies in Business Administration and Biblical Studies through Liberty University’s distance learning program.

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John accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in 1973 at Antioch Baptist Church under the leadership of his father, the late Rev. Guy J. Graves, Sr. From a young age, he was deeply involved in church ministry. At just 11 years old, he became the church pianist, and by age 14, he was appointed Minister of Music, overseeing five choirs.

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At 15, John acknowledged his call to preach and was licensed as a minister in April 1981 by the late Rev. William A. Bunton, Jr. He was ordained on September 29, 1986, by a council of Baptist ministers at Open Door Missionary Baptist Church under the late Rev. Calvin D. Bowman.

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His passion for media ministry emerged in 1987 with the launch of Oh Give Thanks, a weekly television program that aired locally until 1991. In 1991, he founded Totally Gospel Network, which began as a  weekend radio show that evolved into a daily broadcast on WHLD-AM 1270 and later expanded to WHTT-AM 1120. In 1997, he pioneered Heaven 1120, Buffalo's first full-time Black Gospel radio station—a platform that thrived for over 15 years and expanded again in 2006 to a 24 hour - 7 station radio network that served Buffalo, NY, Minneapolis MN, Winterhaven, Fl, and Pine Bluff AR.

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Throughout his ministry, John continued to serve in music and evangelism. He traveled nationally with the late Rev. John Robertson of Go Tell It Ministries and held key Minister of Music roles at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, Buffalo, NY and Mount Olive Baptist Church, Lackawanna, NY. His leadership in music extended to the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship of Western New York as District Minister of Music in 1996.

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John was called to serve as Interim Pastor of Unity Baptist Church in 1986 and later became the pastor of Monument of Faith Baptist Church in 1988. In 1997, he was called to lead United Church of Faith. In 2001, he founded Fellowship Christian Center (now FellowshipWorld), a multicultural ministry rooted in outreach, empowerment, and spiritual growth.

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Under his leadership, FellowshipWorld acquired and renovated a 19,000 sq. ft. facility that housed worship services, a credit union, multicultural ministries, and media production. In 2013, the church broke convention by relocating worship services to a Regal Cinema, demonstrating their commitment to reach the unchurched with the message, “It’s not where you worship, but Who you worship.” In 2015, the ministry purchased its current home at 878 Humboldt Parkway and proudly celebrated paying off its mortgage in 2020.

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A visionary communicator, John Young has produced a gospel music CD, authored 365 Days of Change, and hosted the nationally syndicated Morning Worship Club on the Totally Gospel Radio Network. He also created two dynamic preaching programs—Morning Manna and Fellowship with John Young—and continues to minister online weekly.

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John is the proud father of eight children: Rayshawn, Jazeman, John Jr., Larry, Brandi, Terrell, Dejon, and Torri. He is also the loving grandfather of fifteen beautiful grandchildren and 1 Great Grandchild.