O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together!
I, Melisha Lynette Johnson was born September 20, 1974 to the parents of Alvin and Cecilia Johnson in Waterbury, Connecticut. I am the third child in a family of five siblings: four sisters and one brother. Loving, hard-working and religious parents have nurtured all of my siblings. I was taught the word at an early age. In 1979, my parents relocated to Washington County, Georgia. I accepted Christ as my Lord and savior at the age of 10
Although I was brought up in a God-fearing home, I allowed the devil to deceive me into taking a temporary detour. Let me give you a brief summary of the detour that I took in hopes that it will motivate and encourage you not to do what I did and to those who have already done as I did, let my testimony be a constant reminder that God is still the God of another chance.
- I gave birth to my first child (son) in 1995 as an unwed mother, and was arrested the same year for writing bad checks. I was in and out the same day. I was able to bond out and go home. When I went to court, I was put on probation. This is when the cycle began. It continued like a revolving door. I was always able to bond out and was only given probation or a slap on the wrist.
- In 2002 I was given a two year sentence at the detention center (BOOT
CAMP) for Theft by deception.
- In 2005, I was sentenced to 6 years in prison for repeated charges of theft by deception but only served 16 months between jail and prison time. While I was there, I ministered to inmates and encouraged them to give their lives to the Lord and serve Him. This helped me because while I was encouraging them, I was also encouraging myself.
- As the result of much prayer and fasting by family members and numerous letters to the court system, I was released March 5, 2007 and I can truly testify that I have no desire to ever allow the devil to cause me to take another detour.
I have another child that I love dearly and because of my past behavior and actions, I chose to give her up for adoption. However, I thank God she was adopted by my uncle and his wife and is being trained in the ways of God under the pastorate of Pastor Mack Jackson in Tennille, GA.
In 2007, I rededicated and gave my life wholehearted to God. After being released from prison March 5, 2007, I moved to Augusta in July 2007. I was looking for a good Bible-teaching church where my son and I could grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. My 12 year-old son, Marquess told me about this church: Faith Outreach Christian Life Center. He said Pastor Jackson took him there with St. James Christian Fellowship. He told me Bishop Peoples was the pastor. After inquiring, I found the church.
Through it all, I can truly say that God has been and still is good to me because even with a felony conviction I was able to obtain a good job making a decent salary. Not only do I have a good job, but also I asked for and received Sundays off so that I can go to church and am able to attend the bible study in the evenings.
I thank God for my Pastor Bishop Peoples and his wife, Co Pastor Dr. Janice Peoples. I have learned so much from their teachings and nurturing. Both my son and I, because of my church and my pastors have been given a new lease on life! I know the devil is mad but I am so glad that he missed this soul that he thought he had. I know I have a lot more to learn and a long way to go but I am a better single parent than I was before I became a member of Faith Outreach Christian Life Center. Bishop has taught me how to leave the past behind and not to look back. I have been taught the Law of progression and how to get in a position for increase.
Since being in the church of the living God, I have been taught by several great men of God, namely Pastors Goldwire McLendon, Mack Jackson, Patrick Wilson and now my present pastor, Bishop Richard Peoples and Co- Pastor Dr. Janice Peoples. Because of these great leaders and a godly heritage, I am what I am today, that is blood bought, blood taught, and a blood washed child of Almighty God!
I currently have a prison ministry called Ye Visited Me Ministry. I write letters to inmates that are incarcerated, giving them words of encouragement and I help them write legal letters to the court system. I can say for a certainty that if there is any glory in my life now, let there be no mistake about it: My Glory comes from my Story.
