MOTHER MARY T. JOHNSON

Mary T. Johnson, the Mother of Friendship Apostolic Church of God, Inc., was a beautiful example of a woman in holiness, a supportive wife to her husband, the late Bishop H. M. Johnson, Jr., a melodious songstress of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a missionary of missionaries, an encourager and trainer of the youth, and she loved our Lord Jesus Christ and His people. Mother Johnson was endearingly called “Pen” by Bishop Johnson, which was short for her hometown, Pensacola, Fla., where she was born and raised and received salvation by repenting of her sins, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and receiving the Holy Ghost by calling on the name of Jesus, at an early age at the Lloyd Street Holiness Church.  This was when her life truly began. Mother Johnson and her sister, the late Elder Ernestine Crutcher started the Light of the World A.O.H. Church of God.

 

When the Lord called her husband to pastor, Mother Johnson stood by then, Elder Johnson, as he stepped out on faith and started Friendship A.O.H. Church of God in 1975, always singing before he preached a powerful message of Jesus Christ.  She also encouraged him to continue even when they had no members.  Mother Johnson would often say that when visitors came into the church, she always saw them as future Saints.  She cared deeply for those seeking Jesus by tarrying fervently with them, giving them rides to noonday prayer or opening the church during non-service times for those who desired to call on the name of Jesus.  Mother Johnson also invited novice singers to her home to practice, often instructing them to sing notes loudly with a book on their head or stomach to control their breathing.

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While singing with various choirs and the Horace M. Johnson Chorale at Friendship, a repertoire of Mother Johnson’s songs included, It’s in My Heart, I Heard Him When He Called My Name, I Love That Name Jesus, You’ve Got To Live Forever Somewhere, I Won’t Complain, I’m Ready To Serve The Lord, I’m Running For My Life, I’ve Got Jesus and That’s Enough, My Soul Loves Only You Lord, He’ll Fight My Battles For Me, One Morning Soon – I Heard The Angels Singing, Are You Gonna Let Him Die In Vain, Blessed Assurance, Anywhere in Glory Will Be Alright with Me, and It is Well with My Soul.

 

Frequently, Mother Johnson would testify and say,

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Mother Johnson: “I’ve been running for Jesus a l-o-ong time, and I’m not tired yet! And if anybody ask you what’s the matter with me, what are you going to tell them?”

Friendship: “She’s saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost-filled, and fire-baptized.”

Mother Johnson: “And who do I have on my side?”

Friendship: “Jesus!”

Mother Johnson: “Yes, if you got Jesus on your side, you got it made!”

 

She would also encourage others by saying, “If you keep running for Jesus, He will keep you running.” That’s exactly what Mother Johnson did.  She continued to run on, singing and working for the Lord Jesus Christ, until she could no longer run anymore.  She fought a good fight; she finished her course; she kept the faith! Mother Johnson will be deeply missed by all at Friendship.  We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for allowing her to be a blessing to our church family.

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It’s In My Heart

“It’s in my heart, this melody of love divine. It’s in my heart, since I’m His and He’s mine.  It’s in my heart, how can I help but sing and shout. It’s in my heart, YES, It’s in my heart. Some folks sing to pass the weary nights alone.  Some folks sing to entertain a worldly throne. But, I sing because I worship God in song. It’s in my heart, YES, It’s in my heart. I may not know the skillful use of tongue or pen, to prove my Lord to unbelieving men. But this I know, He’s coming back again. It’s in my heart, YES, It’s in my heart. You ask me how I know that God is real. You ask me how the Savior makes me feel. You ask what makes me wanna jump and shout. I can’t explain it, but I know…It’s in my heart, YES, It’s in my heart.”

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I Heard Him

“I heard Him. I heard, heard Him. I heard Him when He called my name. I was down by the banks of the river. So glad I heard Him. Heard Him when He called my name.  I heard Him, in a song.  He said time won’t be very long. He said, “servant, set your house in order, because your end may come tonight.”  He said, “servant come on unto me, and I will set your poor soul free.”  So glad I heard Him when He called my name.  I was out, way out, in the cold and I couldn’t find my way to the fold. But I heard Him, when He called my name.  I’ve never felt the same, since my God called me by my name. So glad I heard Him, when He called my name.”

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You’ve Got To Be Born Again

“Long ago, I didn’t know nothing about Jesus and His love.  I had heard about it, but I had never felt it, this manna that comes from above. When this life of sin, I could no longer stand, I asked my mother, how could I get to know the Man.  She said you must be, don’t you see, you’ve got to be born again.  If you are a sinner and want to ease your troubled mind. Don’t go to friends, don’t go to loved ones. No help from them you’ll find. When this life of sin, you can no longer stand. Look to Jesus, it’s mighty good to know the Man.  Because you must be, don’t you see, you’ve got to be born again. You must have that fire and Holy Ghost, that burning flame that keeps the prayer wheel turning, that kind of religion, you cannot conceal. It makes you move, makes you shout, makes you cry, YEAH!  Keep your hand right in the winding chain, until your soul’s been anchored in my Jesus’ name. You know I’m filled within, and I’m free from sin, and I know that I’ve been BORN AGAIN!”