Denise Johnson- Southern Region

It doesn't take long in a conversation 

with Denise Johnson 

to hear her love for family

and those she serves in ministry. 

From her growing up years north

 of Fort Wayne, Indiana

to the last nineteen years
 as a pastor's wife at St. John's Lutheran

 in Conover, North Carolina,

her life has been people focused.

Denise and her husband, Scott, 

have four children of their own 

and adopted brothers 
from the foster care system. 

Life lessons come along with
 mothering six children

 and questions always arise that 

speak to the heart of all mothers. 

"Am I doing it right?" 

"Am I meeting the needs of all my children?"

Her passion for connections and her experiences 

with the adoption process allows

 her to be an encourager to others

 in the foster care and adoption process.

 A sympathetic ear and understanding

 of the advocacy process

 certainly allows her to be a support to others

 who are "learning along the way."

 Her greatest blessing is raising children

 that work as a unit

 and seeing that it isn't all about ME.

She is savvy enough

 to see the opportunities that Satan 

 uses to grab JOY in the moment-

 when he places the guilt

 in the lives of women of "not enough."

 Part of being an advocate for children in the 

flawed system of adoption

 is learning to be a vocal advocate.

But, that also includes the shaping of heart

 of someone who is learning to "give up control".

It is about a woman that looks at every situation

 and purposely looks for the JOY.

Denise loves her work
 as a Pampered Chef consultant-

and is the 
Director of St. John's Preschool,

Conover, North Carolina.

She is currently organizing the Mission Trip
 this summer that brings members
 of their congregation to serve in Fairbanks, Alaska. 
They will put together a Teen Week for nearby teens.
 This year they will be gathering 13 teens 
from 4 different villages.
The teens come as guests to the camp.
It costs $800 for each teen to attend.
If you are moved to help sponsor a teen
 or make a donation- please contact Denise at: 
sddsjohnson@gmail.com.

Denise will be sharing with us part
 of the story of The Alaskan Teen Camp experience.
She will also be a contributing encourager
 for the Journeys of Faith blog. 
Welcome Denise.