Rev. Don Edward Johnson
What do you remember about Rev. Don? Share your stories and photos here, and invite others to come share their memories.
Reverend Don Edward Johnson entered the beginning of life with Jesus, perfected and made holy, on September 24, 2021. Don was born in Memphis, TN on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1936. He was the son of Cody Jefferson Johnson and Mary Lillian Johnson. He leaves two brothers, Gene Johnson, and Ronnie (Bonnie) Johnson, of Memphis, TN and one son, Michael Dalton Johnson, of Charleston, SC. Don is also survived by his wife, Cheryl Stigall Waters Johnson, whom he married in 2005. Don's first wife, Ann Dalton Johnson, passed away in 2002 after 30 years of marriage. Don is a graduate of Central High School, Memphis State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Don was the Chaplain at Kirby Pines Retirement Community where he served over 20 years.
Don's love for the Lord began early in his life. In his teens, he received a trophy from the Bible Memory Association. At 15, he was invited to speak at the Children's Bible Hour on a local Memphis radio station. The following year, he and seven of his friends started a radio program with WMPS on Sunday mornings aimed at preventing juvenile delinquency through faith in Christ. This program was on the air over ten years. It was the beginning of a lifetime of Christian broadcasting, awards and accolades..
Don loved Billy Graham's evangelistic outreach. He always said, "Billy Graham changed my life." At age 13, Don attended Billy Graham's first Memphis area crusade at E. H. Crump Stadium. He had already professed his faith in Christ, however at this event, Don made a commitment to follow Billy Graham's example and enter the Christian Ministry. At the 1957 New York Madison Square Garden Crusade, he met Rev. Billy Graham. In 1963, the young Rev. Don Johnson went on the road, first touring with Rev. Billy Graham and the New Life Movement Crusade, and then on his own with his fully developed national ministry of Teenagers for Christ.
In 1978, Don served as Youth Director for the Memphis Crusade at the Liberty Bowl. After working with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Don said, "In a lifetime we meet only a handful of truly great and noble men. Sometimes those great in God's kingdom walk among us quietly and at times unnoticed. And sometimes they blaze a path that is brilliantly recognizable. Billy Graham was such a man." In the June 15, 1959, issue of Newsweek Magazine, Don was named "The Boy Billy Graham." The similarities are evident, if you knew Don.
He was named God's Man of the Year in Memphis (1956). At the age of eighteen, at Union Avenue Baptist Church in Memphis Don was ordained as a Minister.
This budding young evangelist formed a group called TEENAGERS FOR CHRIST. What started with 7 or 8 teens became an organization of over three hundred in less than one year. Their first endeavor (1954) was a 6-day citywide crusade by teenagers and for teenagers at the old Ellis Auditorium in downtown Memphis. Don and his group of friends canvassed every high school in the city and county. With no adult funding for advertising or anything else, these students worked diligently and recruited friends from the surrounding areas schools to invite their friends.
Fifty-five years later, the original group of teens who worked alongside Don on the first Christmas Crusade for Christ had a going down memory lane reunion. Most were now in their 70s and many answered the call to full-time Christian service. On the first night of the initial crusade, Rev. John Bomar dedicated his life to Christ and joined Teenagers for Christ. He and Don became life-long friends and both served the Lord as pastors.
His love for music led him produce and distribute the beautiful, syndicated music show AFTERGLOW; a blend of inspirational Christian and carefully selected contemporary Christian music. Don always said, "Afterglow can be the most relaxing, restorative hour of your day. The world's noise and chaos can be shut out as you listen to music like you've never heard before." Don often told an inspirational story or gave the history of a piece of music. AFTERGLOW received many national awards over 68 years of broadcasting.
In 1974, Don accepted the position of associate minister at Central Church, a large, growing, non-denominational church in Memphis, TN.
For the past 20 years, Don was the leader/teacher for a Small Group of thirteen men and women who met weekly, in a couples' home, for Bible study and fellowship.
In 1986, on a usual weekend night of dinner out with friends, Don, his late wife Ann, Wynette Jones and her late husband Buck, started discussing the alarming number of unwanted pregnancies in the area. The question came up, "Why doesn't someone do something?" The answer was, "Why not us?" Don and Buck organized the board of directors, hired an executive director, and LIFE CHOICES became a reality! In 1987, Life Choices became a state-licensed child-placing adoption agency. Women who come to Life Choices are met with love and a caring, non-judgmental staff to come alongside them throughout their pregnancy. Not only are their pre-natal health needs met, practical and spiritual needs are also met. In 2007, Life Choices converted to a medical clinic including diagnostic pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical ultrasound under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor and an on-site registered nursing staff. For women who choose life, help is there for them to make a positive plan for her and her baby. Education, intervention and support services for women and families in crisis are also part of the mission of Life Choices. This is the result of four people with a vision and a heart for God! Don maintained a hands-on love for this ministry.
This is but a glimpse into the life of a great man of God! Though he is no longer this side of heaven, stories of Don's life and ministry will live for generations. Everyone who knew him knows he has heard the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of thy Lord. (Matthew 25:23 KJV)
Visitation will be at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119 on Friday, October 1, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with light Refreshments will be served. The Memorial service celebrating his Life will begin at 3:00 p.m.
MASKS are required by ALL individuals attending.
Memorial service will be livestreamed at Memphis Funeral Home's website.
A Celebration of Life Service at Kirby Pines is planned for Wednesday, October 13th at 2 p.m.
Memorials...in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Life Choices of Memphis at 5575 Raleigh Lagrange Road, Memphis, Tn. 38134 or to the charity of choice.
To God be the Glory for those who were privileged to sit under Don's teaching over the years!