Another Watchman

By Charles Peter Johnson with Kristin Vincenzes (Johnson)

As we walk through life, our Lord and Savior designs a path for us to take in order to serve Him and His people. Many of us wonder where our stories fit into the grand scheme of God's almighty plan and perhaps even question our calling. This collection of essays focuses on the calling of a preacher's journey, both stateside and internationally. While these experiences are not always grandiose, they illustrate how God works in mysterious ways even amidst our normal daily lives.

Charles P. Johnson and Kristin Vincenzes (Johnson) offer stories that demonstrate God's work in an ordinary man's life. They invite you to walk with Charles as he shares an honest account of his calling to be a watchman for God's people. They also invite you to consider your own spiritual journey as you read practical meditations focused on living a life filled with grace, joy, worship, and faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639034802

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Another Watchman

Charles Peter Johnson with Kristin Vincenzes (Johnson)

ISBN 978-1-63903-479-6 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-480-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Charles Peter Johnson & Kristin Vincenzes (Johnson)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Autobiography

Preface

Introduction

Genesis

Grace

Inspiration Point

He Knows Our Need

Affirmation

Walking in the Light

First Reformed Church, Meservey, Iowa, 1957–1960

First Things

Easter Morning

Will I Make It?

Gray Hawk Reformed Church, Gray Hawk, Kentucky, 1960–1966

Baptism by Immersion

A Great Splash

How Great Was Their Need

A Worship Surprise

Out of the Miry Clay

Peapack Reformed Church, Gladstone, New Jersey, 1966–1973

A Noble Calling

A Ripple Effect

Thy Will Be Done

The Community Church, Harrington Park, New Jersey, 1973–1992

In the Hands of the Lord

From Lagos to Owerri

The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways

Amazon Calling

Craig the Conqueror

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Turning Point

The Protestant Church in Oman, 1992–1994

An Arabian Experience

Scorpions, Snakes, and Geckos

Expecting the Unexpected

The Elephant in the Room

Vellore

Yemen

Finished and Refinished

On To…

The Evangelical Church of Bahrain, Bahrain, September 1996–April 1997

Kingdom to Kingdom

No Barriers with God

Word Power

Prayer for Pennsylvania State Senate

Lessons Learned

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The Lion and the Lamb

Endeavor to Persevere

Promises

Protector, Teacher, and Leader

Blessed

Peace like a River

Onward

Meditations

It Is Inexplicable

Joy

The Benefits of Worship

The Hope of Glory

The Lepers Call

Word Power

Heart Core

Healing Power

Grace and Gratitude

Anxiety: The Cure

Advent Hope

A Tenacious Faith

Adversity and the Champion

You Have a Calling

Crossroads

In Darkness, There Is Light

Priority Matters

The Big Question

How Can You Run with the Horses?

My Tribute

Conclusion

Afterword

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Dedicated to the family and friends, who with their endless encouragement and prayers, have made this book a reality.

Sola Deo Gloria

When We See Christ

Esther Kerr Rusthoi

Sometimes the day seems long,

Our trials hard to bear.

We're tempted to complain,

to murmur, and despair.

But Christ will soon appear

to catch his bride away!

All tears forever over

in God's eternal day!

Chorus

It will be worth it all

when we see Jesus!

Life's trials will seem so small

when we see Christ.

One glimpse of his dear face,

all sorrow will erase.

So bravely run the race

till we see Christ.

At times the sky seems dark,

with not a ray of light;

We're tossed and driven on,

no human help in sight.

But there is One in heaven,

Who knows our deepest care;

Let Jesus solve your problems,

just go to him in prayer.

Chorus

Life's day will soon be o'er,

all storms forever past;

We'll cross the great divide

to glory, safe at last!

We'll share the joys of heaven:

a harp, a home, a crown;

The tempter will be banished,

We'll lay our burdens down.

It will be worth it all

when we see Jesus!

Life's trials will seem so small

when we see Christ.

One glimpse of his dear face,

all sorrow will erase.

So bravely run the race

till we see Christ.

Autobiography

I, Charles Johnson, was born on January 10, 1931, in Wyandotte, Michigan. I was the oldest of four children. At the age of seven, I moved to Allen Park, Michigan, where I spent the rest of my years growing up. During my childhood, my favorite sport was baseball, which took me on various journeys, some of which I will share later. In 1949, I graduated high school and went directly to the navy recruiting office to enlist. Unfortunately, I did not pass the physical requirements to enter the service. God had another plan for me!

After that, I worked for a year on Cadillac bodies at Fleetwood Body in Detroit, Michigan. During my work days, I always carried a Bible with me, and I would talk to people who wanted to learn more about the Lord. Throughout my employment at Fleetwood Body, I was able to save enough money to attend college. I was the first person in my family to attend college. Originally, I was thinking about being a choir director or an aeronautical engineer. But after talking with my pastor, I felt called to ministry. I decided to attend Hope College in Michigan and graduated in 1954 with a major in psychology and minors in English and music.

Directly after graduating with my bachelor's degree, I went into a masters of divinity degree at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. I graduated three years later in 1957. I was licensed by my home church in Allen Park and then ordained in the First Reformed Church in Meservey, Iowa. This was my first ministry service from 1957 to 1960. I further served congregations in Gray Hawk, Kentucky (1960–1966), Gladstone, New Jersey (1966–1973), Harrington Park, New Jersey (1973–1992), Oman (1992–1994), Bahrain (September 1996–April 1997), and back to Oman (September 2000–April 2001). After my final service in Oman, I was invited to serve part-time on the staff at First United Methodist Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the Trinity United Methodist Church in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and the Oval United Methodist Church in Oval, Pennsylvania. Throughout my journey, I completed nine different mission trips all around the world. After fifty-four years of ministry, I retired on December 31, 1994. While I couldn't fully hang up my hat of serving the Lord, I opted to be pulpit supply when needed to, primarily Methodist and Presbyterian churches around the Williamsport, Pennsylvania area.

While serving the Lord was my calling, I am a devout husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. On June 12, 1953, I married my love, Donna Huss. Through each year of my seminary school, we birthed our first three children: Steve (1954), Eric (1955), and Denni (1956). Our last child, Philip, was born two years later in 1958. Furthermore, we fostered a child, Betty Jo Holland, for seven years. During our journey, the original family of seven (Charles, Donna, the four kids, and one foster child) grew to a family of fifty-one. Donna and I currently have fourteen grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren. I was blessed to officiate at the weddings of all of my children and thirteen of my grandchildren. I further baptized all four of my kids, all fourteen grandchildren, and four of my great-grandchildren. Finally, I was blessed to walk with one of my great-grandsons, Braden, through his confirmation journey. Wow, what amazing blessings God has given me!

Preface

Several people have asked me, and I've wondered myself, Why this book? It was not to show off. I was not a great scholar. I was not a mighty spiritual man. I was not a noted theologian. In fact, I was and still am a simple man on a journey, seeking to serve my Lord and Savior. I wanted to share what God has been doing with my life. Throughout my time, I've made many mistakes, some even painful. Through it all, God picked me up, dusted me off, and set me on the journey again. So this has been the journey of an ordinary (sometimes reluctant) man in the hands of an almighty and extraordinary God.

This book includes various journeys and messages from God. The first several sections include experiences that I felt were pivotal in my journey toward becoming closer with the Lord and Jesus Christ. I have also included letters from family and close friends, as well as some pictures that capture some of my experiences throughout this lifelong journey. The last section consists of meditations that are distilled from my sermons. As you read, I invite you to walk with me on this sojourn of faith.

Sola fide!

Charles P. Johnson

Introduction

My grandpa Johnson, whom I never met, died the year after I was born. He was a watchman at a factory near Detroit, Michigan. He stood tall and wore a uniform in which a very impressive badge was located directly over his heart. He checked people as they entered and exited the factory. Just as he was a watchman, the Lord graciously aided in my journey of becoming a watchman as well. He blessed and called me to stand at the gate of His kingdom clad in the garment of righteousness. Throughout this book are a few accounts of where this assignment has taken me.

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people. (Ezekiel 3:17, 27)

Part 1

Genesis

Grace

Grace was my mother's name. I was born in Wyandotte, Michigan, in my parents' bed. Not only did Grace, my mother, bring me into this world, but grace also carried me through the rest of my life. At the age of seven, we moved to a new home in the village of Allen Park, Michigan. It was there that I grew up and lived the rest of my life until I left for Hope College in Holland, Michigan, at the age of twenty.

During my younger years, there were three things that defined my life: baseball, airplanes, and music. All this was under the umbrella of church. What I mean by that is that church always came first. My mother began playing the piano/organ for church when she was twelve and continued playing until she was just past ninety. This meant that when she went to church, we went with her. When she directed in the choir, we sang in the choir. That was my introduction to the church music world.

Baseball was another story. Mom's younger brother, Uncle Bill, excelled in baseball. He was known all over the area for his pitching. It's hard to tell how