You will always be You will always be
workforce, serving as a Chef in a local hotel. She became a skilled cook, and over the workforce, serving as a Chef in a local hotel. She became a skilled cook, and over the course of her life, she was well known for her delicious signature dishes. People are course of her life, she was well known for her delicious signature dishes. People are still coveting her Curry chicken and Potatoes, Pea Soup with Dumplings, Beef Patties, still coveting her Curry chicken and Potatoes, Pea Soup with Dumplings, Beef Patties, and her special American Chop Suey, made on Christmas Eve. and her special American Chop Suey, made on Christmas Eve.
By then, Opal was already the mother of two daughters, Grace and Celia, and it
By then, Opal was already the mother of two daughters, Grace and Celia, and it wouldn’t be long before she would set her sights on the States for a better life for wouldn’t be long before she would set her sights on the States for a better life for them. In 1962, at the age of twenty-two years old, she left the small Island of St. them. In 1962, at the age of twenty-two years old, she left the small Island of St. Thomas, and headed toward a much bigger pond, Boston, Massachusetts. There, her Thomas, and headed toward a much bigger pond, Boston, There, her friend Rita would find her work with Mr. Shorts, a Lawyer. She worked as a Live in friend Rita would find her work with Mr. Shorts, a Lawyer. She worked as a Live in Worker, caring for him and his family. Worker, caring for him and his family.
Once in Massachusetts, Opal met and married Paris Johnson, and they welcomed her
Once in Massachusetts, Opal met and married Paris Johnson, and they welcomed her third daughter, Gwendolyn. She also continued her time in the workforce, working third daughter, Gwendolyn. She also continued her time in the workforce, working as a Nurse’s Aide at Boston City Hospital, before transferring to Jewish Memorial as a Nurse’s Aide at Boston City Hospital, before transferring to Jewish Memorial Hospital in Roxbury Massachusetts, and then the Townsend Nursing home, where Hospital in Roxbury Massachusetts, and then the Townsend Nursing home, where she ended her working career as a Nurse’s Assistant. she ended her working career as a Nurse’s Assistant.
In 1974, Opal was walking in Dudley Square, and there in front of a bank she met
In 1974, Opal was walking in Dudley Square, and there in front of a bank she met Evangelist O’Conner. Evangelist O’Conner was witnessing and passing out tracks, and Evangelist O’Conner. Evangelist O’Conner was witnessing and passing out tracks, and she stopped Opal to talk. This divine encounter would change Opal’s life forever. she stopped Opal to talk. This divine encounter would change Opal’s life forever.
In March of 1975, after months of attending church and dedicating her life to the
In March of 1975, after months of attending church and dedicating her life to the Lord, Opal received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost in her home. Her dear cousin, Lord, Opal received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost in her home. Her dear cousin, Minister Berris Cox was there at the time. And so began her assignment for Christ. Minister Berris Cox was there at the time. And so began her assignment for Christ.
Opalservedonmanychurchboards,andwaspartofthesinginggroup,“TheMighty Opalservedonmanychurchboards,andwaspartofthesinginggroup,“TheMighty DescendantsofTime.”Shewouldalsogoontojoinaprayergroupcalled,“TheFaithfulFewAre DescendantsofTime.”Shewouldalsogoontojoinaprayergroupcalled,“TheFaithfulFewAre PrayingforYou.”Afterathree-dayfastcalledbyMinisterRogers,herfullassignmentwould PrayingforYou.”Afterathree-dayfastcalledbyMinisterRogers,herfullassignmentwould comeintoview.Whenthefastwascompleted,GodgrantedOpalwithaspecialgift,thepowerof comeintoview.Whenthefastwascompleted,GodgrantedOpalwithaspecialgift,thepowerof healinghands. healinghands.
IIn1977,OpalwasordainedasalicensedEvangelistwhileshewasfaithfullyservingasa n1977,OpalwasordainedasalicensedEvangelistwhileshewasfaithfullyservingasa memberofBethelHighwayChurchofChristinDorchester,Massachusetts.Shewasunderthe memberofBethelHighwayChurchofChristinDorchester,Massachusetts.Shewasunderthe lleadershipofBishopJamesJohnsonandremainedamemberofBethelHighwaythroughouther eadershipofBishopJamesJohnsonandremainedamemberofBethelHighwaythroughouther llife,alsoservingasNationalMotheroftheHighwayChurchofChristOrganization.Shereceived ife,alsoservingasNationalMotheroftheHighwayChurchofChristOrganization.Shereceived numerousawardsforherworkintheorganization,sometoincludefaithfulnessinthe numerousawardsforherworkintheorganization,sometoincludefaithfulnessinthe organization,andabuildingfundaward.Opalknewhowtoraisemoney! organization,andabuildingfundaward.Opalknewhowtoraisemoney!
Opalwentontoministeracrossdifferentstates,includingherhomeinMassachusetts,whereshe Opalwentontoministeracrossdifferentstates,includingherhomeinMassachusetts,whereshe wasknownforherengagingmessagesthatdidn’tholdbackanypunches.Shewouldtellyoulike wasknownforherengagingmessagesthatdidn’tholdbackanypunches.Shewouldtellyoulike iitis,soyoucouldunderstandit.Shelaidhandsonthesickandbrokenhearted,andmanywere tis,soyoucouldunderstandit.Shelaidhandsonthesickandbrokenhearted,andmanywere healedthroughthepowerofJesusChrist.Opalalwayssaid,Jesuswasthehealer,shewasjustthe healedthroughthepowerofJesusChrist.Opalalwayssaid,Jesuswasthehealer,shewasjustthe vessel. vessel.
Opalwasagreatcounselor,adevoutwitness,andwaswellknownforherprayerlife.People Opalwasagreatcounselor,adevoutwitness,andwaswellknownforherprayerlife.People ffromalloverwouldsendtheirlovedonestoherwhensomeoneneededprayer.Althoughshe romalloverwouldsendtheirlovedonestoherwhensomeoneneededprayer.Althoughshe wasstrickenwithmanyailmentsoverherlife overseventeensurgeries,andsixboutswith wasstrickenwithmanyailmentsoverherlife overseventeensurgeries,andsixboutswith cancer shealwaystookthetime,nomatterhowshewasfeeling,toprayforanyoneinneed cancer shealwaystookthetime,nomatterhowshewasfeeling,toprayforanyoneinneed andlendherwordsofwisdom.Whenshewasnolongerphysicallyabletofrequentlygooutand andlendherwordsofwisdom.Whenshewasnolongerphysicallyabletofrequentlygooutand prayforpeople,shestartedaprayerlinewhereshecontinuedtoprayandministertopeople prayforpeople,shestartedaprayerlinewhereshecontinuedtoprayandministertopeople overthephone.Upuntilthedayshewoulddepartthislife,Opalwaspraying. overthephone.Upuntilthedayshewoulddepartthislife,Opalwaspraying.
Opal’sstorylivesonbecause,inAprilofthisyear,sheadded“Author”tohermanytitles.With Opal’sstorylivesonbecause,inAprilofthisyear,sheadded“Author”tohermanytitles.With tthehelpofhergranddaughter,Lorraine,theaccountswritteninherjournalaboutherwalkwith hehelpofhergranddaughter,Lorraine,theaccountswritteninherjournalaboutherwalkwith God,herjourneyofreceivingthegiftofhealinghands,andthemiraculousstoriesofthepeople God,herjourneyofreceivingthegiftofhealinghands,andthemiraculousstoriesofthepeople she’sprayedforwhowerehealed,wasturnedintoabook
she’sprayedforwhowerehealed,wasturnedintoabook
Prayer.ByEvangelistOpalJohnson. Prayer.ByEvangelistOpalJohnson.
Opalfoughtthegoodfight.Shefinishedhercourse.Shekeptthefaith.Henceforth,acrownof Opalfoughtthegoodfight.Shefinishedhercourse.Shekeptthefaith.Henceforth,acrownof righteousness,thattheLord,therighteousjudge,willgive,hasnowbeengiventoheringlory(2 righteousness,thattheLord,therighteousjudge,willgive,hasnowbeengiventoheringlory(2 Timothy4:6-8). Timothy4:6-8).
