Pat Johnson

Podcast: Download (Duration: 20:39 — 11.8MB)

Pat Johnson helps people to create and grow nonprofit organizations as the founder and executive director of Ministry 911, and her journey to this point has been anything but ordinary.

As a child her home was plagued with dysfunction and alcohol. It was such a stressful environment that by age 14, Johnson’s single mother asked her to find another place to live. That moment began a journey for Johnson that she says is not her own, but is a path guided by God.

After meeting a pastor and his wife who became the grandparents she never had, Johnson went to a Bible camp where she met her future husband.

Pat with her husband Finis Johnson

Their first two children died in utero.

Johnson later gave birth to a son who survived the pregnancy but was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. As the couple dealt with a new reality of caring for their ill son, Johnson says she never thought to ask God for a healthy child because she knew God would give her and her husband the children they were meant to have.

In time the family welcomed an adopted daughter to the mix and to this day Johnson becomes emotional when talking about the joy the adoption brought to the family.

Shortly after the adoption, Johnson once again became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, April, who was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Johnson says her children lived on prayer and through that the family enjoyed 16 years with April and more than 30 years with their son.

From reconciling with her own mother to a chance meeting with a neighbor who had been praying for Johnson for 23 years, prayer has been a key component to Johnson’s faith. In that faith she is steadfast and says she has more joy than she knows what to do with.

Find a local cystic fibrosis chapter
Washington
Oregon

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Accredited Care Centers
Washington
Oregon

Cystic Fibrosis Basic Research Center (no link)
University of Washington School of Medicine
Director: E. Peter Greenberg, Ph.D., professor and chairman
Health Sciences Building, G328, Box 357242, 1959 Pacific Street, NE, Seattle, WA 98195-7242