My name is Raymond Johnson, I am currently on death row in Oklahoma. I won’t lie and say I’m innocent! That’s not the case. I’m guilty of a horrible crime.
I’ve been in and out of prison all my life! In fact, since 1992, I’ve been free less than 3 years! This is my third bid in prison.
Never would you guess, I was raised as a pastor’s child! At the age of 15 my parents got a divorce, my dad disowned me to not pay child support. It was then I found out he wasn’t my biological dad. My real dad’s identity was kept from me, because he was in prison.
I rebelled, joined a gang, looking for identity, acceptance. At 16, I was in the streets, fully committed to that life, mad at God!
I started catching cases. At 18, I went to prison for petty crimes. I got out in 95′ and was locked back up 9 months later for murder. Did I do it? NO! BUT I COULD’VE STOPPED IT!
Rather than be a snitch, I took the case and kept my mouth closed! That was my dedication to that life.
I spent 10 years in prison. I changed perspectives in life, accepted my calling to be a minister. October 1998 I was ordained. I did Speak Outs for youth and juveniles from prison. I organized effective prison ministries for churches. I reached guys normal people couldn’t reach, because the life I had lived.
I got out in August 2005. I was preaching EVERYWHERE, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas. I was on the radio, on tv. I was blessed to get a Pastor job and still do music as well!
Spiritual wounds…Spiritual betrayals…
I became a mess! In my messed-up state, I found myself in places I shouldn’t be, with people I shouldn’t be with and it wasn’t long, in my mess, bad decisions compounded and I find myself on death row!
No one to blame but self!
My very 1st pen pal, Professor David Waas was a Church of the Brethren. I’ve never met such a man. He helped transform me with love, support, attention, direction. Even in my worse moments, I got the consistent, unconditional love, support, attention and direction. IT NEVER WAIVERED.
He saw me at my best and at my worse, yet he never changed! He never changed!
I became family. He became a great father figure. Not only did I become family, I eventually became a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren. I have Pastor Kurt Borgmann, Pastor Amy Ritchie and a host of saints because of our connection. So the love, support, attention and direction expanded. I found myself accepted on a bigger stage. I found myself with greater purpose on/in my life. I found myself with a great level of accountability because of that purpose and accepted love, BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR ME!
I don’t lie about my situation because I’m a testimony that nobody is beyond redemption!
I don’t pray and say, “God if you let me live, I’ll do this.”
My prayer is, “God, if you let me live, I will *CONTINUE* to live for you!”
My change is my lifestyle now. It is consistent!
As long as I breathe, there is purpose on my life, and I’ll live in that purpose. When I die…{FOR ME} To Be Absent From This Body Is To Be Present With The Lord! I know that WITHOUT WAIVER NOW!
I try to reach people and awaken Spiritual Eyes, for us all to be better, do better, be more inclusive and transformative.
We have to do more than speak change or think change, we have to *BE* CHANGE, SO PEOPLE CAN *SEE* CHANGE AND KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE.
That’s what helped me… and I’m paying it forward.