L.O.L.

Elder Sharon Johnson, or "Teacher" as she is affectionately called, is the daughter of the late Bishop Melvin Williams, Sr., and Carrie Williams. Sharon's parents were the most significant influences in her faith journey; their love for God and community was always on display. Their examples of serving those that were poor in spirit and underserved shaped her service to God and the community. Being able to observe as her parents open the doors of their home to the homeless, uneducated, and emotionally disturbed shaped her desire to serve. She watched them minister with loving care. The homeless became homeowners; the uneducated became college professors those that were emotionally disturbed at peace with themselves. As a native of Richmond, Virginia, she matriculated through the Richmond Public School system and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia School of Practical Nursing. Maximizing on the technicalities of the call to ministry, she submitted to training at Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia University, wherein 2017 she earned her Master of Divinity. Sharon was licensed and ordained in 2015 at the Temple of Judah ministries under the esteemed leadership of Bishop Melvin Williams, Jr. As an Associate Minister, her vocation has called her to serve as the Director of Christian Education, Women's Fellowship leader and Sunday School teacher, after school mentor, street ministry worker, and weekend minister to women in Richmond's City Jail. To shield against the sting of winter, she has helped to supply hats and gloves to warm the inner-city school children. Through the church benevolence ministries, she has contributed to feeding thousands in the Richmond vicinity and surrounding counties. As a continuation of servanthood, she assists in the distribution of care packages to inmates in both the inner city, counties, and state penal institutions. With a heartbeat for community outreach, Elder Johnson saw that single mothers and their children were often overlooked and their needs unmet. As a response to a growing crisis, in September 2019, she developed the program, A.R.M. (At-Risk Moms) to assist moms in one of the city's most underserved communities. Utilizing both her platforms and influence, her insightful, thought-provoking leadership inspires and challenges all that she encounters.