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00:00:01 I’m so happy to welcome today 00:00:03 a very dear friend of mine, 00:00:05 Brother Robert P. Johnson. 00:00:07 R. P., welcome to the program. 00:00:10 Thank you, Mark. 00:00:11 I appreciate being here. 00:00:12 Now, you’re here, R.P., 00:00:15 because you are a wonderful example 00:00:18 of someone who’s had a life 00:00:20 filled with blessings in Jehovah’s service. 00:00:23 OK. 00:00:24 So I know that your family goes way back in the truth. 00:00:26 Yes. 00:00:27 In fact, I understand that your great grandfather 00:00:31 learned the truth in Brother Russell’s time, even before 1914. 00:00:34 That’s right! 00:00:35 So that means you’re a fourth-generation Witness. 00:00:38 Mm-hm. 00:00:39 But now, like so many who are watching our program, 00:00:42 you were a little boy growing up in a congregation of Jehovah’s people. 00:00:47 So how did you come to the decision that you wanted 00:00:50 to dedicate your life to serve Jehovah and then get baptized? 00:00:56 Well, Mark, thinking back, I can identify 00:00:59 at least two outstanding influences in my life. 00:01:03 And the first was my parents. 00:01:07 Having that heritage in the truth helped me. 00:01:10 I was just an average kid in my early years. 00:01:14 But the parents instilled in me a desire 00:01:19 to please Jehovah and make it my life to do that. 00:01:24 They set goals before me. 00:01:26 They taught me the truth. 00:01:28 I learned enough from them to be able 00:01:30 to make a dedication to Jehovah God 00:01:33 and to have a close relationship with him. 00:01:35 And so early on, that’s what I did. 00:01:40 I remember that evening after supper 00:01:43 in my bedroom 00:01:46 praying to Jehovah to accept my dedication. 00:01:50 The date was May 25, 1949. 00:01:54 I was 11 years old at the time. 00:01:57 I told my parents, and they were happy, 00:02:01 but they just wanted me to wait longer to make sure 00:02:04 especially how I would handle the teenage years 00:02:08 and so on, so I waited. 00:02:11 And so then when did the moment come for you to finally get baptized? 00:02:15 It was at the 1953 international convention 00:02:20 in Yankee Stadium in New York 00:02:23 on July 22, 1953, when I was baptized. 00:02:28 And again, I remember that like it was yesterday. 00:02:31 When I came up out of the water, 00:02:33 I thanked Jehovah that finally, 00:02:37 “I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses!” 00:02:40 and I also, like a child, added, 00:02:44 “You can bring the end anytime now.” 00:02:48 So you mentioned your parents, the good influence they had on you, 00:02:52 but was there another influence on you that helped you? 00:02:55 Yes. 00:02:57 At the 1953 convention, Brother Knorr had identified 00:03:01 that there would be a special program 00:03:04 for training people in the truth. 00:03:07 And from the congregation, there was a brother 00:03:10 of the anointed named Charles Richardson, 00:03:13 and my father asked Brother Richardson 00:03:16 to train me in this training program. 00:03:20 And Brother Richardson 00:03:22 was a mentor to me for the next five years of my life. 00:03:25 Over the years, he helped me 00:03:28 view the ministry as an opportunity 00:03:31 to help people develop a relationship with Jehovah 00:03:36 and, therefore, to reach out to them 00:03:39 in teaching them the truth —the doctrinal truth— 00:03:42 but to help them to see that Jehovah is a real person. 00:03:45 And he helped me to enjoy the ministry. 00:03:50 That is what has kept me happy 00:03:53 in Jehovah’s service down to this day. 00:03:57 Now, just from your expressions and what you talked about with me before, 00:04:01 I could see that this Brother Richardson 00:04:04 had a tremendous impact on your life. 00:04:06 And I think, R.P., it really made you 00:04:09 want to be a trainer of other people 00:04:12 because that’s how I first met you, right? 00:04:14 Right. Right. 00:04:16 You were the brother assigned to be my trainer 00:04:18 when I came to the Service Department. 00:04:20 I remember that fondly. 00:04:21 And I know that I’m not the only one. 00:04:24 I mean, you’ve really spent your whole life training other people. 00:04:28 Well, it’s been a privilege. 00:04:30 And I was trained; I was helped along the way. 00:04:34 I was nobody special, but Jehovah 00:04:37 has extended undeserved kindness to me 00:04:40 and made all these things possible. 00:04:43 So there’s no excuse for me not passing along the baton. 00:04:47 And it’s a delight for me to see others carry it. 00:04:52 So now, let’s come back. 00:04:55 You’re 15 years old. 00:04:56 You get baptized at Yankee Stadium, 00:04:58 and now as a result of being baptized at this age, 00:05:03 how do you feel you benefited? 00:05:05 For one thing, 00:05:07 if you know what you want to do and you stay focused on it, 00:05:12 it makes it easier to deal with whatever challenges come later. 00:05:16 And so being dedicated 00:05:20 and baptized early in life 00:05:24 helped me to stay focused on the truth. 00:05:28 I still remember that dedication. 00:05:32 It means something to me, 00:05:34 and I tried to make it mean something to others 00:05:39 (for as young as they can possibly make it). 00:05:42 And they’ll find the same thing I found: 00:05:45 Jehovah’s blessing will be with them. 00:05:47 So now, at 15, 00:05:49 what doors start to open up? 00:05:51 What opportunities come to you because you are a baptized brother? 00:05:54 At age 17, I was appointed as a ministerial servant. 00:05:59 I started pioneering right out of high school at age 18. 00:06:04 And serving where the need was greater, 00:06:08 I got a chance to work at starting a new congregation. 00:06:12 And so at 21, 00:06:14 I was congregation servant, or an elder, at that point. 00:06:17 Then there was a need: 00:06:20 The organization was looking for brothers who could do traveling work. 00:06:24 So at age 25, I had the privilege 00:06:28 of being a traveling overseer. 00:06:30 So now, how did you feel being an elder at 21? 00:06:34 being a circuit overseer at 25? 00:06:36 Was it a little bit overwhelming at such a young age? 00:06:38 I was scared. 00:06:42 I knew the truth, 00:06:45 but I was uncertain about myself, 00:06:49 but then I also knew Jehovah would help me. 00:06:52 I learned a lot as a young traveling overseer, and I thank Jehovah 00:06:57 that the people in the circuits that I served 00:07:02 endured those three years that I was with them. 00:07:06 But now, those were the challenges, 00:07:09 but what do you see as being the benefits of being a young traveling overseer? 00:07:15 For the congregation, they had somebody 00:07:17 who could stay out in field service long hours. 00:07:21 And also 00:07:24 the younger traveling overseer could relate 00:07:27 to the young people 00:07:29 and the younger adults in the congregation. 00:07:33 There were other benefits that even today different ones 00:07:38 that I served in earlier circuits bring forth to me. 00:07:42 For example, after having a good time in field service 00:07:46 and then the meetings, I would do recreational things with the kids. 00:07:51 And we ran track 00:07:54 out in the streets, 00:07:57 and we played board games, 00:07:59 softball, basketball, 00:08:03 and then we had good times just talking about the truth 00:08:07 and also talking 00:08:10 about how you can put your ministry first, 00:08:13 and there’s plenty of time for seeking a mate later. 00:08:18 So now, for a time, you were serving as a single brother, 00:08:21 but at some point, that changed. 00:08:24 When did that happen? 00:08:26 I have enjoyed the best of two worlds. 00:08:29 I enjoyed singleness and the blessings Jehovah gave me. 00:08:34 But when I was 28 years old, 00:08:39 I married a beautiful pioneer sister, 00:08:42 and I had already gotten adjusted in my circuit work. 00:08:46 This was my second circuit. 00:08:48 So, thanks to Jehovah, 00:08:50 we were able to be married, and to this day 00:08:54 Gracie and I continue in full-time service 00:08:57 after 52 years of marriage. 00:08:59 So R.P., 00:09:02 you started with circuit work, and then later you went on to district work. 00:09:06 Right. 00:09:07 And then you were teaching the Kingdom Ministry School. 00:09:09 Mm-hm. 00:09:10 And then you got invited to Bethel. 00:09:12 Right. 00:09:13 And 31 years at Bethel, right? 00:09:16 Oh, yes. 00:09:17 And now you and Gracie are doing special pioneer work. 00:09:21 Right, in Orlando, Florida. 00:09:23 So you have more than 60 years of full-time service to Jehovah. 00:09:30 It’s because of Jehovah’s blessing, 00:09:32 and it’s made me happy. 00:09:35 So the question I want to ask you is: 00:09:37 When you’re looking back now to these 60 wonderful years 00:09:41 —more than 60 wonderful years— 00:09:44 what would you say to young people who are facing the same decision 00:09:49 that you faced when you were a little boy growing up in the truth? 00:09:53 It’s the best thing I could’ve done with my life, 00:09:56 and I had many opportunities. 00:10:00 Jehovah blessed my humble efforts 00:10:04 as he has blessed you and others too. 00:10:08 The young people today 00:10:10 have even more opportunities 00:10:13 because Jehovah’s organization under the leadership of Jesus Christ 00:10:17 is expanding and moving fast. 00:10:21 And, like Brother Richardson taught me, 00:10:25 if you just make yourself available, 00:10:27 then the organization 00:10:30 will find a place for you and use you, 00:10:33 and that’s so true today. 00:10:36 One of my greatest joys is to see the young people 00:10:40 take the baton and run with it, 00:10:43 and I have no regrets. 00:10:47 There’s been no challenge 00:10:50 that has overwhelmed me and made me regret things. 00:10:53 There were challenges, of course, 00:10:55 but with Jehovah’s help, well, I’m here today. 00:10:59 And that can be true of our young people. 00:11:04 So seize the opportunity while you’re young 00:11:08 and experience the blessing 00:11:11 that Jehovah gives those who serve him from youth onward. 00:11:17 R.P., it has been such a wonderful joy 00:11:19 to have you here on this program 00:11:22 and to hear about your life filled with joy, 00:11:25 your life filled with blessings, 00:11:28 all because of the decision you made just as a little boy 00:11:31 to dedicate your life to Jehovah and get baptized. 00:11:35 Thank you so much. 00:11:36 Thank you. I appreciate talking about it.
00:00:01 I’m so happy to welcome today 00:00:03 a very dear friend of mine, 00:00:05 Brother Robert P. Johnson. 00:00:07 R. P., welcome to the program. 00:00:10 Thank you, Mark. 00:00:11 I appreciate being here. 00:00:12 Now, you’re here, R.P., 00:00:15 because you are a wonderful example 00:00:18 of someone who’s had a life 00:00:20 filled with blessings in Jehovah’s service. 00:00:23 OK. 00:00:24 So I know that your family goes way back in the truth. 00:00:26 Yes. 00:00:27 In fact, I understand that your great grandfather 00:00:31 learned the truth in Brother Russell’s time, even before 1914. 00:00:34 That’s right! 00:00:35 So that means you’re a fourth-generation Witness. 00:00:38 Mm-hm. 00:00:39 But now, like so many who are watching our program, 00:00:42 you were a little boy growing up in a congregation of Jehovah’s people. 00:00:47 So how did you come to the decision that you wanted 00:00:50 to dedicate your life to serve Jehovah and then get baptized? 00:00:56 Well, Mark, thinking back, I can identify 00:00:59 at least two outstanding influences in my life. 00:01:03 And the first was my parents. 00:01:07 Having that heritage in the truth helped me. 00:01:10 I was just an average kid in my early years. 00:01:14 But the parents instilled in me a desire 00:01:19 to please Jehovah and make it my life to do that. 00:01:24 They set goals before me. 00:01:26 They taught me the truth. 00:01:28 I learned enough from them to be able 00:01:30 to make a dedication to Jehovah God 00:01:33 and to have a close relationship with him. 00:01:35 And so early on, that’s what I did. 00:01:40 I remember that evening after supper 00:01:43 in my bedroom 00:01:46 praying to Jehovah to accept my dedication. 00:01:50 The date was May 25, 1949. 00:01:54 I was 11 years old at the time. 00:01:57 I told my parents, and they were happy, 00:02:01 but they just wanted me to wait longer to make sure 00:02:04 especially how I would handle the teenage years 00:02:08 and so on, so I waited. 00:02:11 And so then when did the moment come for you to finally get baptized? 00:02:15 It was at the 1953 international convention 00:02:20 in Yankee Stadium in New York 00:02:23 on July 22, 1953, when I was baptized. 00:02:28 And again, I remember that like it was yesterday. 00:02:31 When I came up out of the water, 00:02:33 I thanked Jehovah that finally, 00:02:37 “I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses!” 00:02:40 and I also, like a child, added, 00:02:44 “You can bring the end anytime now.” 00:02:48 So you mentioned your parents, the good influence they had on you, 00:02:52 but was there another influence on you that helped you? 00:02:55 Yes. 00:02:57 At the 1953 convention, Brother Knorr had identified 00:03:01 that there would be a special program 00:03:04 for training people in the truth. 00:03:07 And from the congregation, there was a brother 00:03:10 of the anointed named Charles Richardson, 00:03:13 and my father asked Brother Richardson 00:03:16 to train me in this training program. 00:03:20 And Brother Richardson 00:03:22 was a mentor to me for the next five years of my life. 00:03:25 Over the years, he helped me 00:03:28 view the ministry as an opportunity 00:03:31 to help people develop a relationship with Jehovah 00:03:36 and, therefore, to reach out to them 00:03:39 in teaching them the truth —the doctrinal truth— 00:03:42 but to help them to see that Jehovah is a real person. 00:03:45 And he helped me to enjoy the ministry. 00:03:50 That is what has kept me happy 00:03:53 in Jehovah’s service down to this day. 00:03:57 Now, just from your expressions and what you talked about with me before, 00:04:01 I could see that this Brother Richardson 00:04:04 had a tremendous impact on your life. 00:04:06 And I think, R.P., it really made you 00:04:09 want to be a trainer of other people 00:04:12 because that’s how I first met you, right? 00:04:14 Right. Right. 00:04:16 You were the brother assigned to be my trainer 00:04:18 when I came to the Service Department. 00:04:20 I remember that fondly. 00:04:21 And I know that I’m not the only one. 00:04:24 I mean, you’ve really spent your whole life training other people. 00:04:28 Well, it’s been a privilege. 00:04:30 And I was trained; I was helped along the way. 00:04:34 I was nobody special, but Jehovah 00:04:37 has extended undeserved kindness to me 00:04:40 and made all these things possible. 00:04:43 So there’s no excuse for me not passing along the baton. 00:04:47 And it’s a delight for me to see others carry it. 00:04:52 So now, let’s come back. 00:04:55 You’re 15 years old. 00:04:56 You get baptized at Yankee Stadium, 00:04:58 and now as a result of being baptized at this age, 00:05:03 how do you feel you benefited? 00:05:05 For one thing, 00:05:07 if you know what you want to do and you stay focused on it, 00:05:12 it makes it easier to deal with whatever challenges come later. 00:05:16 And so being dedicated 00:05:20 and baptized early in life 00:05:24 helped me to stay focused on the truth. 00:05:28 I still remember that dedication. 00:05:32 It means something to me, 00:05:34 and I tried to make it mean something to others 00:05:39 (for as young as they can possibly make it). 00:05:42 And they’ll find the same thing I found: 00:05:45 Jehovah’s blessing will be with them. 00:05:47 So now, at 15, 00:05:49 what doors start to open up? 00:05:51 What opportunities come to you because you are a baptized brother? 00:05:54 At age 17, I was appointed as a ministerial servant. 00:05:59 I started pioneering right out of high school at age 18. 00:06:04 And serving where the need was greater, 00:06:08 I got a chance to work at starting a new congregation. 00:06:12 And so at 21, 00:06:14 I was congregation servant, or an elder, at that point. 00:06:17 Then there was a need: 00:06:20 The organization was looking for brothers who could do traveling work. 00:06:24 So at age 25, I had the privilege 00:06:28 of being a traveling overseer. 00:06:30 So now, how did you feel being an elder at 21? 00:06:34 being a circuit overseer at 25? 00:06:36 Was it a little bit overwhelming at such a young age? 00:06:38 I was scared. 00:06:42 I knew the truth, 00:06:45 but I was uncertain about myself, 00:06:49 but then I also knew Jehovah would help me. 00:06:52 I learned a lot as a young traveling overseer, and I thank Jehovah 00:06:57 that the people in the circuits that I served 00:07:02 endured those three years that I was with them. 00:07:06 But now, those were the challenges, 00:07:09 but what do you see as being the benefits of being a young traveling overseer? 00:07:15 For the congregation, they had somebody 00:07:17 who could stay out in field service long hours. 00:07:21 And also 00:07:24 the younger traveling overseer could relate 00:07:27 to the young people 00:07:29 and the younger adults in the congregation. 00:07:33 There were other benefits that even today different ones 00:07:38 that I served in earlier circuits bring forth to me. 00:07:42 For example, after having a good time in field service 00:07:46 and then the meetings, I would do recreational things with the kids. 00:07:51 And we ran track 00:07:54 out in the streets, 00:07:57 and we played board games, 00:07:59 softball, basketball, 00:08:03 and then we had good times just talking about the truth 00:08:07 and also talking 00:08:10 about how you can put your ministry first, 00:08:13 and there’s plenty of time for seeking a mate later. 00:08:18 So now, for a time, you were serving as a single brother, 00:08:21 but at some point, that changed. 00:08:24 When did that happen? 00:08:26 I have enjoyed the best of two worlds. 00:08:29 I enjoyed singleness and the blessings Jehovah gave me. 00:08:34 But when I was 28 years old, 00:08:39 I married a beautiful pioneer sister, 00:08:42 and I had already gotten adjusted in my circuit work. 00:08:46 This was my second circuit. 00:08:48 So, thanks to Jehovah, 00:08:50 we were able to be married, and to this day 00:08:54 Gracie and I continue in full-time service 00:08:57 after 52 years of marriage. 00:08:59 So R.P., 00:09:02 you started with circuit work, and then later you went on to district work. 00:09:06 Right. 00:09:07 And then you were teaching the Kingdom Ministry School. 00:09:09 Mm-hm. 00:09:10 And then you got invited to Bethel. 00:09:12 Right. 00:09:13 And 31 years at Bethel, right? 00:09:16 Oh, yes. 00:09:17 And now you and Gracie are doing special pioneer work. 00:09:21 Right, in Orlando, Florida. 00:09:23 So you have more than 60 years of full-time service to Jehovah. 00:09:30 It’s because of Jehovah’s blessing, 00:09:32 and it’s made me happy. 00:09:35 So the question I want to ask you is: 00:09:37 When you’re looking back now to these 60 wonderful years 00:09:41 —more than 60 wonderful years— 00:09:44 what would you say to young people who are facing the same decision 00:09:49 that you faced when you were a little boy growing up in the truth? 00:09:53 It’s the best thing I could’ve done with my life, 00:09:56 and I had many opportunities. 00:10:00 Jehovah blessed my humble efforts 00:10:04 as he has blessed you and others too. 00:10:08 The young people today 00:10:10 have even more opportunities 00:10:13 because Jehovah’s organization under the leadership of Jesus Christ 00:10:17 is expanding and moving fast. 00:10:21 And, like Brother Richardson taught me, 00:10:25 if you just make yourself available, 00:10:27 then the organization 00:10:30 will find a place for you and use you, 00:10:33 and that’s so true today. 00:10:36 One of my greatest joys is to see the young people 00:10:40 take the baton and run with it, 00:10:43 and I have no regrets. 00:10:47 There’s been no challenge 00:10:50 that has overwhelmed me and made me regret things. 00:10:53 There were challenges, of course, 00:10:55 but with Jehovah’s help, well, I’m here today. 00:10:59 And that can be true of our young people. 00:11:04 So seize the opportunity while you’re young 00:11:08 and experience the blessing 00:11:11 that Jehovah gives those who serve him from youth onward. 00:11:17 R.P., it has been such a wonderful joy 00:11:19 to have you here on this program 00:11:22 and to hear about your life filled with joy, 00:11:25 your life filled with blessings, 00:11:28 all because of the decision you made just as a little boy 00:11:31 to dedicate your life to Jehovah and get baptized. 00:11:35 Thank you so much. 00:11:36 Thank you. I appreciate talking about it.
