What a year!

          What a year it has been!  As most of you know, I have been battling Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma since last January. Even though I wasn’t diagnosed until April, the pains began in January.  But we have great news!  Becky and I saw the oncologist on Friday, and he doesn’t want to see me again for four months.  I am in remission and all my tests look good!  As far as man can tell, I am free of cancer and we praise God for His healing! 
          Our whole family would like to take this time to thank all of you for your prayers and support over this past year.  We have been blown away by the hundreds of people and numerous churches who have prayed for us during this trial.  The response of the body of Christ was amazing as people expressed their love for us through cards, phone calls, Facebook, emails, and visits.  We could never truly express what you all mean to us and have meant to us in this past year.  Saying thank you doesn’t seem like enough, but we hope you realize the depth of what we mean when we say it anyway.  Thank you all so much for walking with us through this journey!!
            With all this in mind, I am even more excited about what God has in store for us in this next year!  It is obvious that God is not done with me and He has a plan for Justapreacher Ministries in 2018.  I am getting my strength back and am excited about getting back on the road again to encourage the churches around this country.  I look forward to giving 5-minute Biblical Challenges in our 17th year of the radio program.  I can’t wait to study verse by verse through books of the Bible with you in our Tuesday and Wednesday night Bible studies.  I look forward to meeting individually with Pastors and encouraging them in their important roles in the Body of Christ!  It’s going to be an amazing year.  Possibly even the year that Jesus returns for His Bride!  Thank you for playing a role in this ministry as you continue to pray for us and financially support this ministry. You have been doing so for 12 years!
            Through this cancer journey God led me to meditate on the book of Philippians. What Paul was going through mirrored in many ways my struggle with cancer.  In chapter one, he didn’t know if he was going to live or die (Philippians 1:19-23).  He knew God has used his trial as an opportunity to spread the Gospel (Philippians 1:12-14) and we saw God use our trial to increase our ministry’s impact as well.  Paul also came to the conclusion that he wasn’t going to die right then, but would stay on in his body to help the church in their progress in the faith (Philippians 1:24-26).  I, too, sense that God is not done with me and wants to continue to use me to encourage many in their growth in and knowledge of the Lord.  Paul also took time to thank the church for their financial support of his ministry (Philippians 4:10-20).   As he thanked them, he made sure they knew that he was not relying on them, but on God who supplied all his needs.  This is my heart’s cry as well.  God has been so good to provide for our needs!  He has even used many of you over the years in this endeavor, and for this we say thank you. 
     Yes, this has been an interesting and fruitful year!  But next year will be interesting and fruitful as well!  I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us all.  Thank you all so much for being a part of the team!   
In Christ's Overwhelming Love,
Jim

This year all three of our kids graduated! AJ graduated from both high school and community college. He now attends UCF. Elise graduated with her Bachelor's from the Florida State University, and Nicole graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Master's Degree. Both the girls are working hard in their respective fields. We are very thankful that all three of our kids love the Lord and are following Him!
Merry Christmas from Justapreacher Ministries and the Johnson family!

The 2018 Justapreacher Ministries Bible Cruise is coming up on April 8-15, 2018.  We will be sailing from Port Canaveral on the Oasis of the Seas. We will be ministering to the crew and other passengers and Jim will lead us as we study God’s Word.  If you would like to come, we would love to have you! Email beckyj@mmvagent.com for more information.