God seems to take our life experiences and use them to minister to others. This is certainly true of Asbury’s Pastor for Women Darlene Johnson. A bold, clear witness of God’s love, she also relates well to the women who have benefited through the love she shares with all she encounters.

Darlene clearly remembers joining the church and being baptized when only eight years old, but in her mid-teens she began to experience restlessness, a longing. “I had a void and knew I was seeking something,” she said. That year there was a revival in her church and the speaker clearly explained God’s plan of salvation. She realized that without Christ she wouldn’t accomplish what she was longing to do.

Since that time, Darlene has not wavered in her faith and has continued to grow deeper in the Lord. While she was active in the life of the church, she began experiencing a pull at her heart. She had completed her studies at the Oklahoma School of Banking and Business and had worked in this field for 25 years. But in 1995, she simply couldn’t resist God’s call on her heart any longer. She united with the United Methodist Church and began her journey toward ordination.

During this time, Darlene served as a volunteer chaplain at the Mable Basset Prison for Women in Oklahoma City for five years, teaching a Bible study each Monday night. She assisted several of the women as they were released from prison. She also served as volunteer coordinator of the YWCA Shelter for battered women. For one year she worked with the Oklahoma Health Department on the initiative of AIDS. Her responsibility included educating the African American community on the affects of AIDS on the community. This was done through the Christian community and the church.

She has continued her education and is working toward her ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church through study at Southern Methodist School of Theology in Dallas, Texas. Her goal is to complete her basic course of study by next July and to continue in the advanced studies toward ordination.

In May 1999, Darlene was appointed to the Asbury UMC staff and she confesses that God has given her one huge, loving and caring family here at Asbury.

Darlene’s busy life includes reading her favorite authors--John Ortberg, James Dobson, Chuck Swindoll and Chuck Colson. She also enjoys interior decorating.

Zealous for the Lord and faithful as a prayer warrior, Darlene finds Jesus Christ faithful in helping her through life’s problems. “Though single, I am far from lonely. I find absolute joy in just sitting at His feet. I love to be in relationship and fellowship with my Him. I also enjoy my time in prayer and helping to meet other people’s needs.”

Asbury is blessed in having Darlene as a model of the Christian woman through her deep and growing love for the Lord and faithfully reaching out to all around her.