A Rocky Path to Jesus

by Foram Mehta

Jewel-sized droplets of rain begin to pitter-patter on Brice Johnson’s head. A pesky bumblebee zooming around briefly interrupts his thoughts, but the disturbances are only external. His unwavering calm exudes from a place deep within, and he continues to recall memories of the long journey he’s made to his peaceful haven. He didn’t need his feet to help him get here because the journey was one of the heart and soul. This foggy trek was one to Jesus Christ.

The aspiring ministry worker is at a good point in his life. One may be surprised at this 22-year-old Indian American’s peace of mind considering what he’s been through. In the last year his parents ceased to support him financially, and somewhat emotionally, because he did something to disappoint them. No, Johnson didn’t get arrested, impregnate a girl, or even fail a class. His folly was a decision to pursue ministry work full-time. The once pre-med student found his calling doing God’s work full-time, much to his family’s disapproval. Though he regrets the estrangement from his family, he outwardly gives off no signal of sadness. Why? Because he says he has Jesus at his side.

Born into a Pentecostal Christian family, Johnson says Jesus always had a place in his life. He grew up attending church Queens, New York and in Dallas, where his family lives now. The people mostly around him were all Christian, and he loved it. Going to church, reading his Bible, saying his prayers everyday – this was a way of life.

As a child, he dreamed of becoming a paleontologist or an archaeologist – maybe even a forensic scientist. His traditional Indian family encouraged a career in medicine. He reconsidered and settled on his family’s suggestion. It was safe, and he would have a stable career. He had always wanted to help people with whatever he did, and becoming a doctor would fulfill his dream to heal the sick and help the less fortunate. Still, he wanted to go a step further; he wanted to do God’s work. Then in high school, he had an epiphany.

“It dawned on me to be a medical missionary, since it would satisfy that desire in me to do ministry work, [while satisfying] what everyone thought I should be doing in life – mainly [something in] medicine.”

Johnson says his religious family supported his decision – as long as he still pursued medicine. For years he fulfilled their wishes and continued steadfastly on the road to becoming Dr. Johnson.  After all, the Bible commands Christians to “Honor thy mother and thy father…” and Johnson was no one to disobey God’s word.

Fast forward to his college years. Johnson relished in freedom like any normal 18-year-old. He studied and partied, and had some fun. Old ways die hard, though, and Johnson always remembered to check off reading his Bible and saying his prayers the daily to-do list. Being a good Christian was still important to him as ever.

God came knocking halfway through Johnson’s college career while he was at an Urbana conference, a national meeting of intervarsity students to learn about local and international missionary work. Unprepared for the heavenly calling he was about to receive, Johnson said his world was thrown off its axis.

“At that point, I kind of felt God tugging at my heart to do full-time ministry,” Johnson remembers.

Confused about whether God was really speaking to him, or it was a manifestation of his self-doubt to work in medicine, Johnson continued on the path he had originally set out for himself. Johnson says God paid him another visit a year and half later. This time doubt had no home in his heart, and he knew what he had to do.

“I was at this retreat, and I had to kind of ask God, ‘What are some areas of my life I’m not giving up to?’ I’m sitting there thinking and I heard [something] just short of the audible voice of God say, ‘Your future is Me,’ and that just floored me. [I was] brought to my knees in tears.”

Johnson recalls experiencing spiritual enlightenment juxtaposed with a surge of sheer panic. He was in disbelief that God was speaking to him but couldn’t help wondering about the uncertainty of his new future.

“I thought – oh my gosh, I’m going to have to give up this career and this future that I was banking on to pay off my college loans. I didn’t know how to tell my parents.”

Johnson changed his major from biology to religious studies soon thereafter, much to his parents’ disapproval. They told him they would no longer support him financially if he didn’t get back on his original track to medical school. Johnson, torn between honoring his parents’ wishes and following his heart, chose the rockier path. Although he felt like he was, in a way, going against God’s word to honor his parents’ wishes, he was sure God was leading him down another path.

The chasm led to great heartache for Johnson, which was soon made worse by his financial problems. He eventually dropped out of UT-Austin and began working full-time as a salesman to support his living expenses. The economic distress and estrangement from his parents has unsurprisingly taken a toll on Johnson, but his strong spirit and faith in God keep him treading on.

A close friend and mentor, John Sleeba of Austin, has been a source of comfort for Johnson through the process because his circumstances were very similar. Sleeba said his own calling from God and subsequent rift from his family years ago have helped him guide Johnson through his rough patch.

“I’ve had the opportunity to help Brice understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus and really make his own decision to follow Jesus in his life,” said Sleeba, a in an e-mail interview. “Brice’s faith should be giving him confidence to work through this hard time. Nowhere is it promised in the Bible by God that just because you follow Him, it will be like living in paradise…It’s the next part of our life where we are in God’s presence in Heaven that life will be carefree without problems…I’m sure Jesus is comforting him through this situation and will teach him valuable lessons that will help him as his life continues.”

Johnson hopes one day he will be able to attend seminary and become a missionary. For the time being, he finds solace in singing and playing music. Some days he writes poetry or writes in his journal. Mostly though, he keeps faith – endless, unwavering faith that eventually the broken pieces of his life will fall into place, and he will walk hand in hand with his savior. His journey ahead may seem formidable to some, but for Johnson, the difficult path is long behind him. His life’s purpose is crystal clear, and that’s enough for now.