Missionary Paula is committed to her work as a servant of Jesus Christ and is the mother of two children. She aims to support single mothers, abused women, and individuals who may feel overlooked or marginalized. Her message emphasizes that the source and conclusion of genuine love can be found in faith in God.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578084102120 . https://www.facebook.com/hprisingupward/ .

Welcome to 12 Minute Converse with Jesus Believers.

God chose first to have a conversation with us, his creation.

Our prayer is that this listening space brings growth and transforms your life forever.

Praise God for you Paula.

Praise God for you as well.

What part of the world are you in today?

East Coast, New Jersey.

Okay, were you born and bred in New Jersey or moved across there eventually?

I spent most of my years in New Jersey.

I did spend a couple of years in North Carolina, which is south of here.

Would you move to the Caribbean if you had the opportunity?

Don't tempt me.

Where were your parents from?

Were they also living in New Jersey?

Yes.

How did Jesus find you?

As a little girl, you know, we were going to church.

It was what was required.

I mean, you see a lot of that these days.

A lot of people go because they have to.

And when I was 12, I did accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

However, nobody told me anything else.

I did not have a relationship with God through Jesus.

And that's when everything began to change.

Not instantly, of course.

But over time, you know, I learned a lot because I went through a lot.

And I'm just grateful that somebody did tell me that, you know, salvation is more than just, you know, accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior.

You know, there's things that we must do once we do make that commitment.

I'm enjoying the journey now.

So, you talked about your work with women who were raped.

How did you even get into that?

Well, I mean, I've only talked to a few, because actually, this is something that is just starting as I finally have gotten around to getting these books together.

It's actually, it took a long time.

The first one was even published in 2015.

But as I said, I made a revision, and that just came out this year.

However, one of the reasons why it's also taken me a while is because, like I said, you know, I've been going through so many different challenges.

I was struggling to hear from God because it's like, I just didn't know how to really submit.

I mean, I was hearing things in church, you know, through scripture, you know, pray, and I really just did not understand.

For whatever reason, I just wasn't grasping how we need to apply the Word and have this power in the Word.

And, you know, that's how things, you know, begin to, you know, change.

And currently in church, this is what we are working on.

I am a pastor of the women's ministry, and we're just building it because COVID had a huge effect.

A lot of members left, a lot have passed away as well.

So we're just trying to rebuild that ministry right now.

So that is something that, you know, I'll be working towards, you know, from this point on going, and I'm trying to get a website together.

But the work that you've done in the space of the church, you've been super consistent in showing up, haven't you?

I didn't know how, but I'm doing it.

You know, because after COVID, that was another thing, because I had been physically away.

I mean, I was, you know, attending online, but there's a big difference online and in person.

Yeah, 100%.

Yeah, I feel you there.

It's nice being at home because the drive time is a lot less, right?

But, oh my, being in church physically, there's nothing that I believe that can take the place of that.

And I no longer have transportation.

So I was just like, how is this going to work?

But God just told me if I commit and just trust Him, it was going to work out.

And that's what's happening thus far.

You know, I have my ride every Sunday and we're all in leadership.

So it's my children, my son, my daughter, they're also in leadership as well.

Yeah, congratulations.

I was reading an initial part of your book and the dedication was actually done to your father, William Henry Johnson.

He's played an integral part in who you are today, hasn't he?

Yes, yes.

So talking about walking in love, you know, the greatest commandment, you know, that has been given to us, that was definitely Him.

He didn't have to know you.

He could just meet you for the first time and with a big smile on His face, hello, how are you?

And, you know, He'd start up a conversation.

I mean, no matter where we went, you know, He always spoke, shake hands, act, you know, He was a very good example.

I'm not saying He was perfect, but He was a very good example, you know, God selected, you know, to help bring me about.

If your children were listening to this 10 years from today, what's one piece of advice you'd want them to have even then?

Continue to keep their eyes on the prize.

Keep their eyes on Jesus.

As long as they do that, they'll be okay.

In closing, what's one thing you'd like to leave?

We all should keep our eyes on the prize quite actually, because really, God will bring you through it.

You know, you just, you know, focus on Him, depend on Him.

That's all He wants is for us to depend on Him.

He loves us regardless of things that we have done.

Thank you again for being here.

Thank you for being on What is Inspired by 12 Minute Convoys.