He was the “number one” leader in the Minnesota Baptist Conference and he was coming to our church in Cokato not only to visit but to preach on a Sunday. My Mom and Dad were eagerly looking forward to the visit of the Executive Director (or whatever his title was at the time) to First Baptist Church in Cokato, Minnesota.
I was just a kid (probably in the fourth or fifth grade at the time of this visit) and already had been around lots of ministers, missionaries and distinguished leaders. It was obvious they were committed to their work and passionate about making a difference.
Many were consumed with telling their story and talking about themselves. Although not deliberate, often it was quite clear that there was little or no interest in getting to know a kid sitting around a dinner table or attending a service or an event. These visits by the majority of these prominent people were times to be endured rather than to be enjoyed.
On this particular Sunday, I once again was at home fighting my ongoing battle with asthma. I looked out the window of the parsonage and saw people coming to church but there was no way I could leave the house. It was ok with me that my folks had left me home alone while they served in their roles at church as well as facilitating the visit of this particular dignitary. There was a pot luck dinner at the church after the service. I was 100% certain I would never meet this particular honored guest. Why would he be interested in me – a sick kid at home struggling with asthma?
It wasn’t too long after the service that my Mother came home. And she brought a special guest. It was Reverend J. G. Johnson himself, the head of the Minnesota Baptist Conference. He wanted to see me!!!
“Rickie, I heard that you are a wonderful checkers player. Let’s play some checkers together.” I could not believe what I was hearing.
As we played checkers, we got to know each other and all of a sudden I had a real friend – someone I would admire up until the day he breathed his last earthly breath.
Reverend J. G. Johnson - going out of his way to take the time to play checkers with me on that particular Sunday afternoon - impacted me for the rest of my life. In a brief period of time, he modeled for me leadership 101 in action. By the way, I have no idea who won at checkers.