God called the Johnsons as missionaries to Brazil while visiting one of their missionaries in 2013. At the time Leland was pastoring the Berean Baptist Church in Shelby, North Carolina. 

God allowed Leland to grow up in a Christian home. He was saved at an early age and at fifteen years old was able to receive assurance of his salvation. He was called to preach at a youth conference at Gospel Light Baptist Church and graduated from Atlantic Baptist Bible College and later earned a master’s degree from Piedmont Baptist Graduate School and a doctoral degree from Louisiana Baptist Seminary. 

God also allowed Naomi to grow up in a Christian home and was saved at a young age. While she was in high school she had plans to become a doctor and was accepted into John’s Hopkins, but felt the Lord leading her in a different direction. She surrendered her life to Him and attended Pensacola Christian College and later earned a Bachelors degree in Christian Education.  

Since going to the field in 2016 God has blessed in tremendous ways. While for many the first term on the field is spend just learning the new language, after two years they were leading a full ministry for a missionary on furlough, which included leading the church, organizing and teaching in the seminary, as well as working with three national pastors and a new church plant. Since then Leland has been invited to preach evangelistic meetings, youth events, missions conferences, and other events all over the country, and they have seen many peoples saved through personal as well as church efforts. 

They are looking forward to heading back to the field this next term and planting a church in the Salvador area in the Northeast of Brazil. 

Life Verses: Romans 8:28-39

Sending Church: Crossroads Baptist Church, Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia. Pastor Kenny Baldwin
Support Agency: Baptist International Missions, Inc. Harrison, Tennessee