Evangelist Willie Johnson

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Holy Roller

I was browsing through Amazon looking at a few different books I'm thinking of getting, and I stumbled across a book about Evangelist Willie Johnson. I thought the name sounded vaguely familiar, but I still wasn't too sure on exactly who "he" was. Naturally, when I clicked on the book, I saw that this he was really a she.

Sister Willie was one of the first (if not the first) publicly known biracial evangelist. She traveled successfully from the 1930s well into the 1980s, enjoying considerable success within the Deep South and throughout the Civil Rights era.

I tried searching Sister Willie on Google, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot that is obtainable about her ministry. Of the little I have read thus far, it seems she held to a certain amount of Pentecostal doctrines, as many scholars often point out the operation of the Holy Ghost and spiritual gifts in her meetings.

There was a quote on Amazon (under the description of the book detailing her life and ministry) that seems to imply that Sister Willie was Apostolic. I haven't found anything justifying that she was Jesus Name, but that doesn't necessarily prove anything, considering there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to read about her on the internet. (It's also possible that I haven't done enough digging to find anything terribly substantial concerning her.)

Have any of you heard of Sister Willie? Any insights?

I knew of a Brother and Sister Johnson that went to Woodlawn in Columbia Mississippi. Both her and her husband were mightily used of God..he passed but Im not sure if she is still living but she was about 7 years ago. Both were black so Im not sure about the biracial component. No idea about their first names.

[Bro Flame]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I have heard of her all my life yes I think she was Apostolic at least that is what I always heard. I do know she was an awesome singer.

Her name vaguely triggered something in my memory. I'm sure I've read of her sometime or another throughout all my digging into those old-time evangelists, but there wasn't ever anything that stuck with me necessarily.

I always figured she was Pentecostal, but I didn't know for sure if she was indeed Apostolic. The word "Apostolic" seems a little more contemporary, especially in the sense that we use it to describe Oneness, Jesus' name baptism, the Holy Ghost, the spiritual gifts, holiness living, and basically what the Apostles outlined for us to live in the New Testament.

I'm going to dig in some more and see if I can find anything concrete as to whether she was Apostolic or not. I'll probably just order her biography off Amazon and see what it's all about.

[Bro Flame]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

She was biracial?

Everything I've read said she was. That could be an error though.

[Bro Flame]

This is taken directly from the piece on the Affirming Faith website about Sister Willie:

How did a biracial woman become accepted to preach revivals in the Deep South and coast to coast during segregation and the Civil Rights movement?

https://www.affirmingfaith.org/willie-johnson

[consapente89]

Originally Posted by Holy Roller

Her name vaguely triggered something in my memory. I'm sure I've read of her sometime or another throughout all my digging into those old-time evangelists, but there wasn't ever anything that stuck with me necessarily.

I always figured she was Pentecostal, but I didn't know for sure if she was indeed Apostolic. The word "Apostolic" seems a little more contemporary, especially in the sense that we use it to describe Oneness, Jesus' name baptism, the Holy Ghost, the spiritual gifts, holiness living, and basically what the Apostles outlined for us to live in the New Testament.

I'm going to dig in some more and see if I can find anything concrete as to whether she was Apostolic or not. I'll probably just order her biography off Amazon and see what it's all about.

Pretty sure she was UPC. She was very popular with the UPC churches in my area.

[KeyboardCowboy]

Sister Willie Johnson preached at my home church in Parkersburg, WV during the 80's. I was young and don't remember too much about her, but she was legit. My mom thought highly of her. One thing I remember about her is how she always dressed very modest as not to bring attention to herself.

[Scott Pitta]

Not sure what biracial means.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Scott Pitta

Not sure what biracial means.

Biracial | Definition of Biracial by Merriam-Webster
Biracial definition is - of, relating to, or involving members of two races; also : having parents from two races.

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by Scott Pitta

Not sure what biracial means.

Yeah sure

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

She was biracial?

She was Klingon, and human. Or was she Vulcan and human?