From rugby player to rugby player for jesus - andrew johnson
This is his story….
“I am a local boy, born and bred in Port Elizabeth. I was born on 15th August 1958. I am a husband, a father of two sons and a daughter and a grandfather of 4 granddaughters. My junior school years were at St Augustine’s and high school at Pearson. In standard 6 (grade 8) I had my first exposure to the game of rugby. In 1975 and 1976 I represented Eastern Province schools at the then Craven Week Schools’ rugby tournament, of which I was the captain of the team in 1976. I studied, at the then University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), and gained a BA Teaching Degree. Rugby became an integral part of my varsity years.
My first provincial game for Eastern Province was in 1978 at the age of 19. After varsity I had a choice of doing my Army National Service or join the Police for 4 years. I opted to join the police and after the Police Training College stint I transferred back to Port Elizabeth Murder and Robbery Unit until the end of my Police career in 1998. My Provincial Rugby Career spanned from 1978 to 1989. I represented Eastern Province for 128 games. In this time, I also captained the EP Rugby side. I was still involved with the them SAP Rugby until 1992. After being declared medically unfit from the Police in 1998 my personal and family life just fell apart.
Who is Andrew Johnson? On my birthday 15 August, 2006 at 21h30 at the age of 48, alone in my townhouse, I met my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. My life is not my own. So, my journey begins… I will, forever, be grateful to Jonothan Hobson, who was the Minister at Walmer Methodist Church, who took me under his wing and gave me very wise counsel. I was invited to a men’s fellowship group in Bluewater Bay where I met Johnny Meistre and the Pastor of Bluewater Bay Community Church, Eric Momsen who also impacted my life greatly. My spiritual growth increased in leaps and bounds.
At the end of 2006 I met my wife, Amanda. (Pictured below and right). The Lord knew that I needed a Godly Woman by my side as I could not walk this walk alone. We were married on 7th July, 2007. I attended Mighty Men in 2009 and 2010 in Greytown which had a massive impact in my life as to what a Godly man should be. At the first Mighty Men in Middleburg Karoo 2011 Men of Honour was birthed. A platform for men from all walks of life (inter-denominational) to get together and discover who they were created to be was established. For 11 years I was, only, the facilitator of the group, under the guidance and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Thank you to Pastor Kurt Sutton, who embraced us as a group for the years that we were at Oasis Family Church.
Men were taught to take back what the enemy had stolen from them and how to be the King, Priest and Prophet of their homes. I have a burden in my heart for men who don’t know who they are and look for recognition and identity in the wrong places. It is important for men to understand the Devine order of God. God – Man – Woman – Children and Church. For too long have men’s identities been stolen by worldly values instead of Godly Values. The founding scripture was Proverbs 27 v 17 – “Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”.
In the middle of 2022, I knew that my season was over with “Men of Honour” and that the baton had to be handed over. At the beginning of 2023 I was invited to share my journey at a breakfast in Mossel Bay, by an old Police colleague of mine who was also a provincial rugby player. It was after this that we discussed how rugby can be used as a vehicle to enhance the Kingdom of God. Out of this Rugby Players for Jesus is being birthed. Our first event was held on Saturday, 28th October, 2023 - the same day as the Rugby world Cup Final at Lighthouse Family Church. A panel of ex-rugby players shared their testimonies with an attendance of about 250 people of which there were many old Provincial rugby players and old Springbok rugby players.
This year, so far, we were invited to the Dutch Reformed Church in Oudtshoorn in January and Marlow Agricultural School and the Dutch Reformed church in Cradock. At the Dutch Reformed Church in Oudshoorn we were welcomed with open arms. We were able share our testimonies with the church and ministered to both young and old.
At Marlow Agricultural School we were embraced by the principal and staff. For 3 days we were given the opportunity within the Life Orientation periods to minister to the boys. We had the opportunity at the morning assembly to share the Gospel with the whole school, staff included. A praise and worship evening was also arranged with full attendance. After being invited to a Gideon’s Bible breakfast at Westview school I was given the opportunity to share my testimony and share the Rugby Players for Jesus vision.
This opened a door with the principal Mr PC van Rooyen who has bought into the vision, and we will be having an event on Saturday, 18th May 2024 – the details of the event are still to be finalised – if anybody needs more information they can contact me.
There is also a RUGBY PLAYERS FOR JESUS Facebook page that you can follow to see all upcoming events. We also have a WhatsApp group for all who might be interested in ex rugby players and supporters There are currently 130 men on this group aged between 16 and 80 years of age. This has created such an urgency in my spirit to see that the Great Commission becomes a priority.
I am honoured and humbled at the same time to be able to use my God-given talent as a rugby player for His Glory. I stand amazed at what the Lord has done in my life over the last 17 years.”
Andrew Johnson Cell 0843209292
Team Talk would like to thank Andrew for sharing with our readers and we know that the Lord still has many great plans for him.
