Former basketball star Magic Johnson left his job with the NBA to focus on serving his church and community, according to Faithwire. Johnson recently shared on Twitter that a visiting bishop to his church gave an encouraging message about God’s calling that touched both him and his wife.
“Cookie and I enjoyed a powerful message from visiting Bishop Porter about God’s plan for us,” Johnson wrote. “We have to work toward his plan and have faith that he will bring it to pass. Have a happy Sunday!”
Twenty years ago, Cookie, Magic Johnson’s wife, started attending the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, and Johnson later joined her. The two have been attending the church ever since. Johnson recently shared with the Associated Press how the church, led by Bishop Charles E. Blake, has been able to accomplish so much as a community.
Magic and Cookie Johnson
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment itself that an African-American pastor, a bishop can say to us as a community and congregation that, ‘we own our church.’ I think what you’ll see is that others will follow,” Johnson said. “From that sale, we’re able to build our family life center. So many community services will be established because of the family life center. When he asked me to help out, I was very willing to do that and to advise him and the other members that he chose to make sure they were making the right decisions and moves.”
According to the Church of God in Christ, Johnson recently shared with the church that he is blessed to be following God’s calling.
“It’s truly a blessing when you know what direction you’re going in,” he said. “It’s such a change for me because now when I go to speak to corporations, I lead off by praising the Lord. … You can touch somebody else to praise the Lord.”
Johnson has been open about his relationship with Jesus for years. In 2014, Johnson credited God with turning his life around, sharing that he previously had dedicated his life to the Lord with the encouragement of his wife. Reflecting on his 1991 HIV diagnosis, the former NBA star pointed to God as the most important part of his life.
“As for me, God is the most important one.” Johnson said. “Because God has blessed me every day and it is a great reminder. He has blessed the work that I do and my employees, my achievements are clearly blessings from Him. God loves me so much, at any time He is good, so I go to Him with a thankful heart every day.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice