Class of 2006 honours full-time music minister
Monique Johnson is on the move. Growing up the daughter of teachers, Johnson lived in regional New South Wales, Papua New Guinea, Tasmania and New Zealand. Now in full-time music ministry with husband Eric, the Class of 2006 citation recipient at Homecoming this year continues to travel—performing in more than 300 churches in 11 countries since 2013.
A recipient of a President’s Scholarship, Johnson edited Jacaranda at Avondale College. Then, after initially resisting the call, she served for a year as an English-as-a-second-language teacher in Kiev before graduating. “I prayed for a literal sign as I walked into Forum [the weekly gathering of staff members and students],” says Johnson, “and there as a lateral sign projected onto the screen were the words, ‘Go Volunteer Now.’”
Johnson met husband Eric in her final year. The two married in 2008 and, after a stint as a high school teacher, Johnson returned with Eric to Ukraine the next year. They also completed a four-month course in ministry in California, USA, and, pestered by a friend, sang together at a concert organised by their training provider. “Our teacher, David, asked us afterwards to sing during his sermon appeal at a youth conference. After a lot of prayer, we said yes and, in only our third performance, sang in front of 5000 people and a TV audience.”
Not until the end of another teaching stint did Johnson quit her job to begin life with Eric as “musicianaries.” “As soon as we did, we felt at peace.” Eric & Monique have now recorded two studio albums and two live albums and tour for about six months a year. “I want to follow God wherever He leads,” says Johnson, “and I want to live a life of service.”
The Class of 2006 honours Monique Johnson for following God’s call into full-time music ministry.
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