Karlita Johnson

How did you get involved in The Church at Crossroads?
I got involved through Robena Hill, and once the Good News Crew started, my family and I got more involved.

What does it mean to you to have this community at The Church at Crossroads?

Having a community at The Church at Crossroads means a lot to me because it provides me the space where my son can learn about The Lord; it was especially important when we first got involved because in-person church was shut down.

Before COVID, we went every Sunday, and when things became virtual, we didn’t have a space or lessons for the kids. Once the Good News Crew got started, we started meeting other members and immediately felt a sense of community. When we met in person, all of the kids were thrilled to see each other, and my son started to be more outgoing, asking questions and learning about the Bible.

Now that I have this community, I’m also able to help create more community through the church, because I have taken a leadership role in our Asset Based Community Development initiative. I am looking forward to seeing how this grows the church and brings the community closer together!

What is your favorite program at The Church at Crossroads?

I don’t know if I can pick just one favorite! Fellowship is great because we have so many different opportunities when we gather - cooking, learning, and watching the kids grow their love through different lessons - and our holiday party is always fantastic! Even Zoom events are meaningful, but I think my favorite programs are the ones we do together, in person.

What does ‘building beloved community’ mean to you?

Building beloved community means a lot to me. We hear stories now about the church communities that existed ‘back in the day’ and that our communities now aren’t like that, especially following COVID. Getting a chance to build community, meet people from the community, and learn about our neighbors shows me that building a community like this is still possible - and not only that, we’re doing it every time we talk to someone new.

I heard once that people live longer when they have strong and meaningful relationships with others. They don’t have to be relatives; they can just be people in your community.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Just that I love the Good News Crew, Reverend Teresa is amazing, and I am excited to continue working on the ABCD project to see where it goes.