“Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.” Job 16:19
Tina Roberta Thuston Johnson was the fourth child born to the late Elder Floyd H. & Roberta D. (Turner) Thuston on December 7, 1956 in Chanute, KS. She was raised in a Christian home and was greatly influenced by her parents and a host of evangelists and church officials who visited the Thuston residence. As a young child she accepted Christ and was filled with the Holy Ghost at the Chanute Church of God in Christ (COGIC). Tina accepted the call to the ministry as a child serving as an Aspiring Missionary.
Tina was educated in the Chanute school system. She showed musical talents as a young girl, played the cello, and was one of the first minorities to make the Chanute High School Drum and Bugle Corps. She mastered other musical instruments including the guitar and piano. She used those skills in her father’s churches in Chanute and Kansas City and other churches throughout the region. Not only could she play but she could teach parts and sing solos.
Upon graduation from Chanute High School she enrolled in Mid-America Nazarene College. Tina was active in campus government and was well respected among her peers and faculty. She was awarded the “Heritage Award,” and was selected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Also, in college she was a skilled athlete as a basketball and volleyball player. On the school’s first female basketball team, Tina sported her skills as a leading rebounder. Tina graduated with a BA degree in Business Administration in 1978. She made history as the first Black female to graduate from Mid-America. She immediately put her degree to work and was a member of the management team at J. C. Penney in Overland Park, KS.
Tina was a consistent witness and was never shy in sharing her testimony. She was active in her local church and was on the circuit of Sunday morning speakers. This young missionary extended her ministry to the Ft. Scott District and throughout the state of Kansas. Tina received her Evangelist Missionary license under her mother, Supervisor Roberta Thuston. She was one of the chauffeurs for the elderly missionaries in the Chanute church which enabled them to attend various services in the district. She continued to show an interest in the elderly by taking groups of children to nursing homes. Tina would play and lead the children in songs of praise in an effort to carry the message of Christ and to teach the youth to be considerate of the elderly. To encourage them she would take the group to eat at her expense.
Because of her reputation as an effective speaker and excellent example of holiness she was selected to speak in the Kansas East Convocation by the late Bishop W. H. McDonald while in her early twenties. Her message was entitled, “My Father is the Greatest.” It was one of the highlights of the meeting.
Tina became an active member of the Chanute Community Choir, Ft. Scott District Choir (often serving as the impromptu leader) and the Kansas East State Choir but maintained her commitment to her local church. Tina’s musical prowess allowed her to be one of the musicians on the Boone Tabernacle Live Recording. She would often sing her original music when called upon and her unique vocal skills were a blessing to many.
Her love of music led her to the love of her life. Tina Thuston met Kevin “From Heaven” Johnson at an Edwardsville Strings concert where he was playing the congas in the band. It didn’t take long for love to blossom as his honorable character and her virtuous spirit drew them together. On September 6, 1980
they were united in holy matrimony in Chanute, KS. God’s holy presence was felt throughout the ceremony and all who attended were richly blessed.
Marrying a military man created a colorful life full of travel and adventure. Kevin and Tina honeymooned in Paris, France and immediately settled in Rammelsbach, Germany where he was stationed in the US Air Force. Throughout the 37 years of their marriage, they traveled to over a dozen countries and nearly all 50 states. To this blessed union, four daughters were born: Kinesha, Kristina, Karissa, and Karieta. In 1998, the family was enlarged through the adoption of Tina’s first cousin’s son, Melvin KaDar Thuston who became KaDar Melvin Johnson.
Missionary Johnson was an integral part of the churches where her husband was stationed. After serving in Germany and North Dakota, they made their arrival to the Omaha community where they worshipped at Mt. Zion for 13 years. Some of the offices that Mssy. Johnson held at Mt. Zion were Sunday School Superintendent, Minister of Music, and the Assistant Pastor’s wife. In 1999, they were led of the Lord to be the founding spiritual leaders of Christ Cathedral COGIC. Their children played a vital role in the founding and development of the ministry.
After recognizing the musical ability in her daughters, Missy. Johnson taught them harmony and groomed them to become “The Johnson Sisters.” As an agent, manager, musician, and coach, she afforded them the opportunity to share their gifts around the US. They later ministered as a group in Hangzhou, China.
As a musician, Mssy. Johnson played the piano and organ for local churches and also organized orchestras, children’s, youth, women’s, and adult choirs in Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Germany. Over the course of 40 years, Mssy. Johnson composed songs for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas programs. Her song, “Bring the Lord an Offering” was submitted to the National GMWA (Gospel Music Workshop of America) in 2014. Another song she composed, “He Gave Me Something,” was recorded by the Minot Air Force Base Mass Choir.
She also served as the Interim District Minister of Music for the Monte J. Bradford Dist., where her husband currently serves as Dist. Superintendent. Mssy. Johnson was a member of the local GMWA and sang in the International COGIC Mass Choir.
Mssy. Johnson served in the Nebraska Jurisdictions of the Church of God in Christ for 32 years– assisting with the Youth for Christ Choir for 25 years, the State Sunshine Band, serving as the State Sunday School Field Representative—under three State Sunday School Superintendents (from 1983–98), and served as the State Minister of Music of the Nebraska 1st COGIC for 17 years under Bishop J. O. Ford, Sr.
While she was anointed for music ministry, she continued to polish her other professional skills. Her employment through the State of Nebraska, Greater Omaha Community Action, Bank of the West and social service organizations helped to satisfy her desire to empower others. Internationally, she served as a foreign missionary in the Philippines. Locally, she ministered and mentored troubled youth at the Douglas County Youth Center. Her love for the elderly continued as she led worship at the Hillcrest Rehabilitation Center. She visited the sick and shut-in and especially enjoyed ministering to the incarcerated. Her contributions to countless other community service efforts were felt around the region.
After a diagnosis with lymphoma in 2016, her family walked with her through chemotherapy and various treatments. While her family took shifts to provide care throughout her illness, her primary caregivers were her husband and her third daughter, Karissa. Although she was diagnosed in 2016, she fought courageously for over two years and experienced miraculous healing in 2017 while on hospice. In the last year of her life, she was granted the opportunity to share her testimony and to strengthen the faith of other believers.
Tina Roberta Thuston Johnson was a remarkable woman who overcame insurmountable challenges. She never sought to elevate herself and was comfortable around persons of every race and status. Missionary Johnson was a woman for all seasons. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, teacher and friend. She represented the very best in Christian women.
Early in the morning on July 17, 2018 Missionary Johnson made her transition to be with the Lord at her home in La Vista, Nebraska. As a military wife, she has earned the distinguished honor to be buried at the Omaha National Cemetery. Her parents and one brother (Thaddaeus) preceded her entry into the Eternal Kingdom. She leaves to cherish fond memories: devoted husband Kevin, 4 daughters—Kinesha (Jarell) Roach, Bellevue, NE; Kristina (Renardo) Ward, Memphis, TN; Karissa, La Vista, NE; Karieta (Billy) Walker, Omaha, NE; 1 son—KaDar (Porshia) Johnson, Bellevue, NE; 10 grandchildren; 4 brothers—Timothy (Nancy), Houston, TX; Lemuel (Marian), Kansas City, MO; Nathaniel (Crystal) Olathe, KS; Linus (Debbie), Chanute, KS; 4 sisters—Deborah (Jesse) Robbs, Lecompton, KS; Prisca, Mission, KS; Elizabeth (Terence) Rhone, Fullerton, CA; Julia, Kansas City, MO; 2 brothers-in-law—Paul (Oma) Johnson, Kansas City, MO; Cordell (Regina) Johnson, Kansas City, MO; 3 sisters-in-law—Deborah Garey, Leavenworth, KS; Cynthia Green, Kansas City, KS; Rita Doss, Kansas City, KS; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, godmother: Mo. Jessie Weathersby, godchildren, and a host of friends and loved ones. Special friends Brenda Martin, Kem and Michelle Redic, Gary and Sue Kendall, Ken Newburn, Stacia Moore, Pastor James Henderson, Deborah Fuller Jones, Katie Bradley, Nettie Houston, Michelle Singleton, Janice Bailey, Ken and Darnesta Nora, and Vernetta Deshazer.
Wake Service Friday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Joy of Life Ministries 6410 N 56th Street, Omaha, NE. Funeral Service Saturday (7/21/18) 12:00 PM at Joy of Life Ministries 6410 N 56th Street, Omaha, NE. Interment at Omaha National Cemetery.
