Liana Johnson

Liana Johnson was born in Rochester, New York, at the end of her parents' deputation to go to South Africa as missionaries. With her parents, Jim and Rosie, serving as missionaries for over twenty years, Liana has lived in Central Africa Republic, the Ivory Coast, France, and the United States. Her parents are currently serving as missionaries in the land of Ghana.

Liana was saved in 1991 while her family was back in the United States on furlough. One evening after her father had conducted family devotions from John 3:16, seven-year-old Liana had a desire to know more about the lesson; and as the other children went off to bed, she stayed to talk more with her dad. After this discussion Liana then received Christ as her personal Savior.

Liana helped her parents, along with her three older siblings, in their work on the mission field. She especially enjoyed working with young children and even worked at organizing a nursery in one of the churches her father pastored. Since her dad was able to use his training as a lab technician on the field, Liana was afforded some unique opportunities including observing a surgery when she was only ten years old.

Following in the footsteps of her siblings, Liana returned to the States for her senior year of high school. Having been home schooled on the mission field, Liana looked forward to being a part of a Christian school and enrolled at Central Christian Academy in Southington, Connecticut. As her brother and sisters had attended Bible colleges, Liana began to pray for God's direction in her life about furthering her education after finishing high school. During her senior year she became acquainted with Fairhaven Baptist College through the pastor of the church where she was attending school, Jim Townsley, and Rodger Bottrell, the new pastor at her parents' home church, Maranatha Baptist, in Lyons, New York. Liana visited Fairhaven that spring and enrolled for college in the fall.

Liana is working towards a degree in elementary education. She views her future work as a teacher as an opportunity to impact a child's life for God. Liana says that college life has been a good learning experience for her as she has participated in various ministries of Fairhaven Baptist Church including bus, Sunday school, junior church, Reformers Unanimous, and nursing home.