“We trained, mentored, encouraged and empowered them and the fruit was incredible. God put the gifts in them and we gave them a place and a voice where they flourished. Those with technical gifts ran cameras and put worship lyrics on the screen. Some sang on the praise and worship team and others played instruments. On ‘Kids’ Preach Day,’ they were powerhouses. Most importantly, they had regular encounters with God.
“We showed them through scripture that it was a child who gave his fish and loaves of bread to Jesus. We explained that no gift is insignificant because when Jesus touches it, it multiplies.”
In 1994, Jenni graduated from high school. After working for the KCM production department for a few months, she became associate pastor in the children’s ministry, working under her parents. That summer, Superkid Academy debuted at their first convention in Birmingham, England. It was a rough introduction to conventions, Jenni recalls.
“We had the kids for 14 hours at a time!” she says. “When it was over we teased Dad that he needed therapy.”
A few years later, in 1997, they leased a campground site in Waxahachie, Texas, where they hosted a Cadet Training Camp for children from EMIC and KCM. They ran the camp until 2002. And in 1998, at the West Coast Believers’ Convention, they were tested by fire. That year they hosted 2,334 children in the Superkid services. They were so full they had to turn children away as the fire marshal monitored attendance to make sure they didn’t overfill the facility.
A New Season
“In 2001, the Lord directed my dad to launch Dana Johnson Ministries in order to share the spiritual truths we’d learned with other children’s ministries,” Jenni explains. “In 2002, we resigned as pastors over the children’s ministry at EMIC and began traveling and hosting conferences to help churches reach children. We had no idea if KCM would want us to continue leading Superkid Academy at the Believers’ Conventions. We cherished the long-term friendship that had developed with Brother Copeland, Gloria, Kellie and John. When they asked us to continue running the children’s ministry at the conventions we were thrilled.”
In 2004, Dana had a heart-to-heart talk with Jenni.
“I feel like change is imminent,” he said. “I keep getting Charlotte. We’re supposed to move there.”
“I don’t want to move,” Jenni replied.
“Jenni, your future husband is there.”
“What?”
“I’m telling you, I know it!”
Until now, Jenni had never wrestled with God. But she had built a wonderful life with fabulous friends in Texas, and she didn’t want to leave. When her father stopped urging her, the Lord picked up the slack. She couldn’t resist Him.
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