Women Who Inspire

Joi Crawford-Johnson by Rolanda Pyle

Rolanda Pyle: Will you please introduce yourself to our readers and give us a little background information? Family? Children? Career? Hobbies? Where are you from? (city and state) as well as short testimony?

Joi Crawford-Johnson: My name is Dr. Joi L. Crawford-Johnson. I am a born-again Christian. I am 56 years old. My husband and I are married for 14 years as of August 15 th . We have a total of 8 children (4 biological and 4 bonus (step) children). I grew up in Brooklyn, New York for about 47 years before moving to Raleigh, North Carolina. My hobbies include spending time with family—my children are “my happy place.” I enjoy the beach, bowling, going to the movies, swimming, traveling, sewing, crocheting, visiting the Biltmore Estates (Asheville, NC)—to name a few. I obtained my first college degree (Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science) at age 50—graduating Magna Cum Laude; a Master of Arts in Psychology degree at age 51 with a GPA of 3.75; and my Doctorate degree in Christian Counseling at age 55—graduating Summa Cum Laude. I am the Author of two books: “Forgive Me I Love You Those Five Words of Grace” and “A Guide for Traumatized Children” (found on Amazon online and Barnes & Noble’s online). “A Guide for Traumatized Children” was my dissertation for my Doctorate degree; and is in the Library of Congress.

RP: What prompted you to follow your current career path?

JC: What prompted me to follow my current career path is my struggle as a single mother. In 2002, while attending a revival at the church I was born into— “Historic First Church of God in Christ,” the preacher officiating the revival summoned me to the Pastor’s office after service and said to me he sees a sadness on me and asked me if I would like to share what I was going through. I said, yes, I am sad (depressed) because it seems like my ex-husband is successful while I am living a righteous life and struggling to make ends meet as a single mom with three children. He said, “the Lord is making you a “Shepherd for the Shattered.” My
business was being birthed through my pain. I held on to the name, “Shepherd for the Shattered” without sharing it with anyone except for my spiritual mother,
Evangelist Ethel Grimes (deceased). As of 2019, my nonprofit faith-based counseling service was established here in North Carolina.

RP: What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect of social work and/or mental health when it comes to faith-based programs?

JC: What I consider the most challenging aspect of mental health when it comes to faith-based programs is that faith-based programs should be mindful that “we
live down here” as my late Bishop Ithiel Clemmons used to say. We have a mind (soul), that has a spirit, that lives in a body. God gave us a will. To make
decisions, we need to think and decide. Additionally, faith-based programs may have rules, structure, order and set boundaries, and that’s great. However, we
must “break the rules/policies” to save lives when appropriate. For example, if a person with mental health issues go to a faith-based program for help and their
food pantry ran out of food, go beyond to see how you can help them. Take them to the store, give them money—do something to meet their immediate need. If
God makes sure the birds eat, he’s going to make sure we have something to eat. We are more valuable to Him than birds. We must see the need more than the rules. We must be led by the Holy Spirit.
 

RP: How does your faith influence your work as a mental health professional/social worker?
JC: My faith influences my work as a mental health professional in a way that I absolutely cannot do anything without God. I must pray, fast, and study the
Scriptures to be an effective Counselor. Mental health issues didn’t begin with us; it began with Adam in the Book of Genesis when he said he was afraid; and
God was there to still affirm Adam by still calling him by his name—Adam. I need to know the Scriptures so I can help people who contact me for counseling.
Additionally, when I counsel a client, I need to feel the Lord’s presence. The first thing I tell the client when I begin their initial counseling session is that I like to
pray before we begin the session. Because of my faith in God through prayer, God has brought me out of horrible situations. Therefore, it’s a “must” for me to
seek the Lord first for Him to use me to bring others out of their situation.
 
RP: What are some of the common Biblical principles that you apply to the situations you face in your daily job duties?
JC: Common Biblical principles that I apply to situations I face in my daily job duties is not being ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, don’t debate the Scriptures,
don’t compromise my faith in God, trust Him, love others even if you may not agree, etc.

RP: As Christians we are called to help others, so with the current state of affairs concerning mental health, what is the most commonly recommended way for
communities to help those in need?
JC: See them with a heart of compassion. See the need and not so much the rules. Most of all, see them the way God sees them. This will help draw them to their
purpose (Jeremiah 29:1), help to change their perspective—”renew their mind” (Romans 12:2), empower them, and bring them up out of their “mire clay” (Psalm
40:2).

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
BLESSINGS,
DR. JOI JOHNSON