b'LIFESTYLEWalk by Faith, Not by SightLIFESTYLEBy Debra A. YoungJamesJohnsonislivingproofthatifyouliveyourbe their spokesperson.It was the catalyst that began life through faith in God nothing is impossible.Hishis community service.storyisoneofperseveranceandsurvivalagainst allodds.BorninJohnsonremembers Columbia,SC,being encouraged by his Johnsongrewupingrandparentstoserve Eastover,SCwithahis community and how lovingmother,father,muchhisgrandfather, andolderbrother.Rev.LayfordJohnson, HesaysheisblessedandGrandmother tohaveafamilythatEvalina Johnson shaped supports him throughhisdesiretobeof thenumeroushealthservicetoothers.He andlifechallengesvolunteeredforMeals hesfacedstartingatonWheelswithhis agefour.Accordinggrandfatherbeforehe toJohnson,hispassed.And he credits healthchallengeshisgrandmotherfor persistedfrompre-Kteachinghimthevalue throughhighschool,ofgrowingthings shuttingdownhisandremembersbeing dreamofjoiningtheamazedathowsmall Navyandbecomingamustardseedisand aNavySeal.Butwhatcouldbegrown Johnsonsayshedidfrom it.In addition to not let the challengeshisgrandparents,he stophimfromcreditshisfather,John beingactiveinhisE.Johnson,Sr.and school,church,andhislatemotherWillie community. In school,MaeJohnson,forteachinghimtheimportanceof hewasactiveinfootball,track,andbaseball.Hecommunity service and never giving up.alsoplayedbasketballforLowerRichlandHigh School.Inaddition,intheeighthgradehewasOBSTACLES AND CHALLENGESelected president of the Young Peoples DepartmentLifecontinuedtopresentobstaclesandhealth (YPD)athischurch,St.PhillipA.M.E.ChurchchallengesforJohnsondiabetes,seizures,lossof inEastover.Heheldthepositionforeightyears,sight,kidneytransplant,depression,thetragicloss fourofwhichhealsoservedaspresidentoftheof his fianc who was murdered in the line of duty, LancasterDistrictYPD.Johnsonsaysservinginan attempt on his life due to mistaken identity and thesecapacitiesallowedhimtomeetlotsofotherseveralcaraccidents,includingtwoinvolving18 young people and gain the respect of his peers. Hewheelers.Atonepointheevengotinvolvedwith proudly shared that the youth group selected him toagang.Joiningagangwastheworstdecisionof 28IMARA'