| After years of owning their own carpet business, Roy and Pat Johnson felt a calling to people who were less fortunate. "The Lord saved me in 1978", says Roy. "He changed my life and put a burden on my heart to help people. It has become God's will for my life", he continued.
In 1980, Roy started Providence Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit organization. He started his service for the Lord by preaching in prisons, missions, evangelistic trips and even on street corners. "Brother Roy" was out spreading the gospel. "I just wanted to reach out to those who were in need", says Roy.
Then in 1985, Roy had a burden to help women with unwanted pregnancies. "I wondered where all the Christians were and why no one was doing anything about all these abortions", he says. "It's not enough to say don't do that and then not give them an alternative. So that is how the Dalton Pregnancy Center was born".
Earlier in Roy's ministry, he had preached frequently at a local shelter. The shelter was closed and the Lord again placed it on Roy's heart to step up and fill the void. In 1985, the Open Door Mission first opened its doors to the public.
The ministry continued to grow and in 1989, Providence Ministries acquired what is now its main headquarters in Dalton, Georgia. It was a large 51,000 square foot retail store that needed a lot of work. But, Brother Roy saw its potential and during the blizzard of 1993, the doors were officially opened to the public. "During that storm, we were the only ones to still have power and everything was shut down. Even the interstate was closed. We had over 400 people sleeping in our new shelter for the homeless", says Roy.
Pat has faithfully worked along side of her husband for many years and wears many hats. She does everything from data entry to signing checks. She is affectionately called Ms. Pat.
Under the leadership of Brother Roy and Ms. Pat, the mission has come a long way in 27 years. With Our Master's Camp drug and alcohol recovery program ministry, satellite missions in other towns, along with our three thrift store locations, the ministry has grown to over forty employees who help thousands of people every year. Even though the ministry continues to grow, one thing has always remained the same - the ministry is here to reach out with God's love by spreading the Gospel to help people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
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