Min. Velina Johnson - Developing a Lifelong Bible Reading Habit

Jacqui: 0:13

Welcome listeners to the first Tuesday of the New Year 2024. You know what we do on first Tuesdays we bring in dynamic teachers to share their insights on making Bible reading a consistent part of our daily lives. So, with that in mind, I'm excited to bring you a conversation I had with none other than the Minister Velina Johnson. Minister Johnson was born in West Philly, Pennsylvania, and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the tender age of 17 and rededicated her life to the Lord in 1996. She joined New Covenant Christian Church, which merged with the Bethel Temple Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1997. She spent the next 11 years learning under Apostle Earl C Hinton's Seniors' Ministry, acknowledging her call to the ministry in 2001. She was ordained as a Deaconess in 2002 and licensed as a Minister in 2005. In 2008, God guided her to First Baptist Church of Glena rden, where she was to receive a higher education and learn of him in a more excellent way To Pastor John K Jenkins' Sr's ministry. She has been diligent in allowing the Lord to transform her, applying God's word and serving God's people.

Jacqui: 1:58

Minister Velina has been using her calling to teach adult Bible Study and is also a Bible Institute instructor, having taught Old and New Testament Survey, she currently serves as the Vice President of Ministerial Ministry and a moderator for small groups for the Church's online campus. She loves people and witnessing God move in their lives. She encourages everyone she comes in contact with to be all that God wants them to be. Minister Valena has two adult children and two beautiful granddaughters. She is looking forward to seeing what else God has in store, and now we're eagerly anticipating what God has for us in our conversation with Minister Velina Johnson. Welcome everyone. I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where, weekly, we break down the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks. Minister Velina, welcome. Welcome to the Bible Basics Podcast. Well, good.

Min. Velina: 3:16

Hello, hello, hello. How are you? It was good to be here.

Jacqui: 3:20

Oh, I'm doing well, and doing even better because you accepted this invitation. So, thank you so much. It is my honor.

Min. Velina: 3:27

I was very honored to be asked and I appreciate the opportunity to come in and see what the Bible is like. I can share it with you.

Jacqui: 3:35

Great, great Ladies and gentlemen, I have to tell you I first took a class with Minister Velina in 2016, old Testament Survey and I took her class every year after that to cover the whole Old Testament and New Testament. I love her teaching style she's challenging but engaging and I'm sure that'll come out today and I feel like as a result of those classes, it really took my Bible reading and studying to a higher level and I'm really appreciative of that. So I'm just really looking forward to you talking to us a little bit about this topic of Bible reading and my listeners. We're all out there trying to develop a closer relationship with God and we know that a key is reading the Bible, but it's a tough habit to get into sometimes, and even as experienced as I am, I still have to make sure that I am intentional about my reading.

Min. Velina: 4:49

Some people think, oh, wdell they are teachers? No, I still need to get in the Word, I still need to speak to me, so it is something that I do on a regular basis Wonderful.

Jacqui: 4:59

Well, let's start at the beginning. Let's go back, just tell us about, even just about your journey to get to where you are, to being a Bible teacher, to being a Bible reader.

Min. Velina: 5:10

Well, as far as a teacher is concerned, the calling to teach has always been on my life. I used to teach young children and I used to teach gymnastics.

Jacqui: 5:20

So I've always taught.

Min. Velina: 5:21

Really, I've always taught, but I began really studying God's Word, or getting into God's Word, when I was about 39, and I had just rededicated my life to God, and so one of the mothers of the church, she took me under her wing and she gave me a Bible, and it was a King James Bible, and so I began to read. I've always been a person I loved words. So I was like, well, what does that mean? What does that mean? And so I would call her up and ask her what does that mean? And she goes well, it sounds like you need a different type of Bible because you're growing and because you're asking questions, you're hungry and you're thirsty. So I was like, ok, so she gave me that and she gave me a study Bible what it was? And in the study Bible it showed me references of scriptures that I could go to and look up, and it had explanations of certain things at the bottom, because it's a study Bible. So I began to enjoy all of that. And then I guess I was still hungry and she said now you need to get like a different, you know a different type of Bible that has more information, and then one with a concordance.

Min. Velina: 6:40

At the initial Bible I had did not have a concordance which I could go and look up words and then apply those words to what I was reading. And so that's just me. I've always been a person who loved school or learning, so that's why I was hungry. And God knew that I was that type of person, so he gave me people around me to kind of guide me and give me some information on certain types of Bibles and certain types of concordances and resources.

Min. Velina: 7:12

And I just went from there and on my own, I was like, not that I didn't need anybody, but that's all you needed is put Velina on the path. And I went and sometimes, if you would, I was single I'm still single but if you were to come in my bedroom, I had Bibles, concordance on the bed, a regular dictionary and I learned that as well to have a regular dictionary as well as Bible resources. And so I would just look up words and I'm like, okay, okay, and then go back and apply. And then it's like, okay, now I understand. So that's what I did.

Jacqui: 7:52

Thank you for sharing that. You've said so many things that really stood out to me. First of all, you you rededicated your life at 39. That's important to hear. So often we hear people saying well, I've been in the world since I was 16 years old, since I was 21 years old, I've been studying, I've been teaching, I've been so. When someone comes around and said, well, now I'm 40, it's too late now it's too late for me. Well, you're clear evidence that there's no time limit or age requirement or age limit to get closer to God and also to start reading that Bible?

Min. Velina: 8:32

Yes, yes. Now you asked me how I became a teacher was a church that I became a part of for 11 years. They asked me to teach the Sunday school and we had our children. We didn't have an adult Sunday. Well, we did have an adult Sunday school, but they asked to teach children. So I was always teaching the six and seven year olds. I taught them for a long time at that church and even coming to First Baptist, I taught the six and seven year olds and the adults. So it's just something that I've always been. I don't know how I got there, but it just happened.

Jacqui: 9:09

But that's what happens when you're called. It just happens. Yes, you don't know how God is gonna orchestrate all this. It just happens. We just have to be obedient.

Min. Velina: 9:18

Actually, I got an invitation from the Sunday school One day. It would landed in my email and said hey, we would like for you to teach our Sunday school. I'm like who told you I did? I looked around and that's how God did it. Serious, that's how it happened. And then and at that I didn't even have to they gave me a class immediately. I didn't have to go through probationary, which sometimes they do but God said no, you're going in there. So that's what I did ever since, and I've been still, to this day, teaching myself.

Jacqui: 9:48

Well, I'm thankful for that. I'm one of those who've benefited from your teaching and continue during Sunday school. Another thing you mentioned is the fact that you started out with a King James and started struggling a little bit with the words. You talk a little bit about your perspectives on Bible translations, particularly for new Bible readers.

Min. Velina: 10:12

Yes, first of all. Yeah, because I had not been experienced with the Bible at all up until I rededicated my life. The church that I was at, that's, the version that they used was the King James version. So after a while, oh, I grew to love and I still read it today. But I read it.

Min. Velina: 10:32

I didn't understand it for two reasons One, because it was unfamiliar the speech, and two, because it was truth that I was trying to get into my soul and my spirit to get rid of some things, because, remember, when you're unsaved or backslidden, you have a veil over your eyes and so you cannot understand truth. I forget where it says that the world does not understand. I believe it's in the New Testament that the world does not understand truth, but the Holy Spirit reveals it to you and for those who are gods or who are hungry, who want to know the truth. So that was that. And then one of the other Bibles that was given to me from people that I knew was the New King James version, which ran alongside of it, but then it put it in words that I could understand a little bit better. And then, after a while, when I started discerning, discovering other translations, I began to read portions of scripture and I'm like, ok, what does it say there? But I always encourage you to read scripture in other versions.

Min. Velina: 11:46

But please be careful of these other translations because sometimes they can go, I say, too far to the left In some of their applications. I'm like, wait. So if it's something the Holy Spirit will quicken me and go, yeah, I like that. I like that they'll get the point from that particular translation and it's good. And then you have to go. Some of the younger people, like some of the other versions, that speak their kind of language. I want to say, but long as it does not stray, I love the New King James version. I love the NIV, which is New International Version, and I'm beginning to love the GW, which is the God's Word version. It sometimes speaks things and hits you right in the face. So I love those translations. Yeah.

Jacqui: 12:33

I haven't heard of that one, the God's Word translation. Yes, it says GW, GW. Ok, that's easy to remember. So now I have my preferred Bible. Now I'm a new reader. Where do I start? Do I just open it up and put my finger on something, or how does that work?

Min. Velina: 12:56

Well, if you don't have me one to guide you, I mean, as long as you read, begin somewhere is good. But I had someone tell me that they should start at the book of in the New Testament, the book of John, which explains about who Jesus is and his I don't want to say his calling, but for lack of his calling and what his purpose was, because the Gospels have different versions of how Jesus was represented as man and as a servant and so forth. But we started the book of John and then also I would read I still do it. I tell people read the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs.

Min. Velina: 13:42

These are practical teachings, practical wisdom. That is not hard to understand, especially if you read it in a version that speaks a little plainer, but it's something to guide your life with and that's what a new person needs to know, because they need to know okay, you can't live the way that you used to live. This is how God wants us to live. It may seem a little upside down at first, but after a while, as they continue to read I don't want to say the older folks, because I may be in that group, but the other folks say read a Psalm and a Proverb according to the day of the month. If it's today's the second of a month, then you read Psalm 2 and Proverbs 2. And so they can do that. But Psalms, it is a bigger book than Proverbs. But just to begin somewhere, something that's easy and encouraging, those Psalms will be encouraging to them as well.

Jacqui: 14:39

I love the Psalms. Lately I've been listening to I have an audio book of the Bible and lately I've been listening to the book of Psalms, just focusing on that. First of all, the narrator has a great voice.

Min. Velina: 14:53

Max, something I can't think of his last name.

Jacqui: 14:56

But we hear David and others expressing every emotion praising God, rejoicing, angry, afraid, sad every emotion that we go through in our everyday lives. The Psalms expresses it beautifully. I always think that it's great to read it, it's awesome to listen to it and then even praying back those Psalms to God.

Min. Velina: 15:28

I just think it's an amazing experience and that's why it's good for a young reader, or even a not so young reader, to read the Psalms. Because of that very reason, they will see all kinds of emotions and things like oh okay, well, that fits kind of how I'm feeling today. I'm a little upset, I'm a little discouraged, I'm a little depressed or I'm joyful, I'm worshiping. So it's just good to read those and then go get that wisdom from the Proverbs and then get to know Jesus through John and then after a while they'll begin to be like me. I was hungry and you're like okay, I need more. And I like how you mentioned about the audio.

Min. Velina: 16:12

So nowadays we're very technical. You can get the Bible on your phone, on your iPad, on your desktop, and while you're washing dishes, listen to the word. While you're cleaning the house, listen to the word and even though you're not sitting right there, it's like what do they call osmosis? It's getting in, it's getting in. So that's part of become part of my study as well.

Min. Velina: 16:38

Some days I read and some days I listen, and because some days the Holy Spirit speaks differently as you're growing in the word, sometimes you may read something and you're like I did not understand that. Or I'll say for myself, lord, I'm not quite sure what that's supposed to mean, and maybe two months down the road I might have come back to it. And then it's like ding, a light bulb comes on, and because God says that sometimes you may read a particular book and you were not ready for that book or ready for the wisdom that was in there at that time, and so there's nothing wrong with that, it's your maturity level. As you mature, then God opens up his word more and more to you.

Jacqui: 17:20

That's a great response to often get the question from people why just don't understand? It doesn't make sense to me. Even not understanding it is okay. That's what it sounds like you're saying.

Min. Velina: 17:32

It's okay and don't get frustrated because people pull away from the Bible because I didn't understand it. But that's okay. You don't understand life sometimes. So when we don't understand, we have to step away sometimes and then come back and then make sure that we ask God what is it I'm supposed to be learning? What is it I'm supposed to be applying to my life in this word, and ask the Holy Spirit every time you open the book, can you show me? You know, what am I supposed to be reading today? How am I supposed to be reading today and invite God into your study?

Jacqui: 18:09

What's the benefit of reading the Bible anyway? Why read the?

Min. Velina: 18:15

Bible. Why read the Bible, dude? How much time we got left. Why read the Bible? Well, for anyone who says who has declared that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior needs to know read the Bible, because it is there our way of getting to know him. It is our way of, or his way of, speaking to us and it's our way of him, of him, of us maturing in the Word and discovering ourselves in it, discovering how God is his character. We need to know his character and the way we know his character is through his Word. We have to read it Now.

Min. Velina: 18:58

You know, every now and then you might like, sometimes, if you have an appointment or things like that, you may not get to do your study like you do first thing in the morning, and you know you may miss a day. But don't let it be so many days in between that you miss reading the Word and it helps. Defeat the enemy. Defeat the enemy of our hearts, our minds, when we have to go, have something to go to, if we are no longer in the world where we may have used to run to drugs or alcohol or sex or whatever. Now, when you have an issue, you run to the Word. You run to God and he'll show you.

Min. Velina: 19:34

Memorizing Scripture is also good, so that you have something to fight with when the enemy shows up, because he will, and especially if you're deciding that you want God's Word to be prevalent in your life and he's going to try to have distractions. You can't read, you can't do this, you can't do that. But just like I said, turn it on on your phone, turn it on you know, just like if you're in the car, you can turn it on in your car instead of listening to the. You know whatever that is that they listen to. But it is so important to read, to have the Bible every day in your spirit, in your food. It's your food, it's your daily bread.

Jacqui: 20:14

You hit on one of my challenging areas memorizing Scripture. Any tips to help me out with that?

Min. Velina: 20:23

Well, this is what I have done because I used to do it a lot, but then I had a lot of things going on in life and I had gotten away from it.

Min. Velina: 20:32

But what I do is I have set a timer on my phone that 8am every morning I have a Scripture that I have already, something that I might have been doing as my devotional. I might have been reading and a Scripture popped up and it hit me and I'm like, oh, I want that, so I copy it, I put it in there and 8am, and I do it for two weeks straight or three weeks straight, nothing but that Scripture. And then what I do is, as I go, I pile it on and pile it on. So now I have seven or eight Scriptures that I did. I remember, like today, Isaiah 30:18 is a memory Scripture which says and therefore, shall the Lord wait so that he may have grace upon you, and therefore shall the Lord be exalted that he may show, have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of judgment. Blessed are all they that wait for him.

Jacqui: 21:28

That's beautiful. First,

Min. Velina: 21:30

Thank you for sharing that tip, thank you for sharing that Scripture, thank you for blessing all of us with that Thank you so much you can also put stickers, I mean, you know, all around, wherever you feel that you're going to see it every day.

Min. Velina: 21:47

When you get dressed when you brush your teeth. But I like the reminder because it's a sound I'm like oh wait, I know it's, it must be 8 o'clock. I need to get that Scripture in me and start doing it. And after a while and I'm shocked at my that that I have seven Scriptures that that are in me that I remember I have this. This Scripture is Isaiah 30: 18 is up till November 5, and then I have a new one starting November 6. I don't even know what it is. I already set it up.

Jacqui: 22:18

So I love that you incorporated technology with that as well. And speaking of technology, you also mentioned the value of using audio books. What do you think about our Bibles on the phone versus paper Bibles?

Min. Velina: 22:31

I like to do both, but I have found, especially since you know we're a busy people, so lately I've had some challenges where I've had to have appointments and things like that. So I've had certain times where I can't grab my Bible but I have it on my phone. So while I'm waiting I can sit and read, you know, while I'm focusing, and it actually helping to read on my phone helps me to focus before I have to go in and listen to what a doctor may have to say and it prepares my heart. So I can't always grab my Bible If I'm at home, sure, I can open up my Bible, I can open up my concordance. All these things are available on electronically or in person, it just is just your preference. So I go back and forth every now and then to you know, just to feel like if I want. Today I have a. My chair sits right next to my book rack so I can just immediately want my devotion. Time is Lord, I'm going to read something for 10 minutes, so I grab something and I read.

Jacqui: 23:37

What a great example and model you are. Thank you so much. I'm trying. I'm not perfect but I'm trying.

Min. Velina: 23:44

You know I have days when it's like, wow, that was really good, lord. Oh, and also I'm sorry, thank you for reminding me when you, when you read, have a pencil or a pen and paper or journal nearby. And why would we have that? Because, whatever there may be something you can write down, the scripture that maybe you know touched your heart, or the Holy Spirit or God spoke to you about a particular scripture, something, a promise that he may have spoken to you out of that scripture, you want to have it written down so that you can come back at some point in time. I look at it enough for another two years, but when he inspires you to do so, you can go back and see that God is faithful to his word, because he spoke it to you already.

Jacqui: 24:36

Amen. I love that God is faithful to his word and you have evidence there that you've taken notes, you listen, you're listening to God.

Min. Velina: 24:46

I need to do better at my journaling. I do, I do write, I love to write, but I'm not. You know, and don't be, don't be upset. If you don't write every day, it's okay. But when you do go back and look at it and see that God is faithful to his promises, and to write down prayers, prayers that you find in that word, what was the reason why you went to that word? Was it because of something that was going on in your life? The word was there for us, to help us and to grow us. It's about God's kingdom, and his kingdom is in his word.

Jacqui: 25:18

Thank you for that. I'm a big fan of journaling, particularly prayer journaling. I'm pretty consistent with that and I can attest to what you're saying to be able to go back and see what God said to you or see where he answered prayers, or see what you've started studying and you want to continue studying. There's just so many benefits for that. Thank you so much, Minister Velina. You're welcome. You're welcome, my pleasure. Anything you want to share with us students before we do something fun.

Min. Velina: 25:57

Just be patient with yourself in your reading. The Bible is meant to be eaten in small chunks. If you're going to do this big old thing and you will get very discouraged and you will find yourself pulling away and the enemy wants to find any kind of way. He'll slip in there as subtle as he can. But be patient with yourself. Take small bites and after a while you'll realize that you've grown and you've word and when you're in environments such as on that church or Bible study that you'll be able to go oh, I just read that today. Oh, god is speaking to. Oh, I just read that and you'll get excited. When you get excited about the word, you know you're growing.

Jacqui: 26:41

Thank you, thank you. Well, that's what we're trying to do, as the whole purpose of this Bible basic podcast is for all of us to grow together, to be excited about God's word and to grow Including. Thank you. Well, thank you, but I'm not going to let you go without just a quick round of this or that or another or another term for title for it might be. Would you rather? Okay, now for that. Okay, I'll do that. Okay, here's one. Would you rather have dinner with Ruth or Esther?

Min. Velina: 27:18

Ruth or Esther, wow, can't say both. No I mean I think, I think both, both because they come from kind of the same humble background. I'm going to say Ruth.

Jacqui: 27:36

Okay, ruth. Okay, how about this? This is a tougher one. Do you want to be baptized by John the Baptist or hear Paul speak to the crowds about Jesus?

Min. Velina: 27:54

I'm going to say Paul, reason being is because that meat is more profitable, not that baptism is not, but that's a one time. You know, done and done in it. It's not that I've been baptized, sprinkled and get up and go, but the word is something that I can take in its ever and it's lasting and it helps change my life. And especially since he's talking about our Lord and Savior, I would think I would have all sit and talk and listen to Paul.

Jacqui: 28:21

Well, there are a few famous husbands in the Bible. How about, what would you prefer to marry Boaz, we see in the book of Ruth, or Xerxes and Esther?

Min. Velina: 28:38

He has eye problems. He wants to show his ladies off, so I'll take Boaz. He's more integral.

Jacqui: 28:51

Good answer. Good answer. Would you rather see the burning bush Talk to Moses, or see the fire consume Elijah's altar in front of the prophets of Baal?

Min. Velina: 29:09

Oh, now, that's a both one. One. Both are power. Maybe I'll take Moses at the burning bush, though seeing God stand up mighty, because that's towards the enemy Not being both, but just showing his mighty and his power and who he is he is the true and living God Would be a wonderful thing to stand and go, okay, y'all, y'all see that.

Jacqui: 29:42

I love that one too. It was a pure entertainment value.

Min. Velina: 29:47

The prophets like he did what? This is the one and true God, and the other one would just be to be in his presence. To just be in his presence.

Jacqui: 30:01

And here's one last one here. Moses read the Ten Commandments where Jesus preached the sermon on the mount.

Min. Velina: 30:12

Okay, Jesus preaching the sermon on the mount, but I would love to you know if that was too full and you couldn't go, couldn't get a seat. Couldn't get a seat Because everybody's going to want to come, I would go. I definitely hear Moses say the Ten Commandments Both are awesome, but Jesus is my first and he's my heart, so I would love to sit and just be in his presence in here. I say that to myself. All I was like I would love to have been somewhere to sit at his feet and just listen and tell people he's talking, he's talking. So, yes, those were good. I like that.

Jacqui: 31:00

But, Minister Velina, I need to thank you for giving us the opportunity to sit at your feet. Oh, thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences and your recommendations, tips, encouragement for the rest of us.

Min. Velina: 31:16

Amen, and I just want to say it all glory belongs to God because he is. I would have never thought I would be in this If you had told me I would have been a teacher of God's word. I would have said please, not me. You know what I've been through. But in the Bible it shows that God will use anyone who is flawed but is for his purpose. It's not about me, it's about him, and he will use whoever. So I'm grateful that he has chosen me to do that. Amen.

Jacqui: 31:44

Thank you so much. If you found this episode helpful, informative or inspirational in any way, would you please share with someone you know who needs to hear it? You can do that by sharing the podcast's website, Bible-basics. org, or you can click on the Share button right where you're listening now. In closing, may the grace and peace of God be with you now and always.