S. Cole Johnson – Honoree Saturday, May 19, 2018

Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN

HOST: JOY STYLES FOREWARD – JUSTICE SMITH 2013: STRUGGLE – MICHAEL CHAD MARTIN 2014: BACHELOR DEGREED MAN – VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON 2015: THE AUTHOR MAKES AN IMPACT – BRENDA NOEL 2016: TAKING OVER SOCIAL MEDIA – DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS 2017: THE CANDIDATE BECOMING A DOCTOR – DR. PEGGY CARPENTER TODAY: FROM STRUGGLE TO CHARITY – PASTOR JAMES LOWE KEYNOTE SPEAKER – L. MICHELLE PRICE-JOHNSON THOUGHTS – S. COLE JOHNSON BENEDICTION – LeVAN CRAIG CHAMPION

*THE FESTIVITIES BEGAN WITH A MONTAGE OF STILL PHOTOGRAPHS AND A COUPLE OF VIDEOS. SOME APPLAUSE WAS GIVEN EVERY TIME TO MAN OF HONOR WAS SEEN ON THE SCREEN. *AFTERWARDS, THE PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER INTRODUCED THE HOST OF TONIGHT’S AWARD CELEBRATION. THE STRIKING 5’ 7” BEAUTY DAZZLED THE CROWD AS SHE WALKED TO THE CENTER OF THE STAGE. SHE WAVES ‘HELLO’ TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND READIES HERSELF TO SPEAK.* JOY STYLES: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WELCOME TO THE 2018 VISIONARY LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD. IT’S BEEN A PRIVILEGE, A PLEASURE AND A DOWNRIGHT HONOR TO KNOW THIS MAN. IT’S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE I FIRST TALKED WITH HIM. MY RESPECT FOR HIM WAS STRONG WHEN WE MET, AND IT HAS GROWN STRONER SINCE THEN. NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, SCENARIO OR CIRCUMSTANCE, THIS MAN ALWAYS CARES ABOUT YOU, AND HE WANTS TO SEE YOU DO YOUR BEST. IF HE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THAT? WELL, IT’S NOT AN ISSUE, AT ALL, THERE, EITHER. THE MAN WE ARE HONORING TONIGHT IS SABURI CHUKU COLE JOHNSON – BUT YOU ALL KNOW HIM BEST AS COLE. *THE CROWD APPLAUDS AS SHE GESTURES TOWARD HIM. I STOOD AND GAVE THE CROWD A COUPLE OF WAVES AND KISSES BEFORE I SAT TO LISTEN MORE ON HOW THE NIGHT WAS GOING TO PROGRESS. JOY STYLES: THERE ARE A FEW SPECIAL PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SAY A FEW KEY WORDS ABOUT THE MAN WE’RE HONORING TONIGHT – AND WE’LL START WITH SOMEONE WHO ATTENDS THE SAME CHURCH HE ATTENDS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HE’S A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE AS WELL AS COLE – MR. JUSTICE SMITH. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS JUSTICE SMITH WALKED TO CENTER STAGE AND HUGGED JOY. SHE EXITED THE STAGE AS AN AMERICAN FLAG DROPPED FROM THE CEILING. THE APPLAUSE QUIETED AS JUSTICE PREPARED TO SING.*

FOREWARD SPEAKER – JUSTICE SMITH JUSTICE DID A FANTASTIC JOB AS THE THRONG WAS PLEASED WITH HIS EFFORTS. HE THEN WAITED FOR THE APPLAUSE TO SIMMER BEFORE HE CONTINUED WITH HIS THOUGHTS: JUSTICE SMITH: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE ARE ALL GATHERED HERE, TONIGHT, IN HONOR OF A SPECIAL MAN. HE’S ONE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH TREMENDOUS STRUGGLE. HE HAS ENDURED HIS FAIR SHARE OF PAIN. YET, HE CONTINUES TO BE A CHEERFUL GIVER OF HIS TIME, HIS HEART, AND HIS WISDOM. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN – I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY FRIEND …. MY BROTHA’ – MISTER S. COLE JOHNSON. *MORE APPLAUSE FROM THE AUDIENCE* JUSTICE SMITH: HOW CAN YOU EVER PUT INTO WORDS A FRIEND WHO DOES STICK CLOSER TO YOU THAN A BROTHER? I MEAN – THIS IS A MAN WHO WENT THROUGH TURMOIL, HIMSELF, YET FOUND THE TIME TO PRAY FOR MY HOUSEHOLD’S WELL-BEING. HE’S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE I TURN TO WHEN I WANT TO HASH OUT THE WORD OF GOD – BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW THAT I NEVER CENSOR WHAT GOD PUTS WITHIN ME. *SOUND LAUGHER IS EMITTED FROM THE AUDIENCE* JUSTICE SMITH: WE’VE LAUGHED TOGETHER. WE’VE CRIED TOGETHER. WE’VE SHARED WORPSHIP TOGETHER, BUT I THINK OF ONE KEY MOMENT THAT WILL ALWAYS STICK WITH ME ….

JUSTICE SMITH: NOW, HERE WE ARE IN JAMAICA. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME WITH OUR WIVES – AND WE DID. BUT COLE DECIDES TO USE THE VACATION AS A MISSIONS TRIP. THANKS BE TO GOD THAT WE HAVE WOMEN WHO LOVE THE LORD LIKE WE DO – BECAUSE THIS WAS A PICTURE WE TOOK ON OUR FIVE-YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY HONEYMOON BACK IN 2015. WE HAD A GREAT PICTURE OF A SUNSET, BUT COLE ACCIDENTLY ERASED THE SHOT WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO WORK MY PHONE. *THE CROWD LAUGHS* JUSTICE SMITH: BUT WE SHOWED SOME JAMACIANS THE BEAUTY THAT IS JESUS, LOVED ON OUR WIVES AND ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE BIT OF THE JOURNEY. BRUH? THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SHARE THIS STORY TONIGHT. *APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD*

*AS JOY WALKED BACK TO THE STAGE, THE TWO SHARED A QUICK WORD BEFORE JUSTICE LEFT. JOY ONCE AGAIN STOOD CENTER STAGE AND WAITED FOR THE APPLAUSE TO LESSEN IN INTENSITY. ONCE IT DID, SHE CONTINUED. JOY STYLES: THANK YOU, JUSTICE, FOR SUCH GREAT WORDS. I THINK YOU’LL HEAR A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS BE MENTIONED WHEN IT COMES TO COLE – AND THAT IS HIS HEART. I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT HE HAS A BIG ONE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER CAN ALSO ATTEST TO THIS AS WELL AS HE WAS A FELLOW COLLEGE CLASSMATE OF OUR HONOREE. SOMETIMES, WE AREN’T WITNESSED TO THE STRUGGLE WE ALL ENDURE BEFORE WE GET TO CERTAIN PLATEAUS. HOWEVER, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MORE THAN WILLING TO EXPOUND ON THAT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2014 GRADUATE – MR. MICHAEL CHAD MARTIN. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS THE MAN KNOWN AS ‘CHAD’ WALKED TO CENTER STAGE MEETING JOY. THEY SHOOK HANDS AND JOY EXITED THE STAGE TO ALLOW CHAD TIME TO SPEAK HIS WORDS.

STRUGGLE SPEAKER – MICHAEL CHAD MARTIN *CHAD LOOKS OUTWARD TO THE CROWD. HE THEN SAW ME AND POINTED IN MY DIRECTION. WITH A SMILE, I POINTED BACK TOWARD HIM AND HE THEN BEGAN TO SPEAK.* CHAD MARTIN: THANK YOU, JOY. *SIGHS* WOW. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY THAT SOMEONE I WENT TO COLLEGE WITH WOULD RECEIVE SUCH A HUGE HONOR? BUT UPON FURTHER REVIEW, IF IT WERE TO HAVE BEEN ANYONE WHO WOULD REACH THAT MILESTONE, I’M NOT SURPRISED IT’S COLE. IT ALL STARTED …. *POLITE APPLUASE FILLED THE ROOM AS CHAD STOPPED. HE CONTINUED AFTER A FEW SECONDS.* CHAD MARTIN: IT ALL STARTED WITH LITERALLY READING HIS STORY. WE SHARED A CLASS TOGETHER AND WE HAD TO SUBMIT AUTOBIOGRAPHIES TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER. WELL, HE SENT IN HIS, AND AFTER I READ IT, IT HAD A GREAT AND PROFOUND EFFECT ON ME. IT WAS A STORY LITTERED WITH HARD TIMES, TROUBLE AND HEARTACHE. BUT THROUGH IT ALL, HE MAINTAINED, KEPT FIGHTING AND NEVER QUIT. HE TOOK ONE SETBACK AFTER ANOTHER – AND KEPT GETTING BACK UP TO CONTINUE ONWARD IN THE FIGHT WITH LIFE. *THR CROWD ROARED AFTER HEARING THOSE WORDS. CHAD SMILED AS HE CONTINUED.*

CHAD MARTIN: WE SHARED AN ADULT NIGHT CLASS CALLED MHR AT TREVECCA, AND DURING OUR VERY FIRST NIGHT, HE SAID THAT HE WAS A SQUARE PEG TRYING TO FIT INTO ROUND HOLES ALL THROUGHOUT LIFE. HOWEVER, IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, HE JUST KEPT BEING POSITIVE. HE KEPT BOUNCING BACK. HE KEPT ONWARD WITH THE FIGHT. HE’S SOMEONE I’M PROUD TO CALL AN INSPIRATION – AND A FRIEND. LIFE GAVE HIM PUNCHES IN THE MOUTH – AND HE KEPT GETTING BACK UP . NOW – HE’S DOING ALL THE PUNCHING BECAUSE OF HIS WILL TO FIGHT AND WIN. COLE? THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION EVEN IN YOUR STRUGGLE. YOU’VE TAUGHT ME THAT THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS BUT IT IS THE LORD’S. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CROWD GAVE CHAD A ROUSING OVATION AS BOTH HE AND I NODDED AT EACH OTHER. JOY TOOK CENTER STAGE AGAIN AND THANKED HIM FOR THE WORDS. SHE READIED HERSELF TO SPEAK AFTER THE CROWD DIED DOWN. JOY STYLES: WOW. THANK YOU FOR THAT STORY, CHAD. IT’S SO NICE TO KNOW THAT I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE HE’S INSPIRED AND ENCOURAGED TO DO GREAT THINGS. THAT’S SIMPLY THE TRUE ESSENCE OF THIS MAN. HE WANTS GREATNESS FOR HIMSELF, BUT HE SEES GREATNESS IN EVERYONE ELSE – AND HE’S NOT AFRAID TO TALK TO YOUABOUT YOUR GREATNESS. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED FOR A FEW SECONDS AS JOY SMILED AND WAITED FOR THE APPLAUSE TO LESSEN.* JOY STYLES: OUR NEXT SPEAKER? I BELIEVE IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT IT IF WASN’T FOR THIS PERSON, THIS NIGHT WOULDN’T EXIST. SHE’S BEEN WITH HIM SINCE BIRTH. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN COLE’S MOTHER, AND A WONDERFUL WOMAN IN HER OWN RIGHT, MRS. VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON. *THE CROWD GAVE A RESPECTFUL ROAR AS MYMOTHER MADE HER WAY TO THE STAGE. TEARS STARTED TO FORM AS I WAS SEEING THIS EXTRAORDINARY FIGURE TAKE CENTER STAGE. SHE GREETED JOY AND GOT COMFORTABLE STANDING CENTER STAGE. JOY EXITED AND MY MOTHER BEGAN SPEAKING. TO THE THRONG.

BACHELOR DEGREED MAN SPEAKER – VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON *MY MOTHER WAS BEAMING WITH PRIDE BEFORE SHE SPOKE. SHE OPENED A FOLDER TO EXPOSE HER WORDS AND, WITH POISE, DOVE RIGHT INTO SPEAKING.* VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON: THANK YOU , EVERYONE. IT’S AN HONOR FOR ME BECAUSE NOT ONLY TO I LOVE OUR HONOREE, I’M ALSO – VERY PROUD OF HIM. *THE CROWD POLITELY APPLAUDED BEFORE SHE CONTINUED.* VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON: I REMEMBER TALKING TO SABURI – YOU HAVE TO EXCUSE ME. HE’S NOT COLE TO ME, HE’S SABURI. *THE CROWD LAUGHS A LITTLE BEFORE SHE CONTINUED.* VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON: I REMEMBER TALKING TO MY SON ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION. I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT WAY BACK WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. BUT MANY OF YOU MOTHERS, OUT THERE, KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO TALK TO A STUBBORN YOUNG MAN. YOU’D BE MORE SUCESSFUL TALKING TO A BRICK WALL. *THE CROWD LAUGHS HARD AS I BURIED MY HEAD AND SHOOK IT. MY MOTHER CONTINUED.* VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON: BUT THROUGH IT ALL, I WAS PROUD OF MY BABY. I ENDLESSLY TALK ABOUT HIM AS IF HE’S STILL SEVEN YEARS OLD. THAT’S THE BEAUTY ABOUT THIS NIGHT. ALL THE DREAMS I HAD FOR HIM ARE BEING SURPASSED BECAUSE OF HOW GOOD OF A MAN MY SON IS. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS SHE CONTINUED SPEAKING.*

VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON: ONE OF THE PROUDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE WAS WHEN I GOT THE CHANCE TO SEE MY SON WALK ACROSS THE STAGE WITH HIS COLLEGE DEGREE FOUR YEARS AGO. HE LISTENED TO WHAT I SAID, AFTER ALL, AND ACHIEVED SOMETHING I WANTED FOR HIM. BUT – I HAD TO LEARN THAT IT WAS SOMETHING HE NEEDED MORE THAN I WANTED ITFOR HIM. AS PAINFUL AS IT WAS, I GAVE HIM THE SPACE TO GROW AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A DEGREE. NOT ONLY DID HE ACHIEVE IT, HE WAS CUM LAUDE, AS WELL. I KNEW MY BABY WAS SMART. *THE CROWD LAUGHS AS MY MOTHER CONTINUED.* VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON: AFTER THE CEREMONY, HE WALKS UP TO ME AND SAYS, “THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.” SON? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I LOVE YOU AND AM PROUD YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE, TODAY.

*THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS I BLEW A KISS IN MY MOTHER’S DIRECTION. SHE BLEW ONE BACK AT ME AS SHE HUGGED JOY, WHO MET HER AT CENTER STAGE. AS MY MOTHER LEFT, JOY CONTINUED, BUT ALLOWED THE APPLAUSE OF THE SPECIAL MOMENT TAKE PRECEDENT.* JOY STYLES: ONE MORE TIME FOR VYONNE CARTER-JOHNSON! *THE CROWD INTENSIFIED ITS APPLAUSE AS I FELT SO HONORED BY MY MOTHER SAYING THESE NICE THINGS ABOUT ME. AS THE CROWD LESSENED ITS INTENSITY IN APPLAUDING, JOY SPOKE ONCE AGAIN.* JOY STYLES: THAT WAS SENSATIONAL! THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A MOTHER’S LOVE. NOTHING LIKE IT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER KNOWS OUR HONOREE WELL. SHE’S HELPED HIM EDIT HIS TWO BOOKS AND HAS PRAYED WITH HIM ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. WOULD YOU PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER, BRENDA NOEL. *THE CROWD APPLAUDS AS BRENDA MADE HER WAY TO CENTER STAGE. SHE AND JOY EXCHANGED A HUG BEFORE BRENDA TOOK CENTER STAGE. JOY EXITED AND ALLOWED BREANDA HER MOMENT TO SPEAK HER WORDS.*

THE AUTHOR MAKES AN IMPACT SPEAKER – BRENDA NOEL *BRENDA STEADIED HERSELF BEFORE SPEAKING. SHE SMILED AT ME AND THEN LOOKED BACK TO THE AUDIENCE.* BRENDA NOEL: IN THE BIBLE, IT SAYS, “A GIFT OPENS THE WAY FOR THE GIVER AND USHERS HIMSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GREAT.” TONIGHT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT SCRIPTURE. COLE IS A GIFT, AND BECAUSE OF THAT GIFT, HIS WAY HAS BEEN OPENED TO ALL OF YOU, OUT HERE. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS BRENDA SMILED AND CONTINUED SPEAKING.* BRENDA NOEL: WHEN I FIRST MET MY BROTHER IN CHRIST IN 2012, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. THEN, HE TALKED TO MY BUSINESS PARTNER, DAWN, AND MYSELF ABOUT A BOOK HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING. WHEN I FINALLY READ THE MANUSCRIPT OF THE BOOK IN 2013, IT BLEW MY MIND AWAY. I JUST THOUGHT, “HE’S GOING TO BLESS SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THESE WORDS.” AND NOW ALL OF YOU KNOW ABOUT HIS FIRST BOOK ENTITLED, “EVERYMAN: MY 365-DAY JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE.” *THE CROWD APPLAUDED ONCE AGAIN AS BRENDA CONTINUED SPEAKING TO THE THRONG.* BRENDA NOEL: AFTER HE PUBLISHED HIS SECOND BOOK, “FEAR: MY BEST FRIEND,” IT AMAZED ME TO SEE THE ATTENTION HE RECEIVED AT HIS BOOK SIGNING.

BRENDA NOEL: I READ BOTH BOOKS, AND IT TOUCHED MY HEART AND GOT TO SOME ISSUES I’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH. IN ATTENDING HIS BOOK SIGNING, I WAS HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THE EXACT SAME THING. HE JUST HAS A WAY TO REACH INSIDE OF YOU WITH HIS WORDS AND MAKES YOU SAY, “WOW! I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO THAT.” WELL, IF HE’S AN EVERYMAN WHO IS STILL GRIPPED IN FEAR, NOW? I FIND THAT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING HIS THIRD BOOK BECAUSE HE’S GROWING AS A WRITER AND THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING. I CAN TELL YOU AS A WRITER, MYSELF, YOU LONG FOR THIS GROWTH. IT’S A JOY TO READ HIS MATERIAL – AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EVEN MORE BOOKS AND MORE BOOK SIGNINGS. THANK YOU, COLE, FOR BLESSING US ALL WITH YOUR WRITING GIFT. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS JOY WALKS OUT TO CENTER STAGE. BRENDA BOWED TO ME AS I SAID, “THANK YOU” TO HER. *

*JOY WHISPERED A COUPLE OF GOOD WORDS TO BRENDA, AND SHE, TO JOY AS SHE WALKED OFF THE STAGE. JOY WAITED FOR THE APPLAUSE TO SIMMER BEFORE CONTINUING. JOY STYLES: THANK YOU, BRENDA. LET’S KEEP THIS NIGHT MOVING. OUR NEXT SPEAKER MET OUR HONOREE AS HE PURSUED HIS SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY TO RECEIVE HIS MASTERS DEGREE IN SOCIAL AND MOBILE MEDIA. HE’S THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – LADIES AND GENTLEMEN – DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS DR. KIOUSIS WALKED TO CENTER STAGE. HE AND JOY SHOOK HANDS BEFORE THE HOSTESS RETREATED BACKSTAGE. DR. KIOUSIS PREPARED HIMSELF TO ADDRESS HIS AUDIENCE.*

TAKING OVER SOCIAL MEDIA SPEAKER – DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS *DR KIOUSIS LOOKED OVER THE CROWD AFTER THE APPLAUSE FADED. HE NODED AS HE BEGAN* DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS: THANK YOU, JOY. HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? *THE CROWD BRIEFLY ROARED.* DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS: THE ONLY TIME I VISIT NASHVILLE IS WHEN THE GATORS HAVE THEIR WAY WITH VANDERBILT. *SOME BOOS WERE EMITTED IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT DR. KIOUSIS EXPECTED IT AS HE CONTINUED.* DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS: BUT TONIGHT, I’M HONORING A GATOR WHO IS SO TALENTED, SO NICE, SO GIVING OF HIMSELF THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE HE CALLS HOME, IT’S A TREAT TO BE AROUND HIM. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS DR. KIOUSIS CONTINUED.* DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS: COLE TOOK PART IN A FOIRST-OF-ITS-KIND SOCIAL MEDIA MASTERS’ PROGRAM. I KNEW THAT HE WOULD LEARN A LOT OF THINGS. WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW WAS THAT HE WOULD TAKE THOSE THINGS AND APPLY IT TO SO MANY ENTITIES HELPING OUT BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, ENTERTAINERS AND NON-PROFITS ALIKE – WHILE PUSHING HIS OWN VEHICLE OF WRITING TO THE MASSES.

DR. SPIRO KIOUSIS: WHAT WE TRY TO TEACH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IS THAT THE WORLD IS AT THEIR FINGERTIPS. SOCIAL MEDIA MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO SHRINK THIS GREAT BIG WORLD DOWN TO SIZE. WELL – COLE STARTED EXPANDING HIS NETWORK OF WORK TO SO MANY PLACES, IT WAS MIND-BOGGLING! HE’S HELPED CHURCHES WITH MISSIONS. HE’S HELPED NEWS PROGRAMS WITH CONTENT. HE’S HELPED SPORTS TEAMS WITH IMAGING. YOU NAME IT, AND HE HAS DONE HIS PART TO HELP MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED. I’M PROUD THAT I CAN CALL HIM AN ALUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – BECAUSE HE HAS TRULY BECOME A CLASS ACT. COLE – THANK YOU FOR GRACING OUR DOORS WITH YOUR PRESENCE. MAY YOU CONTINUE TO GROW AS YOUR BRANS DOES IN BLESSING ALL THOSE WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

*THE CROWD APPLAUDED DR. KIOUSIS AS JOY MET HIM AT CENTER STAGE. HE WALKED AWAY WAVING TO THE CROWD AND ME AS JOY SILENTLY WAITED FOR THE CROWD NOISE TO DECREASE IN INTENSITY. JOY STYLES: THANK YOU, DR. WOW, COLE ! YOU’VE BEEN VERY BUSY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. NICE! WELL – OUR NEXT SPEAKER RESIDES RIGHT HERE IN MUSIC CITY …. *THE CROWD POLITELY HOLLERED AS JOY CONTINUED.* JOY STYLES: …. AND SHE’S HERE\, TONIGHT TO HELP HONOR THIS MAN WITH A VISION. LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY’S OWN DR. PEGGY CARPENTER. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS DR. CARPENTER WALKED TO CENTER STAGE GREETING JOY IN THE PROCESS. AS JOY WALKED AWAY , DR. CARPENTER PREPARED HERSELF TO SPEAK. WHEN SHE WAS READY, THOUGHTS COLLECTED AND ALL, SHE ELOQUENTLY SPOKE.*

THE CANDIDATE BECOMING A DOCTOR SPEAKER – DR. PEGGY CARPENTER DR. PEGGY CARPENTER: IT WAS AROUND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IN 2012 WHEN I SAW WALK INTO MY OFFICE A DIAMOND NEEDING TO BE POLISHED. I HAD TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE NEEDED TO RECOGNIZE HIMSELF AS THE DIAMOND HE ALREADY IS. SOMETIMES, WHEN YOU’RE UP CLOSE, IT’S HARD TO RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTY YOU HAVE IN YOU AND THE POWER YOU POSSESS. SO – TO SEE COLE BLOSSOM FROM THAT MOMENT – ONE WHERE HE DIDN’T TINK HE COULD CUT IT AS A COLLEGE STUDENT - TO NOW MAKES ME FEEL SO PROUD. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS DR. CARPENTER CONTINUED.* DR. PEGGY CARPENTER: HE GRADUATED FROM TREVECCA IN 2014 WITH A BACHELORS’ DEGREE. HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WITH A MASTERS DEGREE IN 2016. SO HE AND I TALKED ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DO NEXT – AND HE SAID, “I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH.” NOW – I’M THINKING, “YOU’RE AN AUTHOR. YOU’RE A PERSONALITY. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH TEACHING?” HE SAID, “I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE YOUTH AS WELL AS THOSE MY AGE OR OLDER. I OWE IT TO THEM.” SO I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT GETTING A PhD. I WANTED HIM TO COME BACK HOME TO TREVECCA TO GET IT, BUT HE DECIDED OTHERWISE. I TOLD HIM THAT THE JOURNEY WOULD BE HARD, BUT IT’S WELL WORTH IT AND HE CAN DO IT. HE ASKED ME, “WHAT REWARD WOULD I GET SHOULD I GRADUATE?” *DR. CARPENTER GESTURED TOWARD THE SCREEN RIGHT BEHIND HER.*

*THE CROWD ROARS IN COMPLETE LAUGHTER AND APPLAUDS SOON THEREAFTER. DR. CARPENTER WORE A HUGE SMILE AS SHE CONTINUED SPEAKING.* DR. PEGGY CARPENTER: I GUIDED HIS UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC CAREER. I EVEN TAUGHT A CLASS WHERE HE WAS MY STUDENT. I KNEW, THEN, WHAT I KNOW NOW. HE’S A WRITER. HE’S A PHILANTHROPIST. HE’S AN OUTSPOKEN MAN. HE’S A TALENT BEYOND COMPARE – AND COME THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WE ALL WILL START CALLING HIM DR. S.COLE JOHNSON. *THE CROWD ROARS IN APPLAUSE AS DR. CARPENTER JOINED IN THE APPLAUSE. JOY WALKED TO CENTER STAGE AND ALSO JOINED IN THE APPLAUSE. SHE SHOOK DR. CARPENTER’S HAND DURING THE APPLAUSE.*

*DR. CARPENTER WALKED OFF THE STAGE AS JOY WAITED FOR THE APPLAUSE TO LESSEN. SHE WAITED SOME MORE BEFORE IT FINALLY DID DECREASE IN INTENSITY.* JOY STYLES: THANK YOU DR. PEGGY CARPENTER. THIS ALL BRINGS US TO TODAY AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER HAS BEEN CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH COLE’S GROWTH AS A MAN OF GOD FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE TO YOU THE SENIOR PASTOR OF BETHEL WORLD OUTREACH CENTER – JAMES LOWE. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS PASTOR LOWE JOINED JOY AT CENTER STAGE. AS JOY WALKED OFF THE STAGE, PASTOR LOWE POINTED IN MY DIRECTION, SHOUTING WORDS OF APPRECIATION TO ME. I RETURNED THE APPRECIATION AS HE BEGAN TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE.

FROM STRUGGLE TO CHARITY SPEAKER – PASTOR JAMES LOWE PASTOR JAMES LOWE: LET ME START BY SAYING THAT, “AS IRON SHARPENS IRON, SO DOES ONE MAN SHARPEN ANOTHER.” I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT I SHARE A BROTHERHOOD WITH THIS MAN. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT MANY THINGS OVER THE YEARS, AND ONE THING IS CENTRAL TO BROTHER COLE’S WELL-BRING: HE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT GOD LOVES THEM. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS THE PASTOR CONTINUED.* PASTOR JAMES LOWE: WHEN I MET HIM, HE WAS STRUGGLING, BUT WE ALL STRUGGLE. IT’S NOT UNCOMMON, BUT THE MORE MATURE IN CHRIST HE BECAME, THE MORE HE SHARED HIS STRUGGLES IN LIFE. HE SAID THAT HE WAS A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE, BUT NOW HE’S THAT SAME SQUARE PEG FITTING INTO SQUARE HOLES. I’M HERE TO TELL YOU, TONIGHT, THAT THROUGH HIS STRUGGLE CAME A TRIUMPH. THE SETBACKS WERE NOTHING MORE THAN SETUPS! LOSSES WERE NOTHING MORE THAN AN OPPORTUNITY GAINED. THROUGH IT ALL, MY BROTHER HAS LASTED THROUGH THE SCHOLASTIC CHALLENGES, THE LIFE CHALLENGES, THE HOME CHALLENGES AND THE SPIRITUAL CHALLENGES. HE WOULD BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT, “CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME!” I WOULD CHALLENGE HIM ON THAT, AT FIRST, BUT THEN I STARTED TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER. HE MEANS THAT IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE CHARITABLE, YOU MUST BE KIND TO YOURSELF. THE LORD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER, AND IF WE DON’T FEED OURSELVES WITH JOY, WE MOST ASSUREDLY WON’T BE CHEERFUL IN OUR GIVING – BUT RATHER DUTIFUL. HE HAS TALKED ABOUT NOT WANTING TO TRY GOD WITH FINANCES, BUT LEARNED THAT HE SHOULD TRY GOD. SEE IF HE COULD OUT-GIVE HIM. WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO TRY TO OUT-GIVE HIM, THAT’S WHEN THE BLESSINGS FLOW! *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS AN IMAGE POPS ON THE SCREEN.*

*PASTOR LOWE GESTURED TOWARD THE SCREEN OF A CHILD DRINKING WATER FROM A FOUNTAIN.* PASTOR JAMES LOWE: WE DID A MISSION IN THE SUDAN WHERE WE HELPED GIVE A COMMUNITY RUNNING WATER FOR THEIR VILLAGE. IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE A BLESSING TO THOSE PEOPLE WITH MY BROTHER ALONGSIDE ME. AND TO SEE HIS GROWTH IS AMAZING! I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I’VE LEARNED ASMUCH FROM HIM AS HE EVER COULD FROM ME. I THANK GOD FOR THIS BROTHER, AND JESUS? MAY YOU ALWAYS GUIDE HIM IN EVERY STEP HE TAKES. IN JESUS’ NAME. AMEN! GOD BLESS YOU ALL! *THE CROWD APPLAUDSED PASTOR LOWE AS JOY WALKED TO CENTER STAGE. THEY HUGGED AS THE PASTOR EXITED. JOY AWAITED THE THRONG TO QUIET THEMSELVES.*

*THE CROWD SILENCED THEMSELVES AS JOY SPOKE ONCE AGAIN.* JOY STYLES: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, PASTOR LOWE. IT IS SOMETHING ELSE TO SEE SUCH GREAT WORK COME FROM SO MANY DEDICATED MEN. AND NOW – WITH A FEW WORDS, OUR NEXT SPEAKER KNOWS MORE ABOUT OUR HONOREE THAN ANYONE. SHE IS THE WIFE OF OUR VISIONARY AND IS EXCITED TO SHARE IN THIS MOMENT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN MY CLOSE, PERSONAL FRIEND – L. MICHELLE PRICE-JOHNSON, ESQ. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED AS MICHELLE WALKED TO CENTER STAGE. SHE AND JOY HUGGED AND SHARED A PERSONAL EXCITED MOMENT BEFORE THE HOSTESS WALKED OFFSTAGE. MICHELLE LOOKED OUTWARD TO THE CROWD BEFORE SPEAKING.*

*THE CROWD QUIETED DOWN FOR MY WIFE TO SPEAK.* MICHELLE PRICE-JOHNSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHEN WE MET ALMOST NINE YEARS AGO , THE LORD TOLD ME TO ‘FAITH HIM OUT.’ I’M GLAD I DID. I LOOK AT HIM, NOW, AND THE BRILLIANCE HE’S ACCOMPLISHED – WITH MORE BRILLIANCE TO COME – IT’S AN ABSOLUTE DREAM. HE’S MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER. HOPEFULLY, I AM HIS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW – I’M SO PROUD OF HIM. *SHE LOOKED DIRECTLY AT ME.* MICHELLE PRICE-JOHNSON: LIONHEAD! YOU’RE AMAZING. YOU’RE A GREAT MAN, A WONDERFUL HUSBAND, AND I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR GROWING INTO THE POWERFUL MAN OF GOD YOU ARE TODAY. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED MICHELLE AS A MOUTHED, “I LOVE YOU, TOO,” TO HER.*

*JOY MET MICHELLE AT CENTER STAGE WHERE THEY EXCHANGED ANOTHER HUG BEFORE MY WIFE EXITED THE STAGE. JOY WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE CROWD TO SETTLE. ONCE THEY DID, JOY SPOKE TO THE THRONG. JOY STYLES: GIVE IT UP, AGAIN, FOR MY FRIEND, MICHELLE PRICE-JOHNSON. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED ONCE AGAIN BEFORE JOY SPOKE ONCE AGAIN.* JOY STYLES: AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT’S THAT TIME. IT’S TIME FOR US TO HONOR THE MAN HIMSELF – AND HEAR FROM THE MAN, HIMSELF. HE’S A CLASS OF 2014 GRADUATE OF NASHVILLE’S TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY. HE’S A CLASS OF 2016 GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. HE’S AN AUTHOR OF TWO BOOKS. HE’S A BLOGGER FOR COUNTLESS ORGANIZATIONS. HE LOVES TO HELP AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I GIVE TO YOU THE MAN OF THE HOUR – THE SOON-TO-BE-DOCTOR, MR. S. COLE JOHNSON! *THE CROWD GAVE ME A STANDING OVATION. I TEARED UP AS SOON AS I AROSE OUT MY SEAT. I WALKED UP THE STAIRS TO THE STAGE WHERE I GREETED MY FRIEND, JOY. WE HUGGED AND SHARED A COUPLE OF CONGRATULATORY WORDS BEFORE I TOOK CENTER STAGE.*

*THE CROWD WAS STILL STANDING FOR ME. SO I GESTURED FOR THEM TO TAKE THEIR SEATS.* S. COLE JOHNSON: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WOW! *THE APPLAUSE FINALLY SIMMERED LONG ENOUGH TO WHERE I COULD SPEAK TO THE CROWD.* S. COLE JOHNSON: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! IT IS MY HONOR TO RECEIVE THE 2018 VISIONARY LEADER OF THE YEAR AND TO HAVE SO MANY LEADERS TALK ABOUT ME IN THIS LIGHT. SOLOMON, IN THE BIBLE, SAID, “WITHOUT VISION, THE PEOPLE WILL PERISH.” FOR A LONG TIME, I WAS PERISHING – BECAUSE I HAD NO VISION. NOW – MY VISIONS ARE HAVING VISIONS. *THE CROWD LAUGHED AND APPLAUDED BEFORE I SPOKE AGAIN.* S. COLE JOHNSON: TO CHAD? YOU’VE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A LIFT WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST. MOM? YOU’RE UTTERLY AMAZING – AND I LOVE YOU. BRENDA? YOU’RE SOMETHING SPECIAL. THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME WITH MY MANUSCRIPTS. DR. KIOUSIS AND DR. CARPENTER – OR PEGGY - YOU TWO SHOWED ME WHAT I WAS ACADEMICALLY CAPABLE OF DOING. I THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. PASTOR LOWE? IN YOU, I HAVE MET A BROTHER I THOUGHT I NEVER HAD. I LOVE YOU, MAN. MY GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL WIFE, MICHELLE: YOU SHOWEDME THAT REACHING FOR THE STARS WAS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I’M THE MOST BLESSED USBAND ON THE PLANET. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, BABE. JOY? THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB AS HOSTESS. I LOVE YOU, SIS. AND TO MY BROTHA’, JUSTICE.: I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU. LOOK ON THE SCREEN. *I GESTURED ONTO THE SCREEN TO A PICTURE OF ….*

*AFTER A FEW ‘AAAHS’ THE CROWD APPLAUDED AND I SMILED.* S. COLE JOHNSON: I SAVED THAT PICTURE FOR TONIGHT! LOVE YOU, BRO. AND TO THE AUDIENCE? I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH ME IN MY GROWTH TO BLESS PEOPLE. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHEROUSNESS OF GOD – AS AM I. THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY YOU BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING! *THE CROWD GAVE ME YET ANOTHER STANDING OVATION. I WAS COMPLETELY FLOOREDBY THE GESTURE AS JOY WALKED TO CENTER STAGE TO JOIN ME. SHE WHISPERED IN MY EAR TO STAY ON STAGE. SO I DID, WALKING BEHIND HER SO SHE COULD TAKE CENTER STAGE YET AGAIN. *

*JOY TOOK CENTER STAGE ONCE MORE AND SPOKE.* JOY STYLES: NOW, BEFORE WE CALL IT A NIGHT, AT THE INSISTENCE OF OUR HONOREE, OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL PRODUCE THE BENEDICTION. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. PASTOR LeVAN CHAMPION. *THE CROWD APPLAUDED MY COUSIN AS HE TOOK CENTER STAGE ALONG WITH JOY AND ME. SHE WALKED TO WHERE I STOOD AND DID THE SAME. WE BOTH BOWED OUR HEADS AS THE MAN KNOWN AS CRAIG LED US IN PRAYER.*

PASTOR LeVAN CRAIG CHAMPION: LET US PRAY. FAHTER GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS SPECIAL MAN. BLESS HIM AS HE CONTINUNES ON YOUR PATH TO BRING YOU TO OTHERS. MAY HIS GIFTS OPEN THE WAY FOR HIM TO GIVE EVEN MORE AND USHER HIM INTO THE PRESENCE OF MORE GREAT PEOPLE. MAY HE KNOW HE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH YOU WHO STRENGTHENS HIM. MAY YOU OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR EVEN MORE BLESSINGS FOR HIM HE WOULD NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE. NOW BLESS EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING, TONIGHT. GIVE THEM TRAVELLING GRACE TO MAKE IT TO WHEREVER THEY HAVE TO GO. MAY THEY BECOME BLESSED IN YOU AS IN THE AGE TO COME, THEY ALL TASTE YOUR LIFE EVERLASTING. IN JESUS’ NAME – AMEN!!! JOY STYLES: GOODNIGHT, EVERYBODY!!! *ALL PARTIES FILED OUT OF THE BUILDING AS THE EVENT FADED TO BLACK.*