“I am still trying to figure that out,” he says, reflecting on a life marked by hard work, risk, and seasons of change. Raised in McBee, South Carolina, John attended high school in Hartsville and later Clemson University. In the years that followed, his path was anything but linear. He started a men’s shirt company that saw both success and failure.

Some people grow up in church. Others grow up around it. Jeremy Johnson was one of those kids. From VBS programs to Sunday mornings with his family, he was always near the things of God. He learned the songs. He knew the stories. He showed up to all the activities. But like he says today, “I was aware of God because I was close to Him. But I didn’t yet know what a true relationship with Him really meant.”

Joe Santana, a 77-year-old participant recently released from a 6-year prison sentence, understands the significance of living his life entirely guided by the whispers of direction from the Holy Spirit.

🎨 It’s not about pencils or paper. It’s about presence. There’s no spotlight. No stage. Just a simple lesson. It often ends with a rustle of papers, a laugh about how “This isn’t anyone’s future career,” and a cheerful goodbye. From the outside, it may seem like an insignificant blip in the week.