About Us

Our Story

I experienced the call on my life when God whispered “I have called you to come alongside the lost and brokenhearted. Those who are outside of my will.” It was never a thought that I would start a ministry but weeks later God woke me up at 3:00 am and said “David, I have created you to be an interruption!” Little did I know that it would be an 8-year interruption and counting. Lost Sheep Ministries Int’l (LSMI) was born out of this interruption.

Our Need

Operating a ministry of this kind requires substantial resources—both financial and human. Pastor Dave has been the primary laborer and driving force behind its operations, carrying the full weight of responsibility on his broad and capable shoulders.

But no single person can be expected to steer a mercy ship alone. It takes a dedicated crew of compassionate individuals, all rowing in the same direction, to reach the other shore. As the ministry continues to grow, so do its needs. We must provide the means to enlist others who can join Pastor Dave in this mission, sharing the load and expanding the reach.

As Moses’s father-in-law wisely said to him, “It is not good to bear this burden entirely by yourself.”

Our Programs

In addition to our On-Call Addiction Crisis Ministry (OCACM), we operate 3 other ministry programs as well. These are our Recovery House Ministry, Speaking Ministry and Street Outreach Ministry. Our OCACM receives a call from someone in crisis seeking our help. Our team of crisis transporters. lead by Dave springs into action. This may include finding immediate shelter, a pickup of the individual at their location and bringing them to either a medical facility, addiction center or sometimes even jail.

Vision

Vision for the LSMI came out of an organic response by Dave Johnson, founder of the ministry, to answering his phone. His number had been posted in several social media sites and went viral. Calls from people were desperate to find help for themselves or their loved ones and friends started pouring in.

Dave is faithful to go out to find them, drive them to treatment, visit them in the jails, comfort them in the hospitals, get them into treatment, pray with them in the streets, counsel them, advocate at their court hearings, marry them, and weep with those who had to bury their loved ones. The work was endless and the laborers were few even though the need continued to grow.

The crisis was reflected the growing number of phone calls he was receiving. God told him He was using him as an “Interrupter” to stop the enemy’s plan to steal God’s sheep. He began to look for someone to help him. Dave formed a non-profit and a board to help him strengthen and establish a more focused vision and stabilize a base of support to help more people. As Willian Booth, founder of the Salvation Army said of his rescue work among the alcoholics in England, “We formed an Army.” We are forming an army of those rescued to rescue those who still are caught in the grip of addiction and death.

Meet Our Board Members

David Johnson

Founder & Chaplain
God spoke to me while hugging the mother of a 19 year old guy who had died of an overdose, whom I had helped get into a program.

Marjorie Cole

President
Marjorie Cole, M.S. founder of Life Recovery, Inc. is the President of Lost Sheep Ministries, Int’l.

Jarrol Cole

Secretary
Jarrol Cole has served as a pastor for over fifty years. He has traveled and taught abroad partnering with other outreach ministries in Romania.

Colin Akehurst

Board Member
Colin Akehurst has a passion and vision for unity in the Body of Christ, with a strong emphasis on evangelism and discipleship.

Mary Akehurst

Board Member
Mary Akehurst is wife, mother, connector, and a gifted administrator of over 20 years serving the body of Christ.
Stephen Chan

Stephen Chan

Board Member
Stephen Chan has been with LSMI since its founding and has joined its board from 2022. He is the director of the Healing Rooms of St. Paul.

Jennifer Kay

Board Member
My name is Jennifer Kay, proud daughter of Dave Johnson. After years in hospitality and automotive, God redeemed me from addiction and depression. I now share hope, freedom, and Jesus with others.

Jill Dickenson

Treasurer
I’m Jill Dickenson, 6 years in recovery since Mother’s Day 2019. A mom of 6, I’m passionate about serving, giving back, and helping others find freedom through faith and recovery.

Terry Widing

Board Member
Since 2014, I’ve served in ministry alongside my family, blessed to share God’s grace and mercy. Giving back has been a joy, and the Widing’s are deeply thankful.

Anne Chan

Board Member
Anne serves alongside her husband Stephen at Healing Rooms of St. Paul. They have over 25 years evangelism ministry to international students .

LSMI North

Jennifer Kay

My name is Jennifer Kay, and I am proud to call Dave Johnson my Dad! My background is in Hospitality with Serving, training, and onboarding new hires. A leap of faith landed me into a career in the Automotive industry which I have been doing for the past 13-years. I have three boys who are now young men, and have been married to their father for 23-years.

I have allowed satan’s minions to operate in my life in the form of alcohol and drugs, and in the form of depression. Satan says I deserve to die. God says He loves me enough to sacrifice His only son Jesus Christ in order to make a way for me to spend eternity in Heaven with Him. I AM REDEEMED! I love people and I love family. We all get a choice and I know that “it” is alcohol for me and “It’s Not an Option!”. If I can help someone make that choice too, then they can realize that they simply need to choose JESUS instead and they can have FREEDOM!

Robin & Pat Andreas

Out of their heartbreak and desperate need to find help for their youngest son Matthew who had been struggling for years, deep in addiction, God led them to Dave Johnson of LSMI. Dave met many times with Matthew and at one point helped him get into treatment, but Matt did not stay. Dave continues to reach out to Matthew, offering encouragement and help as Matthew continues in the battle, living on the streets, struggling to survive each day.

God used the pain their entire family has suffered and put a calling on their hearts to join Dave and the LSMI family. Located in Pengilly Minnesota, they have been a part LSMI since 2021, as a missionary team serving individuals and their families in the Northland. They trust the Lords hand is upon Matthew and declare and believe their prodigal son will one day come back to Jesus and join them in helping save the lost.

Robin is a Wife, Mother, Nana, Sister, Auntie, Friend, Health Advocate, RN of 46 years and Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ. She has served as a nurse in many different settings over the years and believes that God has been preparing her and her husband Pat for this mission all their lives. He has taken their trials and turned it for his good.

Pat is a Husband, Dad, Papa, Brother, Uncle, Friend, a retired small business owner and Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ. Together they serve the Lord and are humbled to be Jesus’s hands and feet on all His rescue missions. Knowing that God never gives up on any of His lost sheep, they don’t either, not on their son Matthew or anyone else God sends.

Praying to have a heart like Jesus, what grieves Him, grieves them. Every day they put on the Armor of God in preparation to be soldiers in Gods army to fight the spiritual battles. Always guided by Gods word in as in Matthew 25:40,” Truly I say to you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did unto me” They share Jesus’s love with compassionate hearts and are ever mindful how important it is to treat each person with dignity and respect. Together they partner with the Lord to meet people where they’re at.

With so many in need it can be very challenging, and every day overdose is taking precious lives here and across the country. Knowing the urgency, as we are not promised tomorrow, they stay open to Gods divine appointments and where he sends them to help save his lost. They feel it’s been a blessing and a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They are grateful to watch the miracles unfold, as people are set free, healed, restored, transformed, lives changed forever, giving all the glory, honor and praise to God.

In any given week they take crisis calls from individuals and their loved ones, make follow up calls, transport people to and from detox, treatment centers and sober living homes,host Alpha Groups, advocate in the court on individual’s behalf, serve at the Healing Waters Laundry Program, assist in aftercare support and so much more.

They are connectors, working closely with many different resources including other ministries, detox, treatment centers, homeless shelters, medical and mental health providers, counties, public defenders, law enforcement, jails, and drug court. They are invited to speak at churches, organizations, treatment centers, recovery groups bringing awareness that there is help, hope and healing. They pray with and disciple people in many local communities, county jails and love seeing the Lost Sheep come into the family of God. God willing, they plan to continue to serve as long as they can.

Terry Widing

I have been actively engaged with the ministry since 2014, and it has been a privilege to involve my family in this endeavor as well. Giving back and sharing the message of God’s grace and mercy has been an incredible blessing. The Widing’s are so very thankful.
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