Email & Text Testimonies
Personal Testimonies
Hi! As if you could hear us in the spirit!!!! My dad has been asking me for about two days to send him the name of the GLO that book written by you so he can order it from Amazon, So that he could properly understand when he is speaking to others… This is like a spiritual reminder! He has been asking about you for the last week or so!
I tell you your book was definitely a seed for my daughter and her friends! People are flocking to them in order to find out why they (her friends) renounced to avoid pledging, or wanting to denounce after pledging! It’s been such a blessing… I look forward to listening, and will share with my dad! Be blessed! The books arrived! Thank you, Brother Ray!
— Chrese
Educator Testimonies
Miss Shanahan – Health Educator
Hello Mr. Johnson,
This curriculum looks amazing and I would love to implement it in my inner city MS/HS health classes! I am concerned that as a non-tenured teacher, this would be adverse to the public school curricula, can you help me with this issue!
Thank you and God bless you for your ministry,
— Miss Shanahan
Chris Lansing – Solano Middle School
Dear Mr. Johnson,
It indeed was a pleasure to have you present to my Physical Education classes your expertise on gang and drug prevention. My students were thoroughly engaged and are still talking about what they have learned. The information was valuable. Your presentation was professional, using lingo that students will understand. Your materials were pertinent to the middle school age. Your interaction with the students gave them a chance to express their opinions. They were able to process the information and self-assess their own beliefs.
Again, I want to thank you for your presentation to my classes. Parents and teachers will benefit from your workshops. You were a great resource and your website address remains on the board.
— Chris Lansing, P.E. Department, Solano Middle School
Steven Boche – Solano Middle School
I am writing this letter on behalf of Rayford Johnson. Ray has been a speaker at our school numerous times. We incorporated Ray’s Speaking into our Life Skills unit, as well as, having him speak at an assembly.
Ray has a very captivating speaking style, which kept our middle school students attentive and interested. Ray uses his experience with incarcerated youth and an outstanding Power Point presentation to deliver his message.
Ray spoke about the influence of media and music on our youth and how it affects their life choices. Ray illustrated that when youth are constantly exposed to negative images in music and videos, they are more prone to make negative choices. Ray exposed the subliminal messages of Hip-Hop music and demonstrated how to rise above them.
Ray is always a welcome guest at our school. He presents a positive and spiritually uplifting message to the students. I would highly recommend Ray Johnson as a future speaker at our school or any other venue where teens are involved.
— Steven Boche, P.E. Department Chairman & Athletic Director
Canyon Twer – ROP Sports Therapy & Fitness
Thank you for your great presentation. Our students were very attentive and obviously interested. My feeling is that your material was informative and thought provoking.
— Canyon Twer, LINKS Academy @ Boys & Girls Club
Matt Silva – Community School Teacher
Mr Johnson,
I thoroughly enjoy your presentations. They are high interest and thought provoking for the students. You do a wonderful job in presenting the material so the students can identify with, but know they are not being judged.
Thanks again,
— Matt Silva, LINKS Academy @ Boys & Girls Club
Inmate & Detention Facility Testimonies
Sacramento Youth Detention Facility
Ever since Pastor Ray came to our unit my life really changed. His book is really inspiring to kids his classes are really heart touching to teach kids to realize what we want in life and that we could get closer to our Lord are Savior God so that kids could make a change for their selves to follow God’s Word and to do right so I like the Ray for all he has done, thank you.
— Anonymous Resident
Gonzalez E. – Sacramento Youth Detention Facility
Hi my name is Gonzalez E., I am a resident at the Sacramento Youth Detention Facility and would like to share with you about what I learned about these bible studies from Rayford Johnson. First of all I have learned and gained alot of knowledge abou the power, wisdom, teachings and the Word of God, and also learned about real life things and situation that we all come across in life. I thank Rayford Johnson for all the things he has done for taking some time in his life to come into this facility and talk to us about the Word of God. I feel like I have gained more knowledge , from his teachings, and gave me something to look forward in my life, he help me gain a vision and to have goals and plans in my life and to always be there for my son, thank you Rayford Johnson and God bless you sir for helping me believe and have faith in the Word of the Lord, our Father God, and the Son Jesus Christ, thank you. I look forward to seeing you every Tuesday.
— Gonzalez E.
Villasana – Sacramento Youth Detention Facility
My name Villasana the Bible Studies I come to every Tuesday a great program Rayford Johnson a good person talks about some real deep things. What I learned in here is we can change and do right the main thing I learned was god’s good all the videos he showed us was some deep things like things I never really knew Ray laced me up Rays program helped me a lot makes me want to change and worship God. Thank you Rayford Johnson, you really helped me.
— Villasana
Incarcerated Gang Members – Book Reviews
I will have to say Thug Mentality Exposed is one of the best books I’ve ever read based on everything in it is real. When I read the stories in it, it has me thinking about my own life and how lucky I am to still be alive. Sometimes all it takes is the right words to make someone realize how short but also precious life is and I think if you really read and put your attention in the book one time, those words or in thug mentality exposed, how brotha Ray explains life inside the book is real no sugar coated but real, that’s why I like reading it, I’m also learning from it.
— Incarcerated Gang Member
I think when I read “Thug Mentality Exposed” a lot of thoughts ran through my mind like is this guy is bull sh@#’n or is he for reals. So I gave it the benefit of the doubt and read a couple of chapters from what I read and know about the cults and Adam and Eve about how satan manipulated them is right and how gangs and everything around it all goes back to the Bible and it all started from religion. When I found out about that, it really hit me and had me start thinking about me and who I really am.
— Incarcerated Gang Member
After reading a couple chapters, it opened my eyes to the way I used to think, feel and act. I believe this book is very explanatory and education for every women and man.
— Incarcerated Gang Member
Professional & Academic Reviews
Genoa Barrow – Senior Staff Writer, The Sacramento Observer
I read the sections from the young men in prison and I shivered. Their commitment to complete lawlessness is frightening. Your point, however, isn’t to scare people, but to wake us up. And you’ve certainly done that. Someone reading this book WILL intercede in the life of someone they know who is beginning to walk down the path to destruction and any struggle you experienced in getting it done will be well worth it. Your commitment to giving these young people something to think about, in hopes that they will adopt more positive outlooks on life is to be commended. So many folks, their own families in some cases, have simply written them off as lost causes.
— Genoa Barrow, The Sacramento Observer
Stephanie Samsel – State Hornet Book Reviews, California State University, Sacramento
“Book tells story of the thug life”
“Thug Mentality Exposed” by Rayford L. Johnson gives an in-depth look at the culture and mindset of gang members or those living the thug lifestyle, using research and prose from wards in youth prison that have or are in gangs.
The writings of the youth prisoners give us a very intimate look at the mentality of gang members and thugs, and give examples of some of the violent and disturbing things they have done in association with their gangs. The book also gives us examples of what some thugs think of women and their lifestyles.
Johnson is able to give us such an accurate and informative depiction because he has been a correctional counselor for the Department of Corrections for the past 11 years. Johnson deals with gang members on a daily basis, so he has a first-hand look at how gang members and thugs think and act.
Johnson also offers a correlation between thug culture and ancient Babylonian Pagan cults, which is interesting because there are very distinct similarities between the two. Some examples of what thug culture and ancient pagan cults share are drugs, tattooing, musical worship and cursing.
There are some parts of the books that are just shocking and heartbreaking. Johnson tells the reader about how pit bulls are the dogs of choice for thugs, because the dogs are friendly, but can be turned into killing machines. It was heartbreaking to learn that some thugs murder their pooches because the dog had lost a dog fight and lost their owner money.
The book also gives us a look at the background behind some popular gang and thug activities, like tattooing and cursing. For instance, tattooing in ancient times was a way for some to open their souls up to demons, or to protect themselves from sickness. Johnson writes that these days, tattoos are used by thugs to intimidate and put fear into people.
He also tells us that cursing is Satan’s way of subtracting life from us for each curse word used.
The final part of the book offers up a solution for the thug lifestyle, and a way to revamp your life. Some of the advice given is to seek God and the teachings of the Bible to improve you, the reader, and thugs to get out of the thug mentality and lifestyle.
One of the things that detracts from the book is that Johnson seems to identify any religion other than Christianity or religion centered on God as “pagan” or the “occult.” Examples of these religions are typically Eastern ones, like Taoism and Hinduism, and also religions that are already thought as dark, such as witchcraft.
The book can be very informative to those who are curious about the history of gangs and thugs, as long as the reader doesn’t mind being preached to about the Bible, God and some aspects of popular culture that are deemed as evil and sinful. Examples of those aspects are tattoos, rock and rap music, and video games.
This book is a great read for someone who has an interest in the inner workings of the mind of a thug or gang member.
— Stephanie Samsel, State Hornet Book Reviews, California State University, Sacramento (April 10, 2008)
Dr. Melanie A. Lewis – English Professor, Cosumnes River College
Provocative, intriguing, compelling, riveting! In Thug Mentality Exposed, Rayford L. Johnson engages his audience in the historical and cultural relevance of America’s “taboo” subculture and unearths disturbing yet significant patterns of lifestyle acceptance worthy of much critical discourse and necessary in our understanding of this important, yet ostracized, criticized, and often misunderstood, “mentality.”
— Dr. Melanie A. Lewis, English Professor, Cosumnes River College
Miroslava Chavez-Garcia – Associate Professor, UC Davis
Mr. Rayford Johnson is a man of many talents. He is not only a youth counselor working at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation but also an ordained minister, published author, photographer, and cultural critic. For these reasons, in March of 2008, I invited Mr. Johnson to give a lecture to my undergraduate class, “Race and Juvenile Justice,” which I taught at UC Davis in the winter of 2008, on his experiences in working with youth of color. In response, Mr. Johnson provided a stimulating and interactive presentation on the role of the media – music in particular – and its influence on young people today. His presentation consisted of lecture, music video and audio clips, and a short documentary/dramatization (produced by Mr. Johnson and several inmates) of life inside juvenile corrections.
Overall students enjoyed his presentation and perspective and appreciated Mr. Johnson’s style of speaking. Most found him to be engaging and accessible. Others praised his ability to speak to issues that are relevant to them and that affect them on a daily basis. Though he is a preacher, they did not sense he was “preaching” to them but rather showing them an alternative way in which to view the role of media in young people’s lives. Ultimately, they gained significant insight on a topic few had really considered relevant to their lives.
Like the students, I also came away with a greater appreciation of youth of color and some of the challenges they face in and outside the correctional system. I believe it is important to have people such as Mr. Johnson talk about the kind of work that they do and to show others a world largely unknown to the average citizen about youth and corrections today. His insight and experience is extremely valuable if we desire to have real change in the lives of young people today and in the larger society.
— Miroslava Chavez-Garcia, Associate Professor, UC Davis (June 11, 2008)
Media & Community Recognition
Denise McCoy – California Black Chamber of Commerce, 97.7FM KDEE FM
Ray,
Congratulations on the release of your new book! I was great having you at the station to talk live about Thug Mentality Exposed. Thank you for your fearless project and bravery. Not many people are taking such an active role in trying to save our future-youth. Be blessed on all sides and we look forward to working with you again.
Best Regards,
— Denise McCoy, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, California Black Chamber of Commerce (October 30, 2007)
Mike Ramey – Certified Gang Specialist/Former Probation Officer
Ray, you have been blessed with the gift in writing your book. I am just amazed that you haven’t gotten much more play of it. I’ll do my best at this end to get the word out.
— Mike Ramey, Certified Gang Specialist/Former Probation Officer, Indianapolis, Indiana
Evangelist Alfred and Latrece Walker – Enrichment Empowerment Ministries
Ray,
Your book will open the eyes of people who have no idea of what you deal with each day with the wards you supervise. I truly respect your commitment to your job and your ability to see and fulfill the calling on your life to reach a generation of youth who have no redemptive vision.
I believe your book will make a difference in the lives of those who read it, motivating them to get involved in their area of influence. My prayers for you and your family are now more focused now that I know the intensity of your job and ministry. May you always walk in that calm and confidant spirit, making a difference? Have a wonderful day and, Be blessed.
— Evangelist Alfred and Latrece Walker, Enrichment Empowerment Ministries
Judy Wilson – Store Manager, Berean Christian Book Stores
Thug Mentality Exposed by Rayford Johnson was a highly successful book signing event for Berean Christian Store in Sacramento. People were stopping by and talking with Rayford and buy books. We had put the books out early before the signing and ended up almost selling out before the event. We had to call another bookstore in the downtown area to get books from them for the event and ended up selling most of those. This was a great event and the books are asked for by layman and pastors. We have customers who have heard of the book and have family in this lifestyle and want a copy to help them understand and to help them help there family members. Rayford has done a great job in opening up the thug mentality to the lay person so we can better help them and understand them. I look forward to doing another signing with Rayford in the future.
— Judy Wilson, Store Manager, Berean Christian Book Stores
Terry Moore – Poet
This book is very compelling. The stories in the book are gripping and shocking! When I first picked up the book my intention was simply to read a chapter or two. But once I dipped into the depth of it it was over. The few pictures in the book are more than enough and are as powerful as the stories. The book is revealing yet at the same time spiritual and healing. Perfect timing for today’s “Hyphy” movement. The stories and comments from interviews with prison wards and gang members are riveting and educating!
One of my favorite parts of the book is 7 Steps to Overcoming Hostile and Impulsive Emotions. Thug Mentality Exposed surprised me in a good way. From the sexual issues to the effects of marijuana smoking to the sorrow of incarceration to the questions of whether the thug culture promotes homosexuality to looking at females as a piece of meat to the consequence of sin to attire to profanity to tats and so much more. So much covered, explained, put out there. Rayford L. Johnson did a fabulous job writing this book “I highly recommend it and hope that many will partake in the reading of it.”
— Terry Moore, Poet (Nominated by the Los Angeles Black Music Awards in 2004 for “Best Spoken Word Performer”)
Simeon Gant – California Legislative Consultant
“Thug Mentality Exposed is a much-needed journal, in a time when our youth continue to spiral in the wrong direction; downward. This book may very well encourage young people and old to steer their lives in a different direction; upward.”
— Simeon Gant, California Legislative Consultant
Spiritual Testimony
Evangelist Natalie C. Bruce
Blessing Evangelist Ray
This is my description of my encounter with the Holy Spirit. On March 23, 2019 I was sitting on my couch and I was listening to my Gospel music and as I was listen I kept hearing the Holy Spirit say watch a movie, well I didn’t find what I wanted to watch.(I’m not a TV person but I do watch movies) So I click on youtube which is my go to for recipes, prayers, Sermons(led by the Holy Spirit) and so on. While searching I ran upon this story about a singer back in the 80’s I remember the group but can’t recall the name of the group it’s La something I remembered
Upon hearing her story and clicking on other stories I seen a title on deliverance so I clicked on it and began to pray along with him…Now I know Evangelist Ray Johnson. As I was listening the Holy Spirit began to reveal to me about my grandmother (OES) and daddy (33*) being in the Masonary. And as an Evangelist I knew about open portals and doors so I emailed Brother Ray and told him my story. Well on March 25, 2019 we contacted each other and to make a long story short, he began to ask me about throughout my life what did I see that maybe a result of this and I told him finances.
It could be that it was for me but the Holy Spirit used what I knew about my family to get me where I needed to be as well, being that I was an OES and a Zeta(Zeta Phi Beta Sorority) and have denounced it many years ago but maybe I was messing something. I Don’t Know…maybe I was God’s timing. We prayed and Bro Ray told me to renounce and repent for any unforgiveness againg anyone including myself and that he would call me back in 15 mins.
Well, I began to pray and as soon as I started praying I started to vomit a little and I started saying in the name of Jesus over and over again…come up and out. Then it came out even more. When he called I told him it has already started. He felt led to pray imidiately.
As he was praying he was calling out those spirits from the denounced sorority and an egg looking vomit came out and when that came out i felt a release. it was no bigger than a quarter. and i felt free. Brother Ray continued to pray and he started saying things about the stomach and chest area which was true because i’d been hurt so many times and held alot of hurt in and that pray just finished what God had already been dealing with. He was also speaking against the spirits trying to hinder me from moving forward in my ministry which was soooo true because that was the same thing the Lord God reveaied to me that same day and the day before about a Pastor trying to hinder my calling from coming forth, I kept telling him to go back to that because that’s where i was feeling it the most. And it was something about my neck, i didn’t and still don’t understand what was attached to the right side of my neck, it wasn’t in me it was on me.
It let me go and as he was hitting on that hindering spirit i began to holler out and vomit. I felt a release and relaxation…free from spirits. I cleaned up my prayer room which wasn’t a mess but I went to my kitchen and prayed and wiped down my wall with bleach, spoke and decree and spirits lingering has to go threw away my the spread i had on my bed, washed up, brushed my teeth and went to bed and slept so sound and peaceful. Woke up today on March 26, 2019 like a new person
Thank you Evangelist Ray & God Bless You
— Evangelist Natalie C. Bruce
Community Outreach Testimonies
Teri McAdoo – Abundant Living Family Church
Good morning Mr. Johnson, I had the pleasure of hearing you at “Rivers Edge Church”in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. I met you there and purchased one of your books. The book is amazing and a well of information. I am a member at Abundant Living Family church in Rancho Cucamonga and serve in 2 different prision minsitries there. I recently purchased 2 more books and am gifting one to our youth minister (Pastor Kenyon Healey) and the other to our Pastor that oversees the community outreach ministries (Pastor Eugene Minter). I pray that one day Abundant Living will be blessed with hearing your presentation.
I have a dear friend at church, her nephew is serving time in the south. I recommended that she purchase your book and send it to him to read. She did, her nephew read your book, stated to his auntie that he liked it, however he said he disagreed with parts of it. I was wondering if I were to forward his prision info to you, if you would contact him directly to get his feedback. He is only a teenager, serving a long sentence, I believe is he born again and is trying to make the most of his time in prision. I suppose this is quite an unusual request, however I’m sure that hearing directly from you would be a huge inspiration to him.
Thank you so much
— Teri McAdoo, Abundant Living Family Church > In “HIS” grip
