(AgapePress) - Ervin Johnson's life story is a remarkable one, to say the least. Several years after graduating from high school, Johnson grew eight inches and was bagging groceries in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, supermarket when, you might say, he was discovered.

Standing six-foot-ten, Johnson was not hard to notice. So it seemed only fitting that he was encouraged to play basketball. As they say, one thing led to another and Johnson -- then in his mid 20's -- was given the opportunity to "walk on" at the University of New Orleans. It surely was not because of his ability to play basketball. Truth was, Johnson could barely even catch a ball, let alone shoot it.

But things changed. Through a lot of hard work and determination, Johnson's skills developed through what was an almost supernatural transformation. By the time his college career was over, Johnson was the Sun Belt Conference's Most Valuable Player and, not long after, was a first round draft choice in the National Basketball Association.

"God is really good," says Johnson, who now plays center for the Milwaukee Bucks. "God has been taking care of me. I'm just really glad that I can stand here and tell you about it."

Johnson has earned the distinction of being one of the NBA's top defensive players and rebounders. That reputation has not come about by him simply talking about it. Johnson has had to prove it through his actions. He says it is in the same way that we should live our lives as Christians.

"People know what type of person that I am and they know what I stand for," adds Johnson, who lovingly shares his faith in Christ at every opportunity. "We ought to be able to persuade those people who are of the world to come to know Jesus Christ rather than them persuade you to come back into the world.

"Others should be able to distinguish between our attitude and the fruit we bear. If we bear good fruit, others will be able to see it. We have to stay connected to the vine."

Just as he has developed as a basketball player, Johnson, now in his tenth NBA season, has become more serious about his walk as a Christian. He experiences the type of joy that comes only through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, his quest is for others to grab onto the power of the gospel the same way he hauls in his opponents' missed shots.

"I am trying to be as real as possible so I can somehow make an impression with the people around me and bring them into the Kingdom," adds Johnson. "God is really allowing me to touch people that I am around in this organization.

"I want to make an impact no matter where I go. Jesus and His disciples made an impact wherever they went. I just want to do the same."

Unlike his game statistics, Johnson's greatest accomplishments end up in a heavenly box score.