Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Johnson.
Hi Adrian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Minister Adrian Johnson, the founder of Empower From Within, based in South Florida. My career started far from stages or spotlights: I spent years in community mental health as a housing coordinator and counselor serving people navigating homelessness, addiction recovery, and re-entry after incarceration. Those years taught me two things: pain can be a powerful teacher, and people don’t need perfection—they need someone who won’t give up on them.
I became an ordained minister and expanded my work into wedding officiating, pre-marital counseling, and life/relationship coaching. I saw that when couples and families are supported with practical tools and compassionate accountability, they build something that lasts. I also began writing journals and children’s books to give people simple, everyday ways to practice reflection, courage, and hope.
A pivotal moment came after I unexpectedly lost a job. Sitting in my car, overwhelmed, I noticed a simple sign that snapped me back to purpose. I realized my calling wasn’t one lane—it was a bridge: bring ministry, mental-health wisdom, and creative tools together so people can heal, grow, and commit to purposeful lives and relationships.
Today, through Empower From Within, I officiate weddings, guide couples through pre-marital frameworks, coach clients through life transitions, and publish guided journals and uplifting stories for families. Whether I’m at an altar, in a coaching session, or writing a page that meets someone at 2 a.m., my aim is the same: serve with empathy, tell the truth with love, and equip people to become who they were created to be. That’s how I started, and it’s how I plan to keep going—one empowered person, couple, and family at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been smooth—it’s been refining. I launched Empower From Within with a calling and very little capital. After a job loss, I rebuilt from the ground up, often choosing between investing in tools or keeping the lights on. Wearing many hats (minister, coach, wedding officiant, author, and new realtor) was exciting but exhausting. I learned the hard way that passion doesn’t replace process.
Early on, I faced long stretches of silence—posts that didn’t move, offers that didn’t convert, and platforms that changed rules overnight. I’ve had merchant reviews declined, email sequences break, and product pages vanish right before a promo. In real estate, deals take time; in coaching and weddings, bookings can be seasonal; in publishing, royalties are delayed. Cash flow reflected that reality.
Emotionally, I wrestled with imposter syndrome—how to sell with integrity without feeling “pushy,” how to serve deeply without burning out. Practically, I needed systems: a clear service ladder, simple pricing, repeatable onboarding, and a weekly content rhythm I could keep even on tough weeks.
What turned the corner:
Simplicity over complexity: fewer offers, clearer outcomes.
Process over panic: checklists for bookings, ceremonies, coaching sessions, and product uploads.
Community over isolation: mentors, peers, and honest feedback.
Compassion with boundaries: I can care deeply and still say no.
Faith-friendly mindset: grace, not grind, fuels sustainable growth.
The road’s been uneven, yes—but those “potholes” became my curriculum. Today, Empower From Within stands on frameworks forged by trial: practical tools, consistent follow-through, and a commitment to serve one household, one couple, and one reader at a time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As a “Business/Practice/Firm”
Empower From Within is a South Florida–based practice helping people heal, grow, and build relationships that last. We serve through four lanes:
Weddings & Premarital Counseling – custom ceremonies + practical tools (communication, conflict, finances).
Life & Relationship Coaching – compassionate, structured coaching with clear goals and accountability.
Publishing – guided journals and children’s stories that make reflection and empathy part of daily life.
Speaking/Workshops – faith-friendly (not preachy) talks on resilience, purpose, and healthy relationships.
What sets us apart: braided expertise (ministry + mental health + coaching + publishing), inclusive and values-rooted care, and calm, process-driven delivery—run-of-show checklists, onboarding, and follow-ups so big moments stay meaningful.
Brand pride: our brand is a reliable experience—wherever you meet us (altar, session, page, or stage), you get empathy, clarity, and practical next steps. Many couples continue with coaching and later read our children’s books at home—proof the work lasts beyond the wedding day.
For readers: if you’re entering a new season—engagement, marriage, parenthood, career pivot, or personal reset—we offer both meaning and method. One conversation can change the tone of a home; we’re here to make that conversation easier.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
My biggest lesson is that purpose is a practice, not a moment—and practice needs three things: inner work, clear process, and consistent service.
Inner work: The “inside out” piece matters most. If I’m grounded—faith-friendly mindset, honest reflection, and a willingness to grow—then setbacks refine me instead of defining me.
Clear process: Passion without structure burns out. Whether it’s a wedding ceremony, premarital session, coaching call, or publishing a journal, I’ve learned to build simple, repeatable frameworks: onboarding, run-of-show, homework, and follow-ups. Clarity is kindness—for clients and for me.
Consistent service: I used to think momentum came from big launches. In reality, it comes from small promises kept daily—returning messages, showing up prepared, documenting notes, and improving one step each week. Sales felt awkward until I reframed them as invitations to a process that works. No hype, just honesty and outcomes.
Tied together with boundaries, these three keep the mission sustainable. Boundaries protect the work from hurry and me from burnout; they let compassion stay compassionate. The fruit is tangible: couples who communicate better, clients who move from stuck to steady, parents reading stories that plant courage at bedtime. That’s the lesson I carry forward—tend the roots (character, clarity, consistency) and the fruit takes care of itself.
“Purpose is a practice: do the inner work, follow a simple process, and keep small promises daily.”
Pricing:
- Wedding Officiant Booking — Reserve Your Date: $250
- Private Coaching Session: $75 / session
- Life & relationship coaching: session bundles available — inquire for rates
- Speaking / workshops (local): customized for churches, schools & nonprofits — inquire for honorarium
- Notes: Deposit required to secure dates; modest travel fee outside Broward/Palm Beach; discounts considered for teachers, military, and first responders.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.empowerfromwithin.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empower_with_adrian/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acejohnson29
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmpowerFromWithin
Image Credits
Adrian Johnson
Rebecca Irizarry
Adriana Johnson
