Family Caregiving is a widely accepted term, understood by most people today. But it wasn’t always so, especially not in the year 2000 and definitely not within the corporate environment.

Yet, the vision of one man (the late Rev. Dr. Carl Flemister) who understood the value of educating employees and customers about family caregiving and how to be a family caregiver while caring for oneself, was radical for a health insurance company. To launch the initiative, HIP Health Plan of NY, now Emblem Health, turned to Greg Johnson.

Greg was a successful businessman, a childhood polio survivor, later in life a multiple stroke survivor and one pursing his life-long dream of becoming an ordained inter-faith minister. While family caregiving was a new concept to Greg formally, he had been the recipient of caregiving from loved ones and was a family caregiver to others.

When invited to create the CARE FOR THE FAMILY CAREGIVER INIATIVE, Greg replied to Rev Flemister (the Chair of the HIP Foundation) with a phrase that only confirmed his passion and led to his internationally acclaimed ministry in family caregiving:  “Carl, while my background is theatre, theology and for many years international tourism, as a longtime minister of music and a recently ordained clergyperson, I have often noted that I have buried more caregivers than care recipients, if through this work I can help to change that paradigm……COUNT ME IN.”  And as they say the rest is history.

For 25 years Greg created, expanded, directed and led this key initiative remaining faithful to his stated mission: to keep family caregivers; caregivers, and not to create more care recipients.

 Through GJPI INC, Greg also enjoys sharing his expertise worldwide through articles, speeches, at seminars and retreats and gatherings at his residence in Bali, Indonesia.

 Often called “The Rev,” Greg has coupled the idea of “Unity in Diversity” with the “Golden Rule” that is at the heart of family caregiving- before I can care for you I need to care for myself – and shares it with inter-faith groups, governments, corporations and individuals around the world.

Through this work, and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which has made caregivers of so many of us, Greg sees a positive gift emerging: Creating a world of WE or Wellness, and not I or Illness, where we are all one, moving from “I” to “We,” to a spiritual life of caring and support.

In 2021 his business partner in GJPI INC, Doni Kurniadi from Jakarta, Indonesia, attended a major healthcare event sponsored by the government division for future growth and development, Bappenas on AGEING ISSUES FOR THE FUTURE of INDONESIA.  Following the event, Doni engaged with the chairman of the group introducing Greg who was a well-known figure in ASEAN tourism, sharing Greg’s present work in FAMILY CAREGIVING.  An introduction followed introducing Greg and Doni to a dynamic group of 5 Balinese healthcare professionals.  Working together this group of 5 under the tutelage of Greg and Doni created the now well respected pilot program known as THE SAHAJA BALI FOUNDATION.