Yohana was raised in a Christian family and it is not known when he began to believe in Jesus as Lord. At some point in his youth, he followed a very different path than that of his father by smoking, drinking, and becoming a traditional Sukuma dancer.[11] However, he returned to the Lord in 1946, soon after marrying Elizabeti.[12] The moral and spiritual implications of such an occupation would no doubt have had put him at odds with the church community, and to some degree, with his wife and family too.
Yohana alilelewa katika familia ya wakristo na haijulikani alianza kumwamini Yesu ni Bwana wakati gani. Alifuata njia tofauti na baba yake katika ujana wake kwa kuvuta sigala, kunywa pombe, na kucheza mcheza ngoma za asili ya kisukuma.[11] Alimrudia Bwana mnamo mwaka 1946 muda mfupi baadaya kumwoa Elizabeti.[12] Desturi na matokeo ya ngoma za asili alizocheza zilimtenga na jamii ya kikristo kabisa na hata mkewe na familia yake. Kwa vile mkewe Elizabeti alikuwa anenda kanisani pamoja na pande zote mbili za wazazi wao, wengi walikuwa wanasema huyu naye awe anamwacha mke wake nyumbani?