Prayer for Housing

[Amanda Kay Johnson]

Hi beloved TGC family,

It's Amanda Johnson. I attend the Chelsea service and am a part of
the Midtown East MC. I know this is long, but would you please give
it a read? I'm really in need of everyone's prayers now. This is as
transparent and honest as I know how to be to explain my situation.

Nearly four years ago, I moved to NYC on faith and with a calling to
pursue missions. Anyone that's ever heard my full story of how I got
to NYC and stayed in NYC during those years knows that it's one of
those miraculous, only-God-could-do-that kind of story. Immediately,
God answered my prayers for a church to be knit with leading me to
TGC. If you've been around our church, you've probably heard Jon
Tyson talk about wanting people to go all in and commit to bringing
God's Kingdom to NYC not just for a short time but for their
lifetime. Well, that's my heart! I truly, truly love NYC and want to
make it my permanent home. I want to bring God's Kingdom to NY as it
is in Heaven. I want a career loving, serving, and helping the
homeless of NYC.

Before NY and definitely during my time there, I have worked and
volunteered a great deal to fight for social justice. At some point,
I've helped many of the organizations now linked to TGC such as The
Blind Project, Restore NYC, and NYC Salt. I've helped other
organizations too. Last year, I was given the opportunity to begin
interning with Betel of America in Astoria on an unpaid, full-time,
volunteer basis. They are a part of the larger Betel International
which exists in 20+ countries and roughly 85 cities worldwide. In
Astoria however, they minister ONLY to men. These guys are housed,
fed, and clothed COMPLETELY for free. Before coming to Betel, they
were homeless, addicts, alcoholics, estranged from their families, and
generally had been incarcerated in the past. Betel provided for my
housing and all of my basic needs in a small, on-site apartment; in
return, I did ALL of their administrative work from accounting to
computer/data entry to making medical appointments for the guys.
(Here's their website - http://www.betel.org/Default.aspx?alias=www.betel.org/us)

Last summer Betel offered me the chance to serve overseas in England
and Spain in international branches of their ministry. I prayerfully
accepted this opportunity. Then, in September, they informed me that
they would be moving from Astoria to some place further south and
completely out of NYC. I was also told that when I returned from
Europe that I would no longer be able to serve them as they are
putting at least a temporary freeze on having single women serve their
program due to the move and time of major transition. So, I served in
Astoria for 9 months and overseas for 6 months. During that time, God
grew my faith, did so many miracles, and refined me. I will always
treasure the 6 months I had living overseas in the same rooms as
former prostitutes, homeless women, abuse victims, alcoholics and
addicts, and more than anything precious and beloved daughters of God.

In mid April, I returned to the USA to be with my family before
returning to NYC. (It's where I am now.) I had been in a year-long
process of applying for a ministry in Manhattan to help homeless
youth. I interviewed well about two weeks ago for the position with
Covenant House. Although highly qualified, they decided to not choose
me to serve with them. They would have provided housing and met my
needs like Betel. Though I do not understand why I was not chosen, I
trust that God knows best and that this is for my good. I have been
applying for AmeriCorps opportunities in NYC and have had some
interviews, but I still don't have anything solid at this moment.
Because I volunteered for so long, I also do not have enough savings
for even a very cheap place to rent. Through AmeriCorps or a
potential job, I could have rent money and see my needs cared for. I
cannot see this happening though without an answer to my housing
dilemma.

So, I write all this again to first ask for prayer for God to open up
doors for me. I truly cannot put into words how desperate my heart
wants to be back in NYC and to love/serve the homeless. You guys are
my church family, and I understand that many of you can only help by
praying for me. I am grateful for that. However, if you'd be willing
to let me stay in your home even temporarily so that I can return to
NYC, would you please email me back asap at
livesacrifice[at]gmail.com. I'd love to be back up there in June.

Thank you so much,

Amanda Johnson