Month: June 2025

This month, in celebration of World Refugee Month, we are sharing stories that highlight the strength, resilience, and courage of the men, women, and children who have called Jonathan House their home through the years.

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Ayantu fled her home country for her safety, leaving her two small children with her mother.  Her husband had attacked her with acid while she was sleeping and faced no legal consequences.  This left her with visible scars on her face, neck, and arms.  When we first met her, she expressed feeling ashamed about her scars and being afraid to eat publicly with others, afraid of how others might react to her.  

On her move-in day to Jonathan House, other residents warmly welcomed her with hugs.  A faithful volunteer dropped by with a gift bag and embraced her.  Ayantu was moved to tears by the warm welcome she received.  

Later that day, when I thanked the volunteer, she responded, “You are sooo welcome! It was nice to meet her…I had tears in my eyes as I drove home. Thank you for what you do, allowing us to walk along these dear children of God.” 

They made me forget my scars…

A few days later Ayantu joined us for her first community meal, in which members of the community are invited to join Jonathan House staff and residents for brunch.  She came with a face mask and later removed it.  Afterwards, she commented, “They made me forget my scars. I could feel that everybody there loved each other.”  

One of my favorite memories of Ayantu is of her inviting me to join her for lunch that she had prepared.  As we sat and ate together, we didn’t have lots of common language, so we found other ways to communicate.  We showed each other photos of our families on our phones.  She proudly showed me a photo of her beautiful children back home that she loves and misses.  I felt privileged to be welcomed into her world.  

Over the months, she has settled in, developed relationships with her housemates, started taking English classes, made plans for upcoming surgery, and has renewed hope for her future.  It is a joy to see her smile!  

I feel an indescribable peace…

Recently she said, “I feel an indescribable peace when I am at home (at Jonathan house)…Though there are things that stress me out, I feel that I am able to find joy and purpose in my life. I feel that I have created a family here where I have love and support…Wherever I go, I feel that I have the confidence to say that I have a home that I can go to.”  

She also shared, “Coming to Jonathan House has changed my life so far. Before coming here, I used to regret living life, and now I’m loving life, because of the love you show me.” 

Your support of Jonathan House has helped Ayantu find shelter, hope, and healing.  Thank you for your financial and prayer support which has enabled Ayantu and others to move forward with hope!

Written by: Linda Lang, Resident Support Coordinator

June is World Refugee Month, so we are featuring stories of some of the remarkable displaced people in the Jonathan House community and highlighting ways you can show them love.

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A few weeks ago I received a text from my dear friend and Jonathan House alumnus Pastor Timothy: “Hello dear Bethany, God has made a miracle for me. Celebrate God’s goodness with me 🙏♥️”

I dropped everything in excitement and shock. Was this the good news we had been praying for? 

He came to the U.S. fleeing government persecution, told his story before an asylum officer and then… nothing. The final answer on asylum cases like his sometimes takes weeks or months; he waited for almost 3 years with no word. While he waited, he got work permission, a job and an apartment – the trappings of stability without the foundation of a secure immigration status.

Ready to Give Up

Pastor Timothy he had been ready to give up. He prayed over and over again: “God, your will be done.” In these days, he says, those who follow Jesus should not be surprised to encounter struggles – but that doesn’t make it easier. He became increasingly isolated, stopped calling his friends, not having any good news for them. As bad news for immigrants seems to come from every direction, it was hard to believe that any good news could come in his story.

Reason for Hope

Then something happened that gave him reason to cling to hope. Every Saturday his family back home gathers to pray. His daughter sent him a recording of a message from God shared during that prayer time: “this is the right time to demonstrate my power. You will hear good news within 3 months.” 

He hardly knew whether to hope – but he knew he wasn’t alone. “Throughout my journey,” he says, “God has been speaking to me like Abraham, saying ‘I am with you.’” 

It was almost exactly 3 months later that he got a text from his lawyer while at work. “Congratulations!” Surprised and confused, he checked his email and found there the good news he had hardly dared to hope for. He had been granted asylum, and now could receive permanent refugee protections in the United States and bring his beloved family to join him. 

He is Faithful

“I was looking at this again and again. Is it real? Finally God has done it. He is faithful.” 

When Pastor Timothy texted me back that yes, he had been granted asylum, I burst into simultaneous tears and laughter, overjoyed for my friend. Our record stands: so far, every single member of the Jonathan House community who has reached the end of their arduous asylum journey has been granted protection.  The whole Jonathan House community is celebrating, encouraged in the midst of so much difficulty by this gloriously good news.

Written by: Bethany Ringdal, Ministry Leader

June is World Refugee Month, so we are featuring stories of some of the remarkable displaced people in the Jonathan House community and highlighting ways you can show them love. 

John enjoys a day at the zoo with friends from Jonathan House.

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John* didn’t want to leave his country – especially because it meant a lengthy separation from his wife and three young children. But when persecution forced him to flee to save his life, he went with the hope that God would guide him to safety in the United States.  Unfortunately, his position as an asylum seeker made him vulnerable to exploitation and abuse from the very people he’d hoped would welcome him. “At one point,” he says “I had a disgust for life.” He was on the brink of homelessness when a teacher at his English class helped him connect with Jonathan House – proof to him that “the good Lord does not leave his children in suffering.” 

At Jonathan House he found hope and “kind people who gave me a smile and joy to live. The organization restored my life. I would like to thank them very much, and also the donors who have never forgotten us. May God bless and protect them.” 

Today, with Jonathan House volunteers walking by his side, John is rebuilding his life while he waits for an answer on his asylum case. He has become a much-beloved member of one of our partner churches, found employment at another, and has been introducing us to his children through video calls. 

I want you to hear this, and to really take it in: you, the community and donors of Jonathan House, fought back John’s despair. Your love for him gave him back his joy. Your generosity is proof that God has not forgotten him. And he is praying for you. 

Written by: Bethany Ringdal, Ministry Leader