August 25th
Greetings from all of us at House of James Ministries!
As most of you know, the House of James 2 dad, Sergei, experienced a heart attack back in May. Thankfully, he’s been recovering well, but he’s scheduled for another surgery on August 29th. The doctors will be making a small incision beneath the heart to replace a section of the aorta. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a smooth procedure and a speedy recovery. I’ll keep you posted once I hear how everything goes.
As for the children, many of them are preparing to return to school on September 1st. We are reaching out for financial assistance to help provide them with the necessary school supplies and clothing. Your generosity is greatly appreciated as we aim to raise $1,550 for these expenses. Additionally, there is a camp opportunity for the House of James 3 kids that costs $1,250. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support these needs, please click on the link provided below. We offer secure online platforms for your convenience, or you can mail in your gifts using the address provided in the link. Every contribution, no matter the size, is valuable and greatly appreciated. https://www.houseofjames.org/ways-to-give/
We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support and partnership in our mission to provide a place of hope for the precious children at the House of James Ministries. Despite the ongoing war and challenges we face, we feel God's presence every day, guiding us and giving us strength to continue our work. Your generosity and prayers make a tangible difference in the lives of these children, helping them thrive and overcome adversity. Thank you for being a vital part of the House of James Ministries family and for your continued commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of these wonderful children.
If you are able to share about our ministry with a friend or family member, it would mean a great deal to us. Our monthly support has dropped the past year, and by spreading the word about God's work at the House of James Ministries, you can help us reach new supporters. Your advocacy and willingness to share our story are invaluable to us, and we are grateful for your help in expanding our community of supporters. Thanks for your consideration.
Blessings from everyone at House of James Ministries!
January 24th
One of our boys from House of James 1 is in need of your prayers and support. For those who are unaware, Denise (photos below) has been actively fighting against the Russians since the beginning of the war. Just a few days ago, while liberating a settlement with his brigade in the Donetsk region, they came under heavy Russian fire. Denise was thrown 15 feet into the air by an explosion and also sustained a gunshot wound to his foot. Thankfully, he survived and his foot injury is not severe. However, upon landing, his spine was severely injured. He now requires surgery, but lacks the necessary funds to undergo the procedure. We are currently raising $7,000 to cover the cost of Denise's much-needed surgery, which will set him on the path to recovery. Would you kindly consider making a donation towards this cause? You can securely donate through the link provided below. Please remember to mark your donations with the name “Denise".
We sincerely appreciate your ongoing prayers and support!
To contribute towards Denise's surgery, kindly click on the provided link to select the giving platform that suits your preferences.
More updates to come!
Blessings,
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
houseofjames.org
December 8th
Can you believe we’ve blown through another year? And for us, it has been a big one! I’m sure you've had your ups and downs as we all have. However, in the midst of this Christmas season, my prayer is that you are experiencing the peace of God, which goes way beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:6–7).
We here at House of James Ministries are thankful for God’s provision and continued protection. It has been 17 years since we rescued our first children into the House of James 1 home, and it’s because of people like you that has made this possible. The children from all 3 homes are truly grateful for that and so are we!
As we continue to trust in God’s provision for our homes/children, would you consider making a gift towards our 2024 needs as part of your end of the year giving? Below is a list of some of those needs.
$5,000 for children’s camps
$2,000 for clothing
$5,000 for medical/dental
$2,500 school supplies
$135,500 for every day needs throughout the year (food, fuel, utilities, after school programs, upkeep of the homes and so on).
By clicking the secured link below, you will be able to choose from multiple options for your tax-deductible giving.
https://houseofjames.org/ways-to-give/
Thanks for your consideration and may you and your family have a blessed Christmas!
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
August 17th
If you signed up through our website to receive updates in the past year or so and never received any, please forgive us. For some odd reason the sign up confirmations were never sent to me. However, I was able to finally add all the email addresses today! I am so sorry if you were one of them, and we deeply appreciate your interest and support for our ministry and for the precious children we rescue in!
For those who missed out on our latest newsletters, we are celebrating 20 years of rescuing and restoring the abandoned and abused children of Ukraine. All three homes are still very much in operation, and they are truly grateful for your support and prayers!
Quick update:
Our second home, House of James 2, is still taking refuge in the Czech Republic. Thankfully, they have been able to plug-in and connect with the local community this past year and a half, and the kids are thriving there! House of James 1 and 3 are still in Ukraine and are staying safe in their villages. Some of the children were even able to attend summer camps this year! As for my family and I, we are currently in the states doing a fundraiser tour for the House of James 20th year anniversary to gain more awareness and support for the ministry. Of course, we would love to see you at one of our events! Below is a list of dates and locations of where we will be. We are still trying to book more churches/venues. So, I will send out updates with any new dates with their locations.
At these events, I will be sharing about how House of James Ministries got started and where we are today. I will also be showing our latest video. Please know that your prayers and financial gifts are making a mass difference in the lives of so many! I hope to see you soon!
Phoenix, AZ August 20th at 10:30 am
Desert Hills Community Church
34835 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85086
Glendale, AZ September 17th at 10:30 am
Haven Church
5902 W Cactus Rd, Glendale, AZ 85304
Mesa, AZ September 24th at 10:30 am
Journey of Grace Church
955 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85203
Wilder, ID October 15th at 10:30 am
Mountain View Church of the Nazarene
26515 Ustick Rd, Wilder, ID 83676
Nampa, ID October 15th at 6:00 pm
Bethel Church of the Nazarene
3001 12th Ave Rd, Nampa, ID 83686
Ontario, OR October 22nd at 9:30 am and 11:00 am
Ontario Nazarene Church
131 Alameda Dr, Ontario, OR 97914
Apache Junction, AZ November 5th at 10:30 am
East Valley Church of the Nazarene
127 N Signal Butte Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85120
More updates to come!
Blessings,
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
We would love to see you during this month of August!
For those who are in Arizona and would like to see us, I will be speaking at 3 different churches this month. I will be sharing the latest about House of James Ministries with an updated video, which looks back at the past 20 years of ministry and current events. If interested, see below for dates, times and locations.
This Sunday, the 6th, @10:00 am we will be at Abiding in Christ Fellowship in Tucson.
On the 13th @10:30 am, we will be at Phoenix First Church of the Nazarene.
Later this month on the 20th, we will be sharing at Desert Hills Community Church in Phoenix @10:30 am.
If you will be in Arizona on any of those dates, we would love to see you! I truly believe it would be a blessed time for everyone!
We will continue our 20th year anniversary fundraiser tour throughout this year. So keep an eye out for future emails and Facebook posts with more dates, times and locations! We hope to see you during our visits!
Blessings,
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
December 6th
Greetings from Vinnitsa, Ukraine!
Jeremiah 29:11 is full of hope:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV).”
This is such a “feel-good” verse quoted often. To grasp its meaning, we must look at what is going on in order to understand it. It wasn’t a promise from God to immediately change the circumstances for the people of Judah. They had a long road ahead of them. They had seventy years of exile in Babylon, as verse ten explains.
In the previous verses of this chapter in Jeremiah, God encourages the exiles to carry on with life. He, through His prophet, tells them to build houses and plant gardens. Amid tragedy, we must keep our eyes on God. We need to call to Him and seek Him in order for our perspective to be adjusted, in order to keep our hope in Him and His unfailing love even in the middle of a war zone.
Sending a message like the one below to our loved ones isn’t easy:
“We got hit pretty hard today with missiles. It was a rough day.”
None of this surprises God and we are still His people. We do “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9 NIV).” We continue for the sake of the children, these families and most especially for the glory of God.
An Update on Each of our House of James Homes
House # 1 is doing fairly well. Most of the kids are older now, but many remain at the home as they work and attend college. As most of Ukraine, they are experiencing major power outages and rely on using a generator to keep the home warm. Support is needed to keep the generator tank and gas cans full this winter.
House # 2 is still in the Czech Republic. They hope to return to Ukraine sometime next year but will wait to see how the winter goes. The kids are all in school and are doing as well as one can hope during these difficult times. They truly miss home, as you can imagine.
House # 3 has remained in Ukraine. The children attend school online, but it becomes difficult when experiencing power outages for hours at a time. They are blessed to have a generator, but they struggle with increasing gasoline prices. Support is needed to keep the generator tank and gas cans full so that they can continue to study and keep the home heated.
Our specific and immediate needs for this month and the year 2023:
$6,000 for fuel for the generators to get the homes through the winter
$75,000 for all the families for food and utilities
$5,000 for maintenance on the vans, which are used to get the kids to school, run errands, go to church, etc.
$4,000 for expected medical and dental for the kids
$5,000 for clothing and school supplies
$5,000 for camps and after school programs
$15,000 for house repairs/maintenance for all the homes
$10,000 for unexpected costs
Aid Runs
We also continue to make aid runs to areas cut off from supplies. With $30 we provide basic food and hygiene products and medicines for a family of three for a ten-to-fourteen-day supply. We focus on those who need it the most, especially families with children. We can do an aid run for up to 250 families each time we go.
We provide multiple ways to make it easier for one to give. To see which option works best for you, please click here.
As we trust in God and His timing, we are thankful for you and your partnership. You uphold us and encourage us to not give up so that these children and their families can trust God now and have hope for their future.
More updates to come!
Blessings,
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
September 3rd
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. - James 2:15-17
150 families who live under constant Russian artillery fire will eat and have proper hygiene for the next 2 weeks thanks to those who continue to support.
Please continue to pray and support our humanitarian aid runs. These families with children have nowhere to go. Our focus is to deliver food, hygiene products and medicines to those who live under constant Russian shelling throughout Eastern and Southern Ukraine every week. The total cost to provide a family with food, hygiene products and medicine for 2 weeks is just $33! Our van is maxed out with 150 kits! To give towards this project, click here
What's in our food boxes?
2.2 pounds of flour
2.2 pounds of rice
2.2 pounds of salt
2.2 pounds of sugar
1 pound of spaghetti
1 pound of pasta
1 pound of buckwheat
1 liter of cooking oil
1 stick of dry sausage
half a pound of liver spread
canned tuna
canned meat
can of corn
can of beans
What kind of hygiene products?
shampoo
laundry detergent (wash by hand)
dish soap
hand soap
toilet paper
feminine products
razors to shave with
❤️🇺🇦💪
June 27th
It’s been a couple of weeks since I did an update, but for those who follow House of James or me personally on Facebook might have seen all the videos that I have been posting this past month. Many of them include our humanitarian aid runs that we made on the frontlines and in the surrounding villages outside of Kharkiv. Although we found ourselves coming under artillery fire a few times, we still were able to provide for over a 1,000 people with food, hygiene products and medicines for those who need it the most. All that was possible thanks to those who gave specifically towards that need! Below is a short video of us delivering aid between the Russian and Ukrainian positions outside of Kharkiv.
Video on the frontlines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XYy_X4OiFQ
Also, I was able to visit the House of James 2 family in the Czech Republic this past weekend. Thanks to your ongoing support, they are able to keep the kids fed, clothed, clean and active. Just recently the village that they are staying in gave them their own separate housing that is attached to a preschool. Check out the following video to take a tour of that place with Sergei and me. The kids make a small appearance too.
Video tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5XkmbkfshQ
House of James 1 and 3 are doing well thanks to your ongoing support! The house parents and children are deeply grateful for your continued support and prayers; especially during these difficult times. Although they are still in Ukraine, they are staying safe and of course being cautious.
Please continue to pray for Ukraine and all of us as the war rages on. Russia bombed a mall earlier today with over 1,000 people inside and they are not letting up. They continue to kill innocent people and they are also making gains in Eastern Ukraine.
if you are on Facebook and would like to follow me or to see past postings, click here.
We will keep you updated as things progress. Thanks for your continued generosity and committed prayers!
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
May 10th
From the joy of reuniting with the House of James 2 family to witnessing the destruction of people’s homes and hearing their horror stories while supplying them with humanitarian aid, the past 2 weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster ride to say the least. Yesterday I returned to Poland from Ukraine after purchasing and delivering groceries and hygiene products to over 50 families. The following is a report of those events that took place the past 2 weeks.
As most of you already know, House of James 2 evacuated from Ukraine to the Czech Republic in early March. The entire family came and stayed with us 2 weekends ago in Wroclaw! They brought their sleeping bags and we sprawled them all over the floor (photo below). The next day we took them to the zoo/aquarium park. The children absolutely loved it and was a much needed break for all. Below I have posted some photos of that trip.
Thanks to those who have given towards the need, I was able to purchase groceries/hygiene products and delivered them last week to several hundred people who live just 50 miles south of the Belarus border. This is where the Russians came through and caused mass destruction and war crimes. Unfortunately, people are not willing to go into these areas to meet the needs due to security concerns, which is understandable. However, God’s calling and hand was and continues to be upon us! The supplies we provided them should last for 2 weeks! I posted a photo below of a crate of goods that a family of 3 received. Some families received double and even triple the amount depending on the number of people in each household. From small children to the elderly, we were blessed to pray with every single one of them! I also added a few photos below of some of the people that we were able to witness to and provide for.
We are wanting to continue to do this work throughout Ukraine for the tens of thousands that are in need! We plan on heading to East Ukraine later this month to provide more families with food and hygiene products. Please continue to pray and spread the word of what we are doing. We are wanting to purchase a cargo van for us and for our ministry partners to use so that we can continue to deliver the supplies. We had to borrow a van for this last run, which makes it a little harder to plan and go when needed. So having our own van would be much more convenient and it would allow us to help more people who are in need.
To give you an idea, it takes around $50 to supply a family of 3 for 2 weeks. Of course, there are families of all different sizes that we will provide for. A decent cargo van with spare tires and other spare parts will cost around $15,000 to $20,000.
There are several ways people can give towards these needs, which all of them are listed on our giving page.
Thank you all for your continuous generosity and faithful prayers! They are making a massive positive impact on the lives of so many!
More updates to come!
Blessings,
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
April 19th
Greetings from Vinnitsa, Ukraine!
I arrived into Vinnitsa safely on Saturday morning, the 16th. The moment the train pulled into the station, sirens went off due to missiles being launched in our direction. Same thing happened when I arrived at House of James 3 yesterday and found that the children were already in the cellar taking refuge. Yesterday, the sirens went off again 5 different times and once more at 1:30 am. This is the reality people are living in throughout Ukraine. As we all know, many are living and dying through indescribable conditions under constant attacks.
Besides the children having to take refuge in the cellar, my visit to House of James 3 went well. The children are doing school online and are in good spirits for the most part. Liza, house mom, is still recovering from brain surgery. She is doing much better, but does experience pain and discomfort from time to time. Please continue to pray for House of James 3.
I just got done visiting House of James 1 and it was a blessed time! Everyone is doing their part and helping each other get through all of this. This whole situation has brought the family closer than ever before! Please continue to pray for House of James 1 as we still need to supply more groceries and fuel for them. Please add that to your prayers.
I was also able to meet up with our ministry partners, Dima and Alona. We went and looked at an old tiny school outside of the city that would be perfect to convert into separate living spaces. This would potentially house 5 families whose homes have been completely destroyed by the Russians in Eastern Ukraine. I will update on that more in the near future to let you all know how we can be a part of this amazing project!
I will be heading to Irpin and Bucha tomorrow. These are the towns right outside of Kyiv where the Russians occupied for over a month and committed unspeakable war crimes and killed hundreds of people, including children. The purpose of this trip is to supply humanitarian aid. Please pray for travel mercies as the road conditions are rough.
The Russian army has completed its regrouping in Eastern and Southern Ukraine and has already started a major offensive attack in hopes to take control of that entire region. Unfortunately, thousands more will lose their lives. Pray for protection and for the Ukrainian army to be victorious over the Russians.
We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know that God is always with us; especially during the darkest times.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalms 23:3
If you are not already giving monthly, would you please consider doing so? Any amount will go such a long ways! You can choose different options for your giving by clicking here.
Once I have more to report, I will send out an update. Thanks for the continued prayers and support!
Blessings,
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
April 8th
Praising God that after 30+ days of taking refuge in their cellar and surviving all those bombings in Mariupol, my mother and father in-law made it to my house in Vinnitsa safe and sound.
My sister in-law, Marina, and her baby, Christian, made it here to Poland! We picked them up two nights ago at the border. Again, we are praising God that they survived all those bombings in Mariupol as well. Marina’s husband, Roma, had to stay in Vinnitsa and is currently living in my home along with other refugees who had to flee from cities like Kyiv, Kherson and Mariupol.
We also got word today that Roma’s parents are alive, but are still trapped in Mariupol. Please continue to pray for Alexander and Tanya.
After a long and difficult search, I finally found a home to rent here in Wroclaw, Poland! We moved in a few days ago and signed a 6 month lease. This allows me to stay close to Ukraine and operate House of James Ministries from afar and will also allow me to make trips into Ukraine as needed. Lena and her soon to be baby are living with us as well. Please pray for Lena as she is past her due date. It’s time to meet the baby! Marina and her 8 month old are living with us too.
House of James 1, 2 and 3 are good under the current circumstances. After I make some visits, I hope to post some photos along with updated info on all three of our children’s homes. We are so thankful that God allows us to care for these precious children!
As you can see above, your prayers have been working!!! Please continue them as we still have many needs for House of James Ministries, the refugees, the young mothers and for my family.
Obviously, times have been very difficult and stressful for so many of us. So please know that we deeply appreciate all of your continued prayers and support! They are felt and they go such a long ways! Thank you! More updates to come!
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
March 21st
First of all, we are truly grateful for your continued prayers and support for House of James Ministries! Listed below are updates on each of our homes and also of our families and partners in Ukraine.
House of James 1:
Some of our older girls who are in college or are now married have evacuated Ukraine. Kristina (20 years old) and Luda (22 years old) made it to Poland early this morning. They will leave tomorrow for Sweden to live and work temporarily. Rita, who is now 25 years old and married with a newborn, arrived into Warsaw last Saturday with her baby. They plan on flying to Dublin where her husband has some relatives. All of this was possible thanks to the support of so many of you!
Denise from House of James 1 is in the Ukrainian army and is stationed outside of Odessa. We were able to purchase some protective gear for him. We would appreciate your payers for protection over him. All the other boys are currently safe at the home.
A family of 7 who were able to evacuate from the city of Mariupol are also staying at House of James 1. We are fortunate to have such a big home that allows us to help others. The HOJ 1 family (see photos below) wanted to make sure we pass on a big thank you for your continued support and prayers!
House of James 2:
As most of you already know, House of James 2 evacuated to a small village in the Czech Republic (see photos below). All the kids have been enrolled into a local school and some of the older girls have even found part time work to get experience and to help pass the time. Clothing, medication and other essentials have been purchased thanks to the support of so many! They pass on their huge appreciation too!
House of James 3:
The entire family (see photos below) is still safe in their home in Kazatin. Liza, house mom, is still recovering from brain surgery and has been dealing with high blood pressure and some pain. Please continue to pray for her. We were able to send them funds and they have stocked up on groceries and fuel for the time being. They send their love and gratitude as well!
My family (the Johnsons):
We are currently in Gdanks, Poland with our friend, Lena, who is due to give birth any day now. We are trying to find a home in the suburbs of Wroclaw, Poland and having a hard time doing so. We are needing a large home to house my family, Lena and her soon to be newborn and my sister-in-law who plans to arrive in Poland with her 8 month old baby soon (God willing). We are wanting to live in the Wroclaw area because it’s close to so many Ukrainians who are in need and also allows us to be within a few hours drive to the House of James 2 family. Please pray that God provides the right home and the finances that are needed to do so. Also, we continue to help people evacuate and get to places where they can get settled temporarily. Need God's continued strength and guidance.
My in-laws:
After 17 days of not knowing the condition of my father and mother in-law, we finally got word on Sunday! Papa Tolik was able reach the 4th floor of an apartment building to get a cellular signal. He then called my sister in-law, Marina. They are alive and not injured in any way. However, they are still in Mariupol. He said that they have been taking refuge in their cellar under the house since March 2nd. Of course, Marina pleaded with him to evacuate with mom. They do have a car with a full tank of gas, but It’s not an easy decision to make with all the fighting and shelling going on in the city. Pray that God leads them to make the right decisions and to guide them to safety.
Dima and Alona:
We have been able to help fund the efforts of Dima and Alona who have been housing, feeding, clotting, transporting and providing so many other needs for those who had to flee from Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol and from several other areas that have been heavily attacked by the Russians. I was able to meet with Dima and Alona in Poznan, Poland last week (see photos below). They were here to pick up humanitarian aid and also some funds from us. They are now back in Ukraine. Thousands of lives are being helped through their work and a lot of this was and still possible thanks to your support and prayers!
Below are links that can help people familiarize themselves with House of James Ministries. Please continue to share our ministry and needs with others! It is very effective! One of our biggest needs, besides onetime donations, is monthly giving to keep us going.
Here is a video that explains how House of James got started and a look in the everyday lives of each of the homes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcBPBZzpneY
The following link provides several ways for people to give.
https://houseofjames.org/ways-to-give/
People can like our Facebook page to get the latest as well. See link below.
https://www.facebook.com/houseofjamesministries
From the bottom of my heart and soul, I thank you for your amazing generosity! We are so blessed to have you partner up with us through your committed prayers and financial sacrifices! Please know that they are making a massive difference for the good in the lives of so many!
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
House of James 1 celebrating 15 (2021)
House of James 2 in the Czech Republic
House of James 3 family
My meet up with Dima and Alona. Sylvia
and Vova (Nazarene DS from Ukraine)
met up with us as well.
March 4th, 2022
The Russian invasion of Ukraine still seems surreal, but the realities have been felt all around the world. When the threat first appeared to be more ominous than it had been, Sean Johnson and his family were planning to stay, not wanting to leave their home or all the House of James families. But through prayer, the input of loved ones and the urging of the state department, Sean made the difficult decision to leave for Poland for “a few weeks.”
As the armies moved in upon them, the danger increased with each step. The relentless bombing of nearby cities set off air raid sirens that repeatedly sent the children and their house parents into basements to look to God and pray for protection.
After seeking God's direction and carefully monitoring the situation, it became clear that we had to evacuate House of James 2 - and get the children to safety immediately. With the help of our ministry partners, Sean was able to meet them at the Ukrainian border and transport them to a village in the Czech Republic.
Currently, the other two homes have determined they need to stay put for various reasons, but we are working with our ministry partners to help evacuate as many of the thousands of displaced children as we possibly can.
As we transport, feed and house these precious ones for an unknown amount of time, we rely on God and people like you to help provide for their needs. Only God knows how long this will go on.
We appreciate your financial and prayer support more than you know.
December 2021
We are truly grateful for those who have already given towards our end of the year fundraiser via Facebook and our website! However, we still have a ways to go in meeting our goal of $60,000 by December 31st. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to speak at churches and hold fundraisers due to Covid and other circumstances during the past 2 years. These events are key in helping us raise funds for what we lack in monthly giving to meet the needs of the homes/children. If you haven’t already given towards our end of the year fundraiser, would you please join in on the giving? We have provided 3 ways for you to give listed below, but please first look over the needs for 2022, which we have been broken down for you.
Total needs for all 3 homes
▪ Every day needs (food, shelter, education etc.) $73,000
▪ Health/Dental costs that we know of will be around $10,000
▪ Current house repairs for all 3 homes are estimated at $25,000
▪ Clothing and school supplies $6,000
▪ Summer programs and camps $6,000
Ways to give:
To give through our secured website, please click here
To give through the Facebook fundraiser, please click here
To send checks and money orders, please send to the following:
House of James Ministries
2908 N. 21st Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85015
Thanks to your generosity and commitment to our ministry, we truly believe that many lives will be gained for the Kingdom! Please know that you are making a difference!
Celebrating 15 years!
House of James 1:
On October 23rd, House of James 1 celebrated 15 years since they opened their doors officially. However, we did rescue our first 2 kids, Vica and her brother Oleg, back in August of 2006. Check out the video of our first rescue by clicking here! Unfortunately, Oleg passed away in September of this year. Please pray for Vica has she mourns the loss of her brother.
As you can see in the photo, the children are not so little anymore! Vica is married and has a child of her own. She works as a preschool teacher in the village where HOJ 1 and 2 are located. Max is working full-time and still lives at the home. Rita is married and is due any day now with their first child. It's a boy! Dennis finished out his contract with the army and is living and working in Vinnitsa. His sister, Kristina, is living in Odessa studying in college, but comes home quite often on the weekends. Lelaw is in her 4th year of university and is living in a dorm and working in Vinnitsa. Luda is in her 3rd year of university and has worked abroad the last two summers in Germany. She still lives at the home. Turas is in his final years of college and is working in Vinnitsa and still lives at the home as well. Valira is in his last year of high-school and works part-time in the village on construction sites. Vladik is working and living in Vinnitsa. Roma, Ruslan and Alosha are studying in technicals schools in Vinnitsa while living at the home. Bogdan is in the 7th grade now.
Everyone at House of James 1 appreciates all the support and prayers that have been given to them all of these years! Without our supporters, these children would not be where they are today! Thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts!
November 17th, 2020
Greetings from everyone at House of James 3!
On the 12th of November, we updated you on the House of James 2 children. If you missed that update, you can scroll down on this page until you hit the heading November 12th to read those updates.
The below is an updated on all the children at House of James 3:
Masha who was rescued in 2020 along with her sisters, Nastya and Alina, is 10 years old. She is in the 5th grade. She does well in school and she is creative. She draws and does crafts a lot. Masha was born on August 4th, 2010.
Dasha who was rescued in 2014 along with her siblings, Ivan and Katya, and is now 11 years old. She is in the 6th grade. She likes to read and play, but most of all, she loves to do handcrafts. She is very creative. Dasha was born on August 25th, 2009.
Katya who was rescued in 2014 along with her siblings, Ivan and Dasha, is now 12 years old. She is in the 7th grade. She loves to read, draw and play. Katya was born on January 11th, 2008.
Alina who was rescued in 2020 along with her sisters, Nastya and Masha, is 12 years old. She studies in the 7th grade. She is fond of needlework and loves to read. She dances and sings in her church worship group. She was born on February 4th, 2008.
Nastya who was rescued in 2020 along with her little sisters, Alina and Masha, is 14 years old. She studies in the 9th grade. She is fond of needlework. Likes to sing and dance in the worship group in her church. Nastya was born on April 19th, 2006.
Ivan who was rescued in 2014 along with his two little sisters, Katya and Dasha, is now 16 years old. He studies in the 10th grade. He loves to read a lot and plays logic games. His favourite being chess. Ivan was born on November 10th, 2004.
Ilya who was rescued in 2015 is now 16 years old. He is in his senior year of high school. He loves to read and is very interested in computer technology and design. He is also engaged in art drawing and he is an athletic boy. He helps out a lot and enjoys doing housework. Ilya was born January 7th, 2004.
2020 has been a rough year for House of James Ministries as it has for most. Please continue to pray for us as we have lost monthly supporters and received less donations this year then the years before.
To sign up for monthly giving or to give a onetime donation, please click here.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Thanks for your continued prayers and support!
Below is a photo of the House of James 3 family.
November 12th, 2020
Greetings from everyone at House of James 2!
It's been awhile since we have updated you with the latest on our chidden. We appreciate your ongoing support for all of us at House of James Ministries! The children, house parents and the Johnson family (missionaries) fully rely on the monthly and onetime gifts from our supporters. Please know that we are very grateful for your prayers and generosity! We hope to have more updates for you on the HOJ 1 and 3 children within the next couple of weeks.
House of James 2 children:
Yulia who we rescued in 2015 along with her sister, Katya, is now 5 years old! She is currently attending kindergarten. She has grown into a very active child. She loves to sing and dance. She also loves to swim in the sea. She is very cheerful and makes the entire family laugh. She was born on 01-08-2015.
Rostik who we rescued in 2018 along with his older brother, Alosha, is now 6 years old! He is currently in kindergarten. Since he was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, he requires additional care. He receives speech therapy and and sees a psychologist every week. He loves to play with cars, lego type toys and ride his bike! He was born on 02-07-2014
Alosha who we rescued in 2018 along with his little brother, Rostik, is now 8 years old. He attends the 2nd grade. He loves to ride his bike, help with housework, draw and build things. He is a very curious child and is always asking questions. He is very much interested in the world around him. He was born 10-28-2012.
Katya who we rescued in 2015 along with her little sister, Yulia, is now 9 years old. She is in the 3rd grade. She loves to sing, dance, travel and loves to eat delicious foods. She also loves her best friend, Samuel Johnson. She was born on 03-10-2011
Alina who we rescued in 2011 along with her sister and brother, Onya and Misha, is now 10 years old. She studies in the 5th grade. She does very well in school. She loves to draw, read, and play with other kids at school. She is a big help around the house. She is interested in learning English and loves animals; especially cats. She was born on 02-08-2010
Onya who we rescued in 2011 along with her little sister and big brother, Alina and Misha, is now 13 years old! She is in the 8th grade. She is interested in learning English and wants to become a blogger. She loves sports and she is a very good student. She loves to participate in youth ministry. She was born on 12-19-2006.
Vitya who we rescued in 2008 along with his older sisters, Yana and Deona, is now 15 years old. He attends a technical school and is learning to be an auto mechanic. He is very much a teenager and everything connected to it. He was born on 02-20-2005.
Natasha who we rescued in 2008 is now 16 years old! She attends the 11th grade. She plays the bass and sometimes the violin in the worship group at the Vinnitsa Nazarene church. She dreams of having a guitar and loves to ride her bike. She will be graduating high school this spring! She was born 01-28-2004.
Deona who we rescued in 2008 along with her younger brother and older sister, Vitya and Yana, is now 17 years old! She is in her 2nd year in music/dance college. She loves cooking and baking. She is a big help with the little kids and around the house. She was born on 10-24-2003.
2020 has been a rough year for House of James Ministries as it has for most. Please continue to pray for us as we have lost monthly supporters and received less donations this year then the years before.
To sign up for monthly giving or to give a onetime donation, please click here.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Thanks for your continued prayers and support!
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
Photo below:
Sergei and Olga, house parents, out picking mushrooms with some of the kids; Onya, Rostik, Yulia, Alosha and Katya
March 9th - HOJ 2 in need
Last year we were blessed by your generosity through prayers and financial support for remodelling two bathrooms at House of James 2. The condition of the home plays a huge role when it comes to helping the children with their confidence and being functional for them in their everyday lives. Now it’s time to remodel the boys’ bedroom and the family room at HOJ 2. In the family room, we will be ripping out the rotting floors and adding a layer of cement to the foundation. Then we’ll replace it with new flooring. We will need to rewire the walls due to the floor plan change to make the room more functional. Also, we will be adding a fireplace, which the kids have been dreaming about for a long time. We’ll also replace the old wallpaper and repaint the ceiling. For the boys’ room we will just replace the old wallpaper and repaint the ceiling.
For us to make this all happen, we need a total of $7,000. Will you please consider participating in the support of this need by giving a tax-deductible gift? We won’t be able to start the project until we have all the funds in order. We will be blessed with whatever amount you can give. Our homes rely on the donations of our supporters, and our House of James families deeply appreciate all that you do for them!
If you would like to give a gift through our secured website, please click here.
To contribute by check, send to:
House of James Ministries
2908 N. 21st Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85015
Thanks for your consideration and continued support!
Blessings,
Sean Johnson
President/Founder of House of James Ministries
Half Way Through Summer
Summer is flying by! We are already half way through it and lots has already happened! We were blessed with a team from Go Be Love in the first week of June. They visited with all three homes, played with the kids and met some needs for the homes and the children. It was a blessed time! We also had a team of students from Southern Nazarene University out of Oklahoma. They came for 17 days and helped with a VBS and spent some time with the HOJ 1 and 2 families. They even watched over the children at HOJ 2 for three days while the house parents got a much deserved mini vacation. During their 2 week visit, we were able to take them to a government ran orphanage where they played with the precious children. They also blessed 20 children from property stricken families by treating them to a day of play at a children’s complex with massive amounts of trampolines and pizza. It was amazing to see the joy that these children experienced.
We are also excited that the need to send the children from all three homes to summer camps have been met! Between the three homes, they are a total of 7 camps and summer events that the kids will be a part of. Camps are not only vital for the spiritual growth for these children, but it also allows the house parents to get a much needed break as well.
Every year on September 1st school starts here in Ukraine. As always, we will need to buy many school clothes and supplies for most of the children. We usually need around $150 per child. We will be buying for 27 kids this year. So we are in need of $4,050. Please pray that God provides this important need within the next month. If you would like to give towards the school needs, please click here.
Please continue to pray for House of James Ministries as we are in need of more monthly supoort. Also, please pray for the abandoned children of Ukraine as many of them still need a place they can call home.
To help meet the daily needs for the children from all three homes, you can become a monthly supporter! If that is something you feel called to do, please click here.
Thanks for taking the time and reading our mid-summer update!
Blessings from all of us at House of James Ministries
July 18th, 2019
House #3 Expansion Project
Thank you to all who have contributed to this project. It has made all the difference to get us to this point. We still need your help.
We continue to need funds to put the finishing touches on the playroom / garage building, including a front porch for summer meals and also need to install pavers for the driveway leading up to it. Approximate funds still needed: $5,000.
Please visit our "Ways to Give" page and mark your donation if you would like to give towards this project.
February 3, 2019