You Are For Me (English & Spanish Version)
Our Mission
The Mission of The Potter’s House Peru is to aid in transforming fatherless boys into leaders and disciples of Christ, through a Christian transition home, where they will receive the care of loving house parents, daily nourishment, both physically and spiritually, and an education.
Matthew 28:29-30
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Our Vision
We envision these boys becoming healthy men and leaders of their homes, churches and communities. We also envision these boys having jobs and using their gifts to bring glory to God. Above all, we envision these boys being the men that God created them to be.
Our History
Dan and Brenda Johnston have always had a burden for orphans and poor, underprivileged children. Out of this burden came the adoption of their son from Haiti in 2014.
In 2019, Brenda had the opportunity to visit Iquitos, Peru, where she realized the magnitude of this poverty stricken city and the amount of street children, primarily boys. After multiple trips to Iquitos and time spent at an all boys orphanage, she sensed the Lord shaping a vision for The Potter’s House Peru. The thought of these boys having limited options upon turning eighteen was heartbreaking. In her eyes, returning to the streets or unsafe living situations was not an option.
In January of 2020, Dan and Brenda set off to spend time with the boys and attend language school. Their time in this beautiful country only ignited their passion for orphans and the poor. In the months and years to come, they are eager to see the mission of The Potter’s House Peru fulfilled. To God be the glory.
Journal Entry
7/8/09
“I pray for Dan’s counseling ministry. I pray our vision to help kids in third world countries comes to pass. Lord I want to be a part of something big.”
In Iquitos, Peru…
%
of the population finishes high school.
%
of the population enters a University.
%
of the population obtains a degree.
A Testimony from The Potter’s House
“On December 27, 2017 I was dropped off at an orphanage with my brother. Due to problems within my family, the government took me away from my family and brought me to the home. From that point on, I looked at everything differently. As time passed, I knew I wanted everything different than what I had grown up in. I wanted to change. I wanted to break cycles.
One day specifically, I asked the Lord, what is your purpose for me? The Lord told me and gave me confidence that He has many plans for me. After I came to know the Lord, I was changed. I wanted to live to fulfill my purpose and do what the Lord wants to do through me. When I got to the orphanage, it was the first time I had really learned about the Lord. I accepted Christ. I got baptized on a June 10, 2018. Through a church that I began attending with the boys in the home in 2020, I felt God giving me the desire to be a pastor.
I began talking with the pastor of the church and told him because of how the Lord had changed my life, I want to become a pastor and lead people to the Lord. I want to teach His Word to people all over the world and go where ever He takes me. I just turned 18 and am finishing high school currently. My dream is to complete high school, continue my education and study theology to become a pastor and bring my ambitions to life. Honestly, I feel so thankful and grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of The Potters House Peru. I am so excited to live in our new home because I truly feel like it is a gift and blessing from God. My desire for this house is that we will be a family and I will continue to learn the Word of the Lord daily. Thank you so much for this opportunity and for believing in me.”
A Name Shaped by God and His Word
For several months we prayed that God would give us a name to depict what we envisioned this ministry accomplishing. Then came The Potter’s House. We love the imagery of this parable. A parable is an earthly story with a spiritual lesson. God is the Potter, we are the clay. He takes all of us, not just the boys that come into the Potter’s House Peru, and continually shapes us. Life has a way of breaking us. So we come to The Potter’s House marred; blemished, imperfect, insufficient and unworthy. God takes us into his hands and begins to work. He molds us into vessels to be used for his kingdom and for his glory. We leave the potter’s house beautiful, perfect in his eyes, sufficient and worthy. This is our prayer for the boys.
Jeremiah 18:1-4 (NIV)
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.