The story of House of Prayer International began on a quiet Sunday, May 15, 2022, through a powerful and unexpected encounter between Faith Joy Johnson and God.

On that particular Sunday, Faith was unable to attend church because she was extremely tired. While the rest of the family went to church, she remained at home. As she went about cleaning in the kitchen, she began worshipping God aloud.

It was in the midst of that ordinary moment that something extraordinary happened. Faith heard a voice say:

“Open a prayer group.” Her immediate response was one of uncertainty. She wondered, “Who will come and pray with me?” At that time, Faith did not consider herself spiritually qualified to lead others. She was still struggling with her own weaknesses and was living in fornication. She questioned how God could possibly use someone whose life was not yet fully aligned with Him. But there was no response. She then asked another question: “What will I call it?” The answer came clearly:

“House of Prayer.”

At that time, Faith did not know that the name was rooted in Scripture. She had never heard the biblical passage where Jesus declared, “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17).

Nevertheless, she obeyed. Faith opened the prayer group, and by the grace and mercy of God, the people she was led to contact accepted the invitation without hesitation. Many of them came from similar backgrounds and had experienced similar struggles in life. They were not perfect people, but they were people who needed God and were willing to seek Him.

Before House of Prayer was established, Faith already had a strong desire for prayer and had developed a deep prayer life. However, she was not yet consistently reading the Bible.

Approximately two months later, she felt God leading her to begin reading His Word. The day Faith finally sat down to read the Bible became another significant moment in the journey. As she opened the Scriptures, she was led to Matthew 21:13, which says:

“My house shall be called a house of prayer.”

As Faith read the verse that afternoon, she experienced a powerful encounter with God. She began to tremble, and tears started flowing from her eyes. In that moment, she felt overwhelmed by the presence of God.

Faith sensed the Lord speaking to her heart:

“I will make you and show you to the nations. I will bring people who do not fully know Me, and it will be your responsibility to lead them to Me. I will never leave you. I will use you to bring deliverance to your family and to My people.”

That encounter marked the beginning of something much greater than Faith could have imagined. What began as a simple instruction to “open a prayer group” became the foundation of a God-ordained ministry. House of Prayer International was not built upon human perfection, personal strength, or human ability. It was born through prayer, obedience, faith, grace, and a willingness to respond to the call of God.

Today, House of Prayer International has grown into a global community of believers committed to prayer, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and demonstrating the love of Christ through compassion and service. As House of Prayer International celebrates four years, Faith Joy Johnson and the entire HOP family look back with deep gratitude for the faithfulness of God.

The journey has not always been easy, but God has remained faithful. He has carried them. He has sustained them. He has opened doors. He has transformed lives. And He continues to build His Church. What began with one woman, one encounter, and one simple instruction—“Open a prayer group”—has become a growing testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness.

And the story is still being written.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.” — Psalm 127:1 To God alone be all the glory, honour, and praise.