John's Prayer Letter

May God recieve all glory and honor for what I am about to share with you. I know that this a gofundme page, but my goal is that you see this as more of an old fashion prayer letter. My ultimate goal is that you join me in prayer that God will use me as He sees fit and that not only am I sensitive to the calling of God but that I follow it boldy.  

About 4 years ago, I was attending mens group (MAG) at Bethel Philadelphia Mills and God used those men mightly in my life. God started me on a path that was going to push me harder then I ever have been and brought me to some of my greatest tears. In the midst of everything that was about to come, I would see Jesus as I never saw Him before. Men's group did two very important things. It reignited my relationship with God, and it showed me that I was sinning by not using the gifts that He gave me.  I would personally like to thank Dan Seif for being there for me especially as the closer I got to God the more pain I started to feel from other parts of my life. I also would like to thank the other men there as we were always there for each other praying and supporting one another. God used you men, in building me up, when I was weak and giving me a place where I felt loved.
 
In 2015, I convinced my family to move down to Myrtle Beach. In my head, I was doing everything possible to keep my family together. I thought maybe a change in scenery would fix what was broken. I do believe it was part of God's plan for us to move down here. So far the outcome isn't what I wanted, but God knows what is best. As I try to reflect on these last couple of years, I think God needed to get me away from my support system because He was going to do some refineing. On September 22, 2015, God woke me up and I was ready to go wherever He wanted me to go but He didn't respond, so I began to pray and weep. I even thought at one point He was getting ready to take me home at that very moment. I have never felt like I was more in the presence of God. All my energy poured out towards Him until I felt exhausted. I told him that I felt an emptiness but I prayed and weep for everything He brought to my head, so I was going to try to go back to bed. As I laid my pillow on my head, He whispered to me, " You are going to feel alone like you never felt before, but I will be with you". I felt peace and fear at the same moment.

Since that day, it has been true, more true than I wish. I wish that I could say that I held on to the second part of the prophecy, but there have been times that I got wrapped up in that loneliness, that I forgot He was there. Things got so bad that I walked out of my house, and  have not been back. I am not here to blame anyone. It takes two to tangle and I am no better than her. I don't tell you this because I want you to take sides. In fact any side that isn't God's side is the wrong side. I tell you this strickly because if you are to join me in prayer and/or support, I need to be transparent.  Please know that my desire is for reconciliation. I have tried everything I could think of and now it is in His hands.

I was working two jobs, about 60-70 hours a week for the last year. Last month I hurt my back and ended up going to emergency room. After spending a day in prayer and fasting, I came to a peace that God was telling me to let my second job go. It was a scary thought, but I let it go. I applied the next day to any job I could find. I have been searching ever since. I started to worry about how I was going to survive, I knew I couldn't make my bills. It got so bad, that last Tuesday, I woke up and prayed to God. I told Him that I didn't see how I could continue to live down here and that if He didn't do a miracle, I was going to be force to move back north. I called my dad and informed him of my decision and called my best friend and told him. 15 mins later, I got a call setting up an interview. Later that night, I got a call from someone very special to me offering help. To be honest I was reluctant to accept. I went on interview, and they said it would take a while to come to a decision. I accepted the offer of help, and later that day, my wife told me that  she would not fight for the house and that I could have it with stipulations when we get divorced (yes I still want reconciliation). But the point here is that God isn't done with me here, He has a plan for me here.

I am sorry for the long backstory, but it is important. This is what I am asking. I am asking that you pray with me and for me daily.

Pray:
*  That I seek His will daily and glorify Him
*  That if it is His will, that He would restore my marriage
*  That I would use my gifts to serve Him

God has been laying on my heart, to use my gifts and serve Him. I would really like to either do ministry or volunteer with a ministry. I think God took away the second job so I can serve Him. I am asking you to pray for God to open a door that will allow me to use my gifts for Him.

I have either two choices go back to working 2 jobs where my gifts arent being used and pay my bills or take a step of faith and ask people to see the passion God is placing in my heart to do His will and support me. So I can volunteer until He provides a way to do it full time.  My goal is to volunteer with Ground Zero or another organization.

Why $6,600? It equals my rent for a year (550 x 12).  Half my check goes to supporting my three daughters and the other half goes to food, gas, car and other bills. I have eliminated everthing I can do without.

All that I can ask is that you pray and do what God places in your heart.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

John Fletcher

Updates:

10/4/17 - I submitted a volunteer application with Ground Zero, called and left a voice mail with Project Lighthouse (the interview I went on last wednesday), applied at a couple more jobs.