Churches struggle to hire or retain staff because the cost of housing is out of reach. But, the right connections can change everything. Recently, a remarkable chain of events unfolded through Aslan Housing Foundation’s Got Housing? Need Housing?™ Marketplace—a story that shows what’s possible when churches, pastors, and generous landlords are connected in the right way.
Miracle #1: A Family Gains Room to Foster
Pastor Austin Hochstetler of Peninsula Covenant Church (PCC) felt called to foster children. The challenge was space, and his family had simply outgrown their home. Through our Got Housing? Need Housing?™ Marketplace, a larger Below Market Rate (BMR) rental became available from a private landlord. Austin’s family was able to move in and get the physical and emotional space they needed to say “yes” to fostering. One housing opportunity opened the door for a family to expand their ministry of care.
Miracle #2: A Pastor Finds a Landing Place
Austin’s move created another opportunity. When he vacated PCC’s parsonage—an accessory dwelling unit (ADU)—the church suddenly had a housing asset available. At the very same time, Western Hills Church had just hired a new pastor, Carl, who was urgently searching for housing in the Bay Area. Instead of facing the usual months-long search, Carl found an immediate landing place in PCC’s parsonage.
Miracle #3: Two Churches Strengthened
For Western Hills and their lead pastor Scott, this meant they could welcome their new hire without having to solve the region’s housing crisis on their own. Meanwhile, PCC’s parsonage remained actively used for ministry, rather than sitting empty. Two congregations were strengthened, one pastor’s family gained the room they needed to foster children, and a new pastor found a home—all through a single chain of connections.
The Power of Connection
What makes this story remarkable is that no Aslan capital was deployed.
No loans.
No housing purchases.
No subsidies.
Just connection.
“PCC is blessed with staff housing—but vacancies aren’t always a fit for our own team. Aslan matches us with pastors from other local ministries who need housing, and we think that’s a Kingdom-move. We’re strengthening the local Christian ecosystem, one placement at a time. Thrilled to be of help.”
Jane Johnson
HR and Central Services Director
PCC
Through the Marketplace, a private landlord, two churches, and two pastoral families were brought together at exactly the right moment. In a region where housing often feels like an unsolvable problem, this story shows something hopeful: sometimes the solution already exists. It simply needs the right platform to bring people together.
Join the Marketplace
The Got Housing? Need Housing?™ Marketplace connects:
- Churches with housing assets
- Pastors seeking housing
- Landlords who want their properties to support ministry
If you are a pastor looking for housing, a church with a property, or a landlord who wants to support ministry leaders, we invite you to join the network. Because sometimes, one open door can create three miracles.
