The name World Challenge suggests an outreach with no geographical boundaries. It is indeed our privilege to bring you reports of God's miracle-working love in the far corners of the world.
Yet of the many ministries we help to staff or fund, none has greater impact than those reaching the deepest needs here in the U.S. Today we introduce to you five "home missions"—ministries that respond to cries of desperation in their own communities with God's transforming love.
Father's Love
PROVIDING HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Raised by Christian parents who loved them, Roger and Debi Jonker felt a common burden for children from challenging backgrounds. Father's Love, the ministry founded by the Jonkers in Jacksonville, Texas, reaches disadvantaged young people ages 10 to 19. The youngsters' experiences range from teenage pregnancy to homelessness to substance addictions to violence (often in combination)—and their pain can produce a hardness that seems impenetrable.
At Father's Love the children are cherished, nurtured and mentored by the ministry staff with a daily routine of discipline and enduring love. The ministry's outreach center includes a gym, chapel and classroom where the kids are immersed in Bible lessons.
As the children grow in God's love, wounds are healed, extreme behaviors are quieted and despairing hearts come alive. Through their heavenly Father's love, young people are finding hope for a future.
Mount Hope Camp
WOMEN, CHILDREN AND MIRACLES
Mount Hope Camp is a Christ-centered residential program for mothers dealing with life-controlling problems and serves as a haven for their children. Originating in New York City as Hannah House, the ministry moved to New Jersey where, under the care of directors Cheri and Mark Galbraith, mothers and kids with no expectancy for a normal life are given just that through the power of Christ's love.
Immersed in class work and Bible study and involved in chapel services, moms at Mount Hope Camp are taught to understand the true source of their problems: not addiction, but rather issues of the heart. They also learn their true source of hope for recovery: Jesus.
For moms and children, Mount Hope Camp is a place of miracles—where fractured families find new beginnings through Christ's life-changing love.
Door to Life Ministries
WIDE OPEN WITH LOVE
In 1996 Reverend Dr. Kittim Silva Bermudez saw a desperate need in his Queens, New York neighborhood, dozens of men were bound by alcohol and drug addiction, leading lives of despair as their families suffered. Door to Life Ministries was born from Dr. Bermudez's concern.
Each year more than 40 men come through Door to Life, finding freedom from their addictions at the ministry's bilingual-bicultural community center. Door to Life also offers individual and family counseling, social services, counsel on housing and education. In addition, a food pantry has been created to help struggling families, distributing food to about 300 families a month.
What began as one person's desire to help a handful of men has opened doors to new life—abundant life—for multitudes.
Harvest Evangelism
TRANSFORMING A COMMUNITY
In 1987 Rick and Kim Hagans established Harvest Evangelism in Opelika, Alabama, as a coffeehouse outreach. Soon men with life-controlling addictions were transformed as they surrendered their lives to Jesus and were delivered. Women addicts followed, experiencing the same healing and deliverance.
Nearly 24 years later, Harvest Evangelism has expanded to multiple rehabilitation facilities in the city and surrounding area. A clinic aids the uninsured, and a thrift store helps meet the needs of the poor while also providing funds for the ministries. Harvest Evangelism has been recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (fema) for its work also in housing victims of major disasters.
Hope Christian Center
SALVATION, DELIVERANCE AND RESTORATION
When God broke the power of heroin over Sammy Santos's life in 1969, the young man was stirred to help others who struggled with addictions. With the help of a pastor who came alongside Sammy, a prevailing work of God was born: Hope Christian Center in the Bronx, New York.
Over the years thousands of men have been set free from addictions at this Christ-centered substance-abuse rehabilitation program. With no foundation for their lives, the men at Hope Christian Center learn to stand firmly on the Rock that can never be shaken. And as they grow in their new life in Christ they are reconciled and restored to their families. They move forward to lead productive lives with many becoming instruments of God's salvation to others.
A Special Word of Thanks
World Challenge is indeed called to the nations—including the nation we are blessed to call home. We thank God for every ministry worker serving faithfully in this crucial home-mission field. We are honored to support them—and we are grateful to you for every prayer and gift to sustain these God-empowered works of compassionate love.