Our first and primary mission is to carry the message of Jesus Christ into all the world. It grieves our hearts that so many have not yet heard that there is a living God who truly loves them. Many of these people live in small towns and obscure villages across our planet….those places where the big names and organizations cannot go. These are those to whom we are called. In traveling to these pla
ces, we found abject poverty, people struggling just to stay alive that day, and families being fractured as children were sent to far away orphanages just so they could eat. We found tiny graves of those who didn’t make it to the orphanage. We learned rather quickly that when a person is starving to death because he hasn’t had one bite of food in weeks, that he doesn’t really care who loves him. He only cares about getting something to eat! In our Bible studies we learned that Jesus was concerned about both the spiritual and the physical health of people. He preached to them and wept over their soul’s condition. He also fed them food when they were physically hungry. Can we do less? Over the years, HHIM evolved into a two-prong ministry. THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
One, we carry the Gospel and preach and teach Jesus Christ so as to lead people into eternal life with Him—the ultimate life-sustaining livelihood! We conduct
• Ladies’ Conferences,
• Worship Conferences & Services,
• Ministers’ Conferences and encourage those who are ministering in these fields.
• We love doing Children’s Church, VBS, Kids’ Krusades! Yes, we do all the typical ‘missionary’ activities on our Short-Term trips! BREAK THE POVERTY-HUNGER CYCLE
Two, through the Holy Spirit’s teaching we have developed strategies to help to break the poverty-hunger cycle in these small towns and obscure villages as well as in the orphanages. We often “adopt” an orphanage and work to help them become self-sustaining. Then, the orphanage or the leaders of the orphanage use the same strategies to assist the entire community to become self-sustaining! Extensive research has shown that three components must be present in order to break the poverty-hunger cycle:
1. Farms and Gardens
2. Micro-enterprise
3. Savings Groups
We have added a fourth: Sharing the Blessings or Paying It Forward! How does HHIM meet these needs?
• Seed Capital Grants are awarded to begin or expand micro-enterprise. These grants are small and criteria must be met before it is approved. Accountability is an on-going process.
• Seed Capital Grants are often used to lease land to grow vegetables for human consumption and for market. Enough food must be grown so that funds are available to lease the land year after year as HHM only gives the first year’s lease. Accountability is an on-going process.
• Before any grant of any size is awarded, a Savings Group must be organized and maintained. Records are checked by HHM to make sure the Savings Group is in operation. SHORT-TERM TRIPS
HHIM organizes and takes teams of people into these places every summer on Short-Term trips. The trips last from 10 to 21 days depending upon the circumstances. Costs typically average $2,500 each trip and includes round-trip tickets, visas, in-country travel, food and boarding. Passport expenses and souvenirs are not included. During the Short-Term trips, we talk to the leaders and find what is needed most and our project funds are given in a most delightful way! We take children shopping! We take teachers or ministers or pastor’s wives shopping! We have purchased shoes, clothes, toys, school equipment, commercial water fountains, mosquito nets, beds, mattresses & bed linens, food, and so much more! We have taken children to local amusement parks! The smiles and giggles turn to out-right laughter as the day progresses! We end up with hundreds of really fun photos and some of the greatest memories of our lives! (This is not only fun, it is also a great way to prove our own accountability. We, and you, know 100% sure that your donated money really did go to the cause for which you gave! No scam possible!)
