Global Partners

Compassion International are:

• advocates for children, committed to Jesus Christ in all that we do.
  Jesus is the core of our ministry and his life and teachings shape our programs, reflect the spiritual commitments of our staff, and guide how we love people, respect communities and cooperate with nations.
• Christ-centered, church-based and child-focused. That is what makes us distinct from other child sponsorship organizations.
• the world’s leading authority in holistic child development through sponsorship.

HOPE International is a network of microfinance institutions based in Lancaster County, PA, and operating in 16 countries around the world. Hope International invests in the dreams of the poor while simultaneously living and proclaiming the Gospel in the world’s most under-served communities. HOPE works to empower men, women, and families to break the cycles of physical and spiritual poverty through the provision of biblically based business training, savings services, small loans, mentoring, and discipleship. By incorporating a strong witness for Jesus Christ and employing a variety of approaches to microfinance, HOPE is an innovator in the field of microenterprise development. HOPE International offers micro-loans and savings programs to poor individuals of all faiths in third world countries. Approximately 82% of those clients are women. Furthermore, all field staff are native to the communities in which they work and are evaluated by their clients.

In its network, HOPE includes traditional microfinance programs, microfinance plus programs (which incorporate health care, literacy training, or other community empowerment initiatives outside the realm of traditional microfinance), savings-led microfinance programs, and small and medium enterprise development programs.

HOPE’s programs are effectively reaching over 400,000 entrepreneurs around the world with the love of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to start or expand a business. From inception to present, HOPE’s programs boast a 96 percent repayment rate, pointing to the efficiency of HOPE’s methodology.

Microfinance attracts donors who want to make the most of each donated dollar. Many are impressed by the compounding effect that is achieved as clients repay their loans and the same funds are issued to new borrowers to help support more livelihoods and families.

HOPE International (HOPE) is a Christian faith-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on alleviating physical and spiritual poverty through microenterprise development.

The Difference: HOPE practices a holistic approach to poverty alleviation. Microcredit and basic business training enable individuals to build businesses and break free from physical poverty. Clients find that their increased income enables them to provide more nutritious and regular meals as well as improved housing and education for their children. But HOPE isn’t only concerned with physical poverty. Christ-following loan officers share the hope of the Gospel in the context of relationships, ministering to spiritual poverty as well.

A Worthy Investment: When one of HOPE’s programs becomes profitable, instead of returning profits to the United States, HOPE invests the money in further program growth and in community initiatives such as Christ-centered children’s ministries or complimentary health care. HOPE’s programs are highly successful, boasting a historical repayment rate of 96 percent, and highly leveraged. These high repayment rates coupled with HOPE’s commitment to stewardship ensure that every donor dollar is maximized.

Why Microenterprise Development: Around the world many creative, intelligent people are mired in poverty because they lack access to capital. Microfinance services can make the difference between economic entrapment and the realization of their dreams. HOPE believes that microfinance can be a powerful force in changing the world for the better and that loving people as Christ loved others means caring for both physical and spiritual needs.

HOPE ministers to the poor in 16 countries, working in the hard places and thriving there. HOPE’s microfinance programs offer a sustainable alternative to the short-term forms of charity that have often left a wake of disempowerment in developing countries. Microfinance isn’t a handout but a hand-up. It demands ownership and active participation from the beneficiaries of the intervention. Microloan recipients can take pride in knowing that their own hard work has made the difference between poverty and provision.

The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ, fulfilling the Great Commission, and educating the world about the ongoing persecution of Christians.

VOM is headquartered in Bartlesville, Oklahoma with thirty affiliated international offices, and an enormous team of servant-hearted volunteers. Explore the website listed below to learn more about VOM’s history, founders, current projects, and vision.

Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselved also in the body. (Hebrews 13:3)

Voice of the Martyrs is an international organization that:

• Identifies governments that persecute and attempt to silence Christians.
• Locates and helps persecuted Christians.
• Provides useful tools on their website so you can pray, advocate and minister to persecuted Christians.

The work God has called Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) to fulfill — originally through the vision of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in a Romanian prison cell — is much bigger than any one person. God has done an amazing work over the past 45 years in establishing this ministry to stand with those who are persecuted for their faith.

VOM has always been a ministry that relies on God moving His people to help the persecuted church.

From the beginning, VOM’s founder, Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, traveled widely to spread the stories of the persecuted church, and people gave. VOM continues to follow the model this Completed Jew and Lutheran pastor established by freely sharing the stories of persecuted Christians and supporting them in their suffering.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus sends out His disciples on two occasions: in Matthew 10 and again in Matthew 28. On both occasions Jesus gives the disciples specific instructions, but neither time does Jesus tell them to go to places where their message will be well received. He doesn’t tell them to ask permission to share the gospel or heal the sick. And He doesn’t tell them to poll the villagers first to measure their receptivity to the gospel.

In fact, Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 would not be considered hopeful or positive by the world’s standards. He tells the disciples that they will be delivered up to government officials and will be “scourged” or terrorized by religious leaders. He tells them that families will reject them and even have them killed. To leave no doubt about how they can expect to be treated, Jesus summarizes their situation as “sheep among wolves,” telling them that they will be “hated by all” for His Name’s sake.

Still, He said “Go!” and His disciples went. They had a mission to accomplish — reaching all nations with the gospel (Matthew 28:19).

Our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their faith understand this connection between mission and persecution very well. Some have faced situations to which we cannot even imagine how we would respond. And in a nation like Nigeria, where Christians in the north have been targeted by Muslim extremist groups, Christians either face violence or know they COULD face violence at any time. Many have even watched their children suffer because of the parent’s association with Christ.

But you should notice that Jesus speaks the words about the persecution His followers can expect to face IMMEDIATELY before He sends the disciples on their first mission (Matthew 10:5-39). In his book In the Shadow of the Cross, Glenn Penner wrote “The timing is suggestive of the fact that Jesus wants His disciples to know that mission and persecution are inseparable. When done in the spirit of Jesus, you cannot have one without the other. When done in the spirit of Christ, mission has always taken place in the shadow of the cross … Survival in not to be their prime concern. They are to be committed to accomplishing the purposes of God, even if it means their death.”

The mission of Voice of the Martyrs is to serve those Christians who choose to stay and share the gospel in hostile situations. They know the risks, but they wisely count the cost when they pick up their cross (Luke 14:27-28).

We know that one day we will all stand before God’s throne and give an account of our part in accomplishing His mission. As believers, we are promised that as we share in Christ’s sufferings we will also share in His glory. Our persecuted brothers and sisters may never experience that glory on earth, but through Voice of the Martyrs, we can stand with them as they maintain their witness in hostile areas until they reach eternal glory. Although we rely on the Lord to do the final work of giving reward to those who continued to trust in Him in spite of persecution, through the Voice of the Martyrs we can bring them comfort is some small way. Through the Voice of the Martyrs we hope to aid Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. In this small way, we hope to do our part to fulfill the Great Commission, and finish well ourselves.

Water Mission International is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization providing sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.

Safe water is the source of life. It is the foundation for health, education and viable economies.

Through the generous support of individuals, churches, corporate partners and many others, Water Mission International has brought relief and hope to more than 2.4 million people across the globe. Holy Trinity’s Evangelism Committee holds a 5k run every summer to raise funds for this important ministry.

Their faith and belief in the sanctity of life compel them to develop and implement the best technologies and community development programs so God will be honored and glorified through our work.

Their mission is to be a best in class Christian engineering ministry that transforms lives through sustainable safe water solutions.

Water Mission International is a charity that is endorsed by the NALC and that has received a 4-out-of-4 Star Rating from Charity Navigator. LWR and Samaritan’s Purse are among the global relief organizations that buy water purification systems from Water Mission International for use following a disaster.

Watch their video “The Crisis is Real”

General Information Video (from 2008)

Typhoon Haiyan Disaster Response Update from December 2013

2012 Water Mission Promotional Video

Didi and Seraphina Panzo are serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through World Mission Prayer League.

Holy Trinity supports their ministry through financial gifts and prayers

Natives of Angola and now US citizens and members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Pastor Didi Panzo and family recently completed 3 years of service in Ecuador among the marginalized. At this time, they have re-deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where they focus on community development, counseling, and spiritual guidance. They are able to serve in this capacity thanks to a strategic partnership between WMPL and Christian Community Development Network (CCDN).

Didi and Seraphina are stationed in western Congo where local leaders have expressed an acute need for empowering families that are facing conflict and crisis — especially women in domestic violence and children enduring many kinds of abuse. The goal is to facilitate emotional and spiritual rehabilitation as they are pointed to Christ, the only one who can heal such wounds. Local Lutheran congregations are eager to collaborate and so build their capacity to respond in a similar fashion. Dr. Panzo also teaches on a part-time basis at the Lutheran Theological Institute in Kinshasa.

Please pray for Didi and Serafina as they do this crucial work. Join them in prayer that this critical ministry to abused women and children will be guided by the Lord and grow as it did in Ecuador, equipping volunteers and leaders to reach out to those affected. Didi and Seraphina ask us to join them in prayer that God will provide for this ministry. Also Pray for their youngest two children, Nicole and Sarah, as they stay with their adult sister in the States and attend to their studies.

You can correspond with Pastor Didi at dpanzo@wmpl.org. You can also request regular prayer updates or make a secure contribution online at wmpl.org/Didi. Contributions can be sent by check to: World Mission Prayer League, 232 Clifton Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55403, USA. On the check memo line write “Panzo”.

Asia Harvest, a non-denominational Christian organization, aims to see millions of people from every tribe and people group throughout Asia experience a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ as they are reached with the Gospel. In support, members of Holy Trinity take an annual collection to provide Bibles for China where a growing number of believers are often desperate for a copy of the Word. Asia Harvest also provides other funds in five key areas: Asian Bibles, Asian Workers, Living Martyrs, Bless the Children, and Persecution and Relief.

With roots in China and the United States, China Venture Service strives to touch lives in both countries through the development of relationships – between groups and individuals – resulting from prayer, the exchange of people and resources, projects and a faith in Christ.

Spiritual Orphans Network (formerly East European Missions Network (EEMN)) is a national ministry with an international impact. We serve to mobilize congregations for missions involvement, to send out career and short-term missionaries, and to renew and equip the body of Christ in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

The Latin American Lutheran Mission (LALM) is an independent Lutheran mission started in 1936 and is focused on proclaiming the Gospel to the people of Mexico. It was the parent, and now partner, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mexico (ELCM). This partnership encourages Bible study and discipleship training to equip Mexican people to fulfill Christ’s “Great Commission.”

The World Mission Prayer League is a Lutheran community in the mission of God. We are committed to some very simple ideas: the power of Christian community, the essential ministry of prayer, the adventure of pursuing a simplified lifestyle… and the urgent challenge of sharing the wonderful news about Jesus in all the world.

Hurricane Katrina. Superstorm Sandy. Tornadoes in Joplin,Missouri and Moore, Oklahoma. Typhoon in the Philippines. Flooding in Colorado. Mudslides in Washington State. Ebola in Guinea, West Africa. Earthquakes in Japan, Haiti and Chili. Bombings. Shootings.

These days it may seem like devastating tragedies are never-ending, sort of a “disaster du jour” environment — with life-changing losses and horrendous human needs laid bare on TV, on the Internet, and in newspapers every single day.

But there is light in the darkness: both Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Lutheran Disaster Response (LCMS-LDR) are there reaching out with caring and compassion in the name of Jesus Christ to those in need.

“Nowhere is the body of Christ stronger,” says The Rev. Glenn F. Merritt Director of Lutheran Disaster Response, “than when it touches lives in time and eternity with the Gospel of hope and peace found in Jesus Christ. This is the call of God to the church!” The human-care ministry of Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response are on the leading edge of the cutting edge among faith-based disaster-response organizations around the world.

The way they both respond to disaster follows a truly biblical model. They make available aid and assistance that has been provided by generous donors through your local congregations, to Christian brothers and sisters who are responding to disaster and tragedy in their own communities both here in the United States and overseas. Rather than relying on governmental bureaucrats, these Lutheran Disaster Relief Teams take money (and quilts and sewing kits and school kits and baby kits, etc) from the generosity of your congregation and distribute it through local congregations in the disaster-stricken area to the families who have been directly affected by the disaster.

Those pastors and volunteers who engage in the relief efforts also lead prayers acknowledging that these gifts come from the Lord. They do it in the name of the Jesus Christ and the Lutheran Church, so that people see that Lutherans are engaged in the needs of their communities and that they are acting mercifully. Plus, additional pastors and volunteers provide ministry to those “First Responders” as they become overwhelmed by the demands of the relief and recovery efforts, and the continued ministry to those in need.

Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response both look for opportunities to be the light of Christ in a dark world. You can look up both of them on Charity Navigator where they are both listed as 4-star charities as they seek to be a blessing to the world around them that is hurting. The care they give is for everyone — Lutherans, other Christians, and the non-believing world.

Here at Holy Trinity, when disaster strikes the United States, we give through Lutheran Disaster Response When disaster strikes overseas, we give through Lutheran World Relief.

You can give to each organization directly or contribute to them through Holy Trinity. Whether the disaster is man-made, natural, or humanitarian, we, as members of the Lutheran Church look for opportunities to be the light of Christ in a dark world. Thank you for getting involved in Jesus’ Name.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Operation Christmas Child
• Animals, Agriculture, and Livelihood
• Responding to Crises

The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) gives a clear picture of God’s desire for us to help those in desperate need wherever we find them. After describing how the Samaritan rescued a hurting man whom others had passed by, Jesus told His hearers, “Go and do likewise.” For over 40 years, Samaritan’s Purse has done our utmost to follow Christ’s command by going to the aid of the world’s poor, sick, and suffering. We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This, in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

As our teams work in crisis areas of the world, people often ask, “Why did you come?” The answer is always the same: “We have come to help you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Our ministry is all about Jesus—first, last, and always. As the Apostle Paul said, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5, NIV).