Hope Force International

09/05/2026

Back in June, after the earthquake in Venezuela, a group of children in Nepal sat down with crayons and paper and drew these pictures. Many of them are children rescued from trafficking, now in the loving care of our incredible partners at Apple of God's Eyes.

Their own country endured a deadly earthquake in 2015, and they wanted Venezuela's survivors to know that their hearts were with them. 💙

Fast forward to now, and Nepal is deeply hurting again. These children will now have to watch their own country recover and rebuild from the horrific flooding that has taken so many lives.

Our hearts at Hope Force are in both Venezuela and Nepal. We know that God sees and cares for every single survivor who lost a loved one, a home, a life they knew, and it's up to all of us to say "yes" to the invitation to help them.

We are working toward rebuilding homes for survivors in both Venezuela and Nepal, and you can find links to give toward both here: https://t.mtrbio.com/hopeforce

09/04/2026

Rene Lako here, Co-Director of Hope Force Haiti alongside my wife, Marianne. I've just finished 4 weeks in Haiti, while Marianne spent over a month in Venezuela. This is our way of life: responding to disasters with Hope Force, sometimes on opposite sides of the world. Yes, it's challenging, but for us, our life's passion is caring for those in crisis who need to know God loves them.

My recent time in Haiti got me thinking about how things have changed since the 2010 earthquake we first responded to. Since then, we've stayed, built relationships with community leaders, and helped hundreds of children get an education.

We've responded to hurricanes, another earthquake, and severe flooding in Haiti. And today, a man-made crisis - gang violence - is terrorizing communities and displacing thousands of families. It breaks our hearts.

On top of these disasters, school in Haiti is starting this month, but most parents can't afford tuition. That's why we created our Haiti Child Sponsorship Program, which pays a child's school fees, books, supplies, and gives supplemental food to their families.

210 children and teens are in our sponsorship program because generous individuals are giving $34/month. This sponsorship gets children through the end of secondary school, which gives them a huge advantage in a country with dwindling opportunities for the uneducated.

We have 20 children on our waitlist, though, who need someone like you to step up for them. Your monthly gift could bring them and their families hope for the future, regular food, and a sense that someone cares for them.

I was so excited to learn on this trip that all our 9th graders passed their state exam and will continue on to secondary school! And all but one candidate (who will redo the exams in December) just passed their final high school exams. We are SO proud of them! And we know they couldn't have done it without a sponsor in their corner.

Will you consider sponsoring a child with Hope Force today? Start here: https://t.mtrbio.com/hopeforce

09/03/2026

Last week we asked you to pray with us for Nepal after the devastating flooding. Today, we’re asking you to help us build for families who lost everything. 💙

Our partners at The Apple of God's Eyes | Meninas dos Olhos de Deus have been on the ground in Nepal, and they’ve identified some of the flood’s most vulnerable survivors who have nowhere to call home.

As part of the Nepal flood relief efforts, their goal is to build 10 modest homes for these families: two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom, each costing $10,000 to build.

Hope Force has committed to funding 5 of the homes, so we are seeking $50,000 total.

As this project takes shape, we ask you to pray with us for God’s provision and protection for survivors, for wisdom for our Nepali partners and us, and for lives to be changed through the hope and generosity that we can all give!

No matter what size gift you make, it will help change a family’s life after this horrific flooding.

$100, $500, $1,000, or even the gift of an entire $10,000 home will join with the gifts of others to put a roof over a family’s head, give children a safe place to sleep, and help a family take a step toward rebuilding their lives. 🏠

Will you help us put five families back into a place to call home? Donate here: https://t.mtrbio.com/hopeforce

08/29/2026

Compassion in Action: An Update from Our Partners in Nepal 🇳🇵💙

Our partners in Nepal are already moving to help families affected by the devastating flooding.

Yesterday, their team traveled to Bidur in Nuwakot, carrying family relief packages for those impacted by the disaster. Blocked roads and travel restrictions prevented them from reaching communities farther ahead, but they were able to deliver the relief supplies to the District Administration Office and local disaster response authorities for distribution.

In the second photo, you'll see a blue building in the background. That's the school Hope Force International has helped build alongside our Nepali partners—a visible reminder of a relationship that has grown over many years.

We're grateful that the team returned safely, and we remain in close communication with them as they assess needs and determine what comes next.

With warnings of additional flooding potentially coming from Tibet, the situation remains uncertain. Please continue to pray for the people of Nepal, for those responding, and for wisdom and protection in the days ahead.

As Hope Force founder Jack Minton shared with our partners: “It makes my heart full to see our Apple of God's Eye family rise up with compassion and grace during this difficult time. You, the survivors and responders, remain in our prayers. We’re asking the Lord for the privilege of partnering together with you.”

This is what long-term partnership looks like—standing together when it matters most.

You can stand with Nepal, too. Your gift will help Hope Force International come alongside our trusted partners as they respond to immediate needs and prepare to help vulnerable families in the days ahead.

Give today: https://t.mtrbio.com/hopeforce

08/28/2026

As Ukraine marks another Independence Day under the shadow of war, our Disaster Services Director Joey Stoltzfus shares a firsthand reflection from the ground in Ukraine, where he and his wife Laura continue to walk alongside families rebuilding their lives. He writes...

"My wife and I have been in Ukraine for the past several days, and this weekend the country is celebrating Independence Day. We’ve had the privilege of speaking in a couple of churches, visiting dear friends, and taking part in some very special celebrations.

In these photos, you’ll see us wearing traditional Ukrainian clothing and helping carry one of the longest Ukrainian flags. 🇺🇦 We’re in a community outside of Kyiv where Hope Force has had the privilege of partnering with Father’s House to provide tiny homes for families who have lost so much—not only their homes, but in many cases, loved ones as well.

Laura and I were honored to receive recognition from the local government. As we stood there and looked out at those gathered, so many emotions and memories came to mind. More than anything, I thought about the many people who have stood with Hope Force and with us over these past several years—people who have prayed, encouraged, and given generously to help Ukrainians whose lives have been deeply impacted by this war.

As Laura and I received this recognition yesterday, we thought about all of you—the friendships, conversations, prayers, generosity, and willingness to respond when a need was placed before you.

Thank you for standing with us, and most importantly, for continuing to stand with the people of Ukraine." 💙💛

08/28/2026

We are standing with Nepal… again.

A glacial collapse in the high Himalayas has sent a torrent of ice, rock, and mud through
river valleys along the Nepal–Tibet border.

Villages have been swept away. Roads and bridges are gone. Hundreds of lives have been lost. More than a thousand people remain missing. Families are searching. Communities that have already endured so much are grieving again. 💔

This is not a distant tragedy for Hope Force International.

In April 2015, after Nepal’s devastating earthquake, we deployed in the immediate aftermath. We treated the wounded in remote villages. We listened, and we stayed. That first response grew into a partnership that has never ended. Year after year we have returned—with medical teams serving people who live great distances from clinics, and with construction teams helping rebuild what was lost.

We have walked with our Nepali partners as they care for the most vulnerable, including children rescued from trafficking as they bring restoration.

Those relationships are still alive, and our partners are already moving toward those in need. Hope Force International intends to stand with them—first with immediate relief, with the intention of partnering to help rebuild homes for some of the most vulnerable survivors.

We cannot undo the flood, but we cannot refuse to leave people alone in its aftermath.

Today, please pray with us for:
-Survivors and for those still missing.
-Nepali responders working in dangerous, broken terrain.
-Our partner as they discern how to help.
-Hope Force and our partner as together, we seek wisdom, access, and the right way to
serve.

Nepal isn't a one-time assignment for us; it's a long-term commitment. We've been there every year since 2015, and we will be there now. 💙🇳🇵

08/26/2026

Rene Lako, our Co-Director of Hope Force Haiti, just left the island and has urgent updates and prayer requests...

"Here I am sitting in a bus on my way from the Haitian-Dominican border to Santo Domingo, reflecting on the past 4+ weeks in Haiti. 🇭🇹

The big buzz is all about “back-to-school” on September 7, a month earlier than last year. Parents and caregivers are wondering where they will find money to pay for school fees, uniforms, books, etc., while still trying to feed their children.

For many families, it's an almost impossible hurdle. But for the children who Hope Force sponsors, that hurdle gets cleared. Through our amazing family of sponsors through Hope Force, we pay school fees and cover supplies for these children.

Education is critical for children in this impoverished nation. Yet over the past school year, I noticed quite a few kids who didn’t go to school. There’s no hope or future for them just sitting at home, but at school, they can build their futures.

Here are some pics from my past 4 weeks in Haiti. We conducted another food distribution for these children in our program, collected report cards, and paid school fees. Much of the school fees are used for teachers’ salaries, which is not much, but their income contributes to the local economy. Sponsoring a child for $34/month benefits the school staff who are working so hard to educate the next generation. Please consider sponsoring a child at https://t.mtrbio.com/hopeforce, and you will help a child, their family, and their community!

Also, I have an urgent prayer request:
2+ years ago, gangs advanced close to our area. There was a line between “gangland” and the “free area” of Gressier. It’s been quiet since then, but several days ago, gangs attacked and partially destroyed a nearby police station. They are fighting police in the hills so they can advance to the next town, cutting off the communities where we work and separating us from the people we love and work with. Please pray for protection and peace in Gressier and for Haiti! 🙏"

08/25/2026

📍San Esteban, Venezuela - These women are standing where their homes used to be. No walls or roof to shelter their families, just rubble and the incredible burden of trying to figure out what to do next.

In the rural community of San Esteban, Tovar Municipality, they're not alone. Hope Force, in partnership with the Evangelical Free Church of Venezuela, has identified 15 families who lost everything in the earthquake. These families were already facing economic hardship before the disaster, and now they have no safe place to live.

We plan to rebuild weather-resistant, culturally appropriate homes, built with local materials and local hands, tailored to what residents in San Esteban actually need

Each home costs $6,000, so to rebuild all 15 and bring every one of these families back under a roof of their own, we need to raise $90,000.

Will you consider giving so we can bring shelter and hope to survivors like these women?

👉 Give at https://t.mtrbio.com/hopeforce

08/23/2026