Watch the HIM 50th Anniversary Service that was held
during the Sea Breeze Camp.

The Journey of Hope

by Rev. Sidney G. Grant

FIFTY YEARS OF Helping Others Prepare for Eternity is a long time, but in light of eternity and God's redemptive age, it is a short time.As a bridge between the world and the Kingdom of Christ, what God has accomplished through HIM is amazing. Scores of churches have been planted; clinics have been established and orphans have been cared for. Christian centers have been established as sending stations in areas that once were dominated by communism. Radio and internet ministries saturate the Asian air and web with messages of hope, help and holiness. Hundreds of thousands of pieces of Christian literature have been developed and distributed in areas where missionaries may never enter. Scores of pastors and church leaders have been trained and groomed to carry on the ministries that have been pioneered. Local, national, and international impact has been felt by families, communities, and government establishments. HIM has taken good advantage of social, spiritual, and ministerial opportunities. But, we have barely scratched the surface of the challenge before us.

During the past fifty years, hundreds of men and women labored to this end. Many thousands of dollars have been invested; enormous amounts of mental exercise, abundant sacrifice, suffering, and service have been given. All this has been done with one objective in mind; to see individuals worshiping God in the beauty of biblical holiness. This has brought change to people's lives to influence communities and cultivate proper leadership for global impact. Our mission is to help others prepare for eternity by presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to people groups throughout the world in the most effective manner by seeing, sending and serving their needs.

As we stand on the threshold of what is and what is to come, the question remains, where do we go from here?

Our dwindling economy, national spiritual deficiency, and national and international religious indifference make the challenges great. But the opportunities to make a difference for God and for the good of our global societies, beckon us to continue expanding beyond our borders. The journey of hope is not just a historical statement buried in the annals of HIM's historical archives; it is a sign on the horizon of God's call to us to take the gospel of Christ and the message of holiness to hopeless and hurting people around the world.

As the next decade opens to prove the vision of HIM for the next 50 years, we envision HIM continuing this journey of hope. We will evangelize the lost, using all of the available resources endorsed by the Word of God. We will educate and train many pastors and Christian leaders. In conjunction with educating, it is our aim to equip leaders with the necessary skills by discovering their God-given gifts to effectively and efficiently do the work of God. Annual gatherings for fellowship and building the faith of believers will establish work being done in the areas of faith, finances, and evangelism. Realizing the only way we can keep the momentum of the vision moving forward, we will empower leaders with the ability and authority to engage in the evangelistic and social activity of expanding the work beyond buildings and borders.

HOPE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS is an interdenominational conservative evangelical Christian organization within the Wesleyan Methodist traditions. We are on a mission for God to see the world transformed one person at a time. We are working on four continents in 20 countries involved with church planting, leadership training, literature development and distribution, family care, children’s ministries, orphan ministries, humanitarian aid, radio ministries, and urban ministries.