Christmas Blessings in El Paso

Evan Cox, Project Coordinator for Hand of Hope

For the fifth consecutive year, Hand of Hope (HOH) has partnered with Abundant Living Faith Center (ALFC) for a Christmas event in El Paso, Texas called “Christmas Is for Kids.” 

Held annually, this event has become a highlight for families who normally wouldn’t be able to afford gifts for their children. The parents and children come to the event, pick out their Christmas presents and experience the love of Christ firsthand.  

In 2012, more than 15,000 brand new toys were given away. This year, 18,000 toys were given out—all to families living in the surrounding community. 

The morning of the event, the line was wrapped throughout the entire parking lot. We learned that many families, some from across the border, had camped out since the night before just to secure a gift for their child. 

More than 400 ALFC volunteers were present to pass out gifts and make every family member feel welcome. Throughout the day, ministry teams shared the gospel to everyone who attended with hundreds accepting Christ.  

During the course of the outreach, I encountered multiple volunteers who at one point had been a recipient of this outreach and were now actively involved in the church and volunteering to provide Christmas presents for others. 

Seeing the look on every child and parent’s face spoke to the great need and overwhelming gratitude. Thank you for helping Hand of Hope make events like this possible. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Backpacking in Eastern Europe



Macedonia is located in a beautiful mountainous region in Eastern Europe, nestled between Albania and Bulgaria. This country, along with many in that area spent years under communist rule, but finally received their independence in 1991. Although Macedonia is now a highly Christian nation, one-third of the nation is Muslim.  

In an effort to spread the Word of God to the far corners of the world, Hand of Hope teamed up with Laborers Together International to distribute backpacks to 100 first-year college freshmen in Macedonia. Each pack contained school supplies, plus information about the Gospel. Copies of Joyce’s books, A New Way of Living and Battlefield of the Mind, translated into Macedonian, were also given to the students.  

On a practical level these backpacks helped alleviate the financial burden of buying necessary school supplies, but also allowed us to share the love of Christ with the students, many of whom were away from home for the very first time. 

Thank you so much for helping us share the Gospel and love of Christ in Macedonia and so many other nations around the world. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Reaching People in Iran through Translated Books



Throughout Iran, people are now receiving translated copies of Battlefield of the Mind. We want to thank you so much for helping provide resources that will help people understand God’s Word better, especially in areas where the Gospel isn’t easily accessible. Here are a few testimonies of how you’re sharing Christ in Iran. 

“I find no words to express the gratitude of my heart. I hold a book in my hands where there are answers for questions I have had for already 20 years. It was as if I held a heavy load on my shoulders for years. I thought if I had battles in my mind, then I was lost in sin! However, this book is like a letter from heaven, and it is just for me. I came to know my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit anew, and love has been multiplied in me.”  

“Joyce, we Christian women in Iran are so inspired by you! We see the healing and miraculous power of Christianity in your life, and it passes to us through books and sermons. Thank you for the book Battlefield of the Mind! It will bring great breakthrough in our nation!” 

“I can’t believe that I have the book…translated into my language! This book has given me answers for a thousand questions, which had been accumulated inside of me! I can tell you there is a great army of Christians in Iran, which look forward to getting [these] materials.” 

Thank you so much for helping reach out to people all around the world through translated resources such as Battlefield of the Mind and so many more. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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“Thank you! Cuba thanks you, and Harborside Missions Team thanks you! ”

Debra Brune, Staff Writer 

Kathleen from Clearwater, Florida, was overjoyed to go to Cuba with Haborside Missions Team. During her trip the team visited Cuba Connection Ministry that works to connect churches abroad with churches in Cuba. 

While there, Kathleen facilitated her first Bible study and the missions team was also able to give out gift bags, which included books donated by Hand of Hope. She shares how delighted the women were when they opened their bags and discovered that Joyce’s book, The Joy of Believing Prayer, was inside. 

“They pulled out the books donated by you, the squeals were overwhelming! They were jumping up and down and hugging each other!” 

It’s a great testimony to what translated books mean to people all around the world. Each woman also shared their testimony of how studying Battlefield of the Mind had impacted each of their lives. 

“You have to know, you have already had an impact in Cuba.” 

Yodalis Santiago, one of the leaders of Cuba Connection Ministry asked Kathleen if she could send us her letter. Yodalis had tried sending it to us before, but her previous letters never made it out of Cuba. Kathleen promised to deliver it to us. And we’d like to share it with you now. 

Hello Joyce Meyer:


I am Yodalis Santiago from Cuba and I am writing to you to share that we are so blessed by the books Kathleen gave us during her missions trip to our country this year. 

In Cuba we do not have Christian literature. About 8 years ago we started receiving Joyce’s books from friends who came as missionaries. 

I feel honored that God gave me the opportunity to have a library of Christian literature. I open the library three times during the week because many people here like to read Christian books. Christians and non-Christians are coming, and many ask if we have your books. 

In our women’s Bible study group, the first book of yours that we read was The Battlefield of the Mind. Personally, I confess that this book was wonderful and many people changed their way of thinking because of it. 

I have told you this so that you have some idea of the blessing that your books are having in my community. 

God bless you, your family and ministry. 

Blessings, 

Yodalis Santiago 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Lineo's Story: The Gift of Rescue



Right now, more than 27 million women and children are slaves—victims of forced labor or sex trafficking. 

Often fooled into this lifestyle by their captors, they endure the unthinkable, with no hope for freedom in sight. However, with your support, things can change. You can help rescue and restore so many of these precious lives.  

At thirteen, Lineo ran away from home. Looking for a better life, she traveled with a friend to Bloemfontein, a nearby city in South Africa. That’s where they met Lucky—a “kind’ man who bought them clothes and provided a place for them to live. But soon, he demanded repayment. 

For the next four years, Lineo lived through a nightmare of drug addiction and forced prostitution. Recently, a street ministry team rescued Lineo and brought her to a safe house in Lesotho, Africa, where her nightmare came to an end. 

This rescue home, supported by Hand of Hope is now providing her with vital counseling, rehabilitation, and the unconditional love she so desperately needs. Lineo is also learning the Word of God, along with life skills such as cooking, sewing and computer literacy. 

Lineo is safe…but today there are still millions of others in need of rescuing. And you can help us reach more of them.

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Lives Turned Upside Down in Illinois

Kacie Campbell, Staff Writer 

Jay Dyer was working on a tugboat when the storms began to approach. He immediately called to check on his wife Cindy and their two children. No answer. 

It would be hours before he heard anything. 

On a country road just outside of Brookport, Illinois, Cindy, Hunter and Danielle were watching a movie in the family’s new trailer when the sky began to turn dark. 

There were no warnings. No sirens. It wasn’t until the windows began to blow out that they knew the tornado was on top of them. Cindy threw her 11-year-old son to the ground as the trailer began to flip. 

No more than a minute later they found themselves climbing and lifting their way out of decimated trailer, which was now across the street. Seventeen-year-old Danielle was laying in the middle of the road, with her back covered in tiny holes from the tree limbs and debris. 

Cindy had saved her son, lifted them out of the trailer and picked up her daughter from the road. It’s amazing what a person can accomplish in the face of disaster. You see, Cindy had broken her back in three places and one of her legs in two. 

When we met Jay, a few days after the storm, he was picking through the remnants of debris.

“I don’t understand why my family was spared, when others weren’t as lucky.” All he knows is he’s grateful. Grateful they are alive and grateful for all the help they’ve received. 

Service International, who we’re partnering with to bring relief in Brookport, spent hours cleaning up debris, cutting trees and tirelessly searching for any piece of metal they could find. With limited insurance, Jay plans to sell the metal to replace his family’s belongings. 

Jay’s family is just one of so many stories that we heard in Brookport, and we’re honored to be a part of helping them pick up the pieces in this devastating time. Please continue to pray with us for those in Brookport who were affected by the tornadoes, and for Service International as they continue to bring relief to this community. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Fah's Story: The Gift of Feeding Programs

At this moment, more than 900 million people worldwide are going hungry. In fact, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes every day—that’s one child every five seconds. 

These statistics are tragic. But with your help, we can make a real difference. Hand of Hope currently provides more than 71,000 meals a day…helping to fight hunger one child at a time. 

Last year, five-year-old Fah lost her parents in an earthquake that devastated portions of Burma. Suddenly orphaned, she was sent to live with her grandma in a small village in Thailand. But times were tough there as well. 

With Fah’s arrival, her grandma now had seven children to feed, which meant some would have to simply do without. But with the support of Joyce Meyer Ministries’ friends and partners, Hand of Hope provides a feeding program in Fah’s village. Here, Fah and many others like her come to eat, play, receive an education, and learn all about Jesus Christ. 

When little Fah first came, she was still traumatized—she kept to herself and wouldn’t interact with the others. Today, she is a healthy, energetic, six-year-old girl who loves to learn…and who loves to run and play with the other children. For just pennies a day, we can transform a life. 

With your help, we can reach more and more precious children just like Fah. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Hunger In America

Anne Williams - Staff Writer for Joyce Meyer Ministries

Imagine you’re a young person in a classroom at school…who hasn’t eaten since yesterday’s lunch period. A low growl is coming from your stomach. Can the other kids hear it? You’re not sure. You’re just trying to ignore that hungry feeling so you can shift your focus, ignore the pangs, and participate in class and learn. 

Such is the daily life of undernourished students in America.

In the same country where many children are struggling with childhood obesity, one out of five students are going to class hungry. And their numbers are increasing.

Today, nearly 10 million kids get free or reduced price lunch during the school week. Another 10.6 million are eligible for these programs, but aren’t enrolled.

For a lot of kids, hunger begins at an early age...

Watch the testimony of a single dad in St. Louis, Missouri, and how 

one of our feeding programs is making a difference in his family.

Alexis Gavina is a pre-k teacher in West Texas. There are twenty students in her classroom, and five of them depend on school lunch assistance. “Every one of our twelve classrooms typically have five or six children in need,” she says. “That adds up to a lot of hungry four-year-olds.”

If you’re a seasoned teacher like Gavina, it’s not hard to spot a hungry kid.

“Some of them will try to sneak home snacks that we provide at school,” she says. “When a child is hungry, you will notice that their weight fluctuates and they need to go to the bathroom a lot more often. They’re usually sleepy and it’s hard for them to pay attention.”

Hunger affects school performance in a big way. Not only is a student’s ability to concentrate in class compromised, undernourished kids are more vulnerable to illness—and they are less likely to graduate high school, making it even more difficult to climb their way out of poverty.*

“When Jesus saw a need, He filled it. And He calls us to do the same,” says Gavina. “There are a lot of problems in this world, but we can help solve them if we all pitch in and do our part.” We are honored to be a part of helping feed hungry students in St. Louis, Missouri and are thankful for all who support our ministry to do so.

Discover how you be part of sharing meals with hungry children in the U.S. as well as around the world. This is an opportunity for you to also pour God's love on families who need His love just as much as they do a helping hand.

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Prayers and Relief for the Philippines

Initial reports called it the worst typhoon ever recorded in history. But not only was Typhoon Haiyan powerful, it was also extremely large. At one point the storm completely covered the entire nation of the Philippines. 

This storm, which is known as Yolanda in the Philippines, battered the coastline, damaging thousands of homes and businesses and claiming the lives of an estimated 10,000 people. 

As soon as the storm hit, David L. Meyer, CEO of Hand of Hope tweeted: “Please pray for the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan is causing lots of damage. We @HandofHope are looking for ways to help right now.” 

With a heart to provide assistance as soon as possible, we are partnering with Convoy of Hope, a relief organization out of Springfield, Missouri. With team members already on the ground in the Philippines, they were able to begin providing relief immediately after the skies cleared. 

Currently, assessment teams are busy at work looking for what needs to be done. According to Hal Donaldson, Convoy of Hope founder and CEO, more than 600,000 meals, hygiene kits, tents and shoes are pre-staged on two islands for ground distribution. There are four containers currently in transit and five additional containers of supplies ready for shipment, which contain meals, hygiene kits, canned meat and vegetable and fruit pouches. They also have 100 water filtration units on their way to the area. Additional volunteers are also being sent to help provide relief. 

Many of the hardest hit areas are difficult to reach, so please pray with us for access to those areas and that the assistance arrives where it’s needed the most. 

Thank you so much to the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries for helping us provide immediate relief after storms like this. Please continue to pray for those in the Philippines, as well as the relief teams, in the coming weeks and months ahead. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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An Angel Named Charlie



Laura Matheny - Medical Outreach Coordinator

The little boy’s mother, Elicia, brought him into the Hand of Hope clinic in Elastik, Haiti, wrapped in blankets. She had walked for four hours in the cold, early-morning darkness, carrying Charlie in her arms. He was eight months old and had the brightest eyes and most beautiful smile. Only when the blankets fell away were we able to see that he was born without arms or legs. 

Elicia brought Charlie to us not because he was ill, but because she had been forced into it. The villagers in her town threatened to get rid of the baby if she didn’t. Babies like Charlie are viewed as cursed by a culture steeped in voodoo and witchcraft. In a desperate move to save Charlie’s life, Elicia made the heart-wrenching decision to bring him to us. 

Charlie seemed blissfully unaware of his circumstances. He smiled and cooed at our nurses and doctors. His mother had kept him well fed and he was on target for all of his growth milestones.  

Our resources were limited in what we could do to place Charlie in a safe environment. Eventually, with the help of our friends at Love a Child, we located an orphanage in Port-au-Prince specifically designed to take in handicapped children and locate American families interested in adopting special needs kids. Exactly one week after we first saw him, Charlie was in the safe care of the orphanage.  

Today, Charlie is in the United States being fitted for prosthetic limbs. His new mother, Vanessa, is the founder of Angel Mission (the organization that arranged Charlie’s travel out of Haiti). She and her husband are purchasing land in Haiti to build an orphanage for children like Charlie. This will be his new home. Elicia is pleased with how things have turned out for Charlie. And when he’s back in Haiti with his new family, Elicia will be able to visit him. A happy ending for the Hand of Hope Joyce Meyer Medical/Dental Outreach Team!  

On the day Charlie arrived at the clinic, our team saw more than 450 patients. Charlie’s story is just one of many we heard that day. The same value the Lord places on you and me, He places on millions of lost, forgotten, hurting people spread out over continents and cultures around the world. Helping them is not just our job. It is our passion and our service to the Lord.

Find out more about how you can provide medical/dental care to people all around the world.

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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The Life of a Hand of Hope Intern

Sarah Foster - Hand of Hope Intern

When I first came to St. Louis in 2010, I was simply a Georgia girl from a small town. The thoughts of moving so far away from home, and to the inner city no less, was a scary thought. But I was up for the challenge. I knew there was something great planted deeply inside of me; I just needed help in drawing that out. The Hand of Hope internship program at the St. Louis Dream Center has been just the place for that. Daily I have the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and trust God. Every day is an adventure and there is never a dull moment. 

I've discovered inside of me skills, passions and leadership qualities that I didn't know were there. Through the world-class leaders and pastors at the Dream Center, I have personally been poured into in a way that, before coming here, I could have only imagined. With each encounter I've had with these great leaders, pieces of who God created me to be have been drawn to the surface. I've gone from feeling like a shy young girl, to a woman empowered to confidently and boldly go forth to fulfill all that God has called me to do and be. 

I am no longer afraid of life or of failing, or of not contributing enough to the world. I know that I have what it takes, because it's God that gives me what I need. It's a God-confidence. 

Being a part of the Hand of Hope internship program has enabled me to get hands-on experience in areas such as feeding the hungry, working in children's, youth, worship and youth sports ministry, as well as in the executive office of the Dream Center. Each service area has been a building block for the next...as God continues to teach me along my journey. 

The internship has also cultivated leadership skills in me as I have had many opportunities to step outside of myself and lead outreaches such as Street Evangelism, Adopt-A-Block and Kidzjam. My absolute favorite part is loving on the kids, and allowing them to love on me back. There's nothing that warms my heart more than pulling into one of the government housing complexes we visit, and seeing fifteen or more children running at the van shouting “Dream Center!” or “Miss Sarah!!” It is an honor that I get to be a part of something so great.  

The inner city is no joke. I have been challenged in countless ways to love the unlovely, step out in faith for protection, and simply marvel at a world that's outside the edge of my small-town-southern-girl comfort zone. I am so thankful for the Dream Center and all God has taught me through this place. I will forever be grateful for the life lessons I have learned during my tenure here. I have been equipped for nearly any area of life. Not only have I walked alongside the homeless, I've also rubbed elbows with the elite. I've dipped my toe in the wading pool of many different worlds, and that's what makes this place so unique. At the end of the day we're all people, and I've gained experience with all walks of life.   

The Hand of Hope internship has given me hope for a bright future. I have dedicated three years of my life to this place, and I do not regret one second of it. I will leave here in December knowing that I have what it takes to be a great leader and a great contributor to society. I'll also know how to “give 'em Jesus.”  

Thank you, Joyce Meyer Ministries and the St. Louis Dream Center for opening your doors for this once timid and shy girl, and allowing her to blossom into the woman that God created her to be.  

Find out more about becoming a Hand of Hope intern today!

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Volunteers on the Ground in India

Scott Norling - Director, Joyce Meyer Ministries Asia Office

Over the past weekend Cyclone Phailin, the strongest tropical storm to hit India in more than a decade, devastated parts of the eastern states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 30 people have died, more than 250,000 homes destroyed, more than 750,000 people displaced, and most of the fisherman along the coast have lost their boats, nets and livelihood. 

Hand of Hope is currently in the process of dispatching 225 volunteers to work in four of the hardest hit districts for two weeks. They will help clean up the destruction, as well as share the love of Christ through encouragement and copies of Joyce’s books, Why, God ,Why?, Peace, and Tell Them I Love Them. 

The friends and partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries are also making it possible to provide rice, dal (a dried legume, such as lentils, beans or peas) and blankets to 10,000 families. These items should last for a month and give them time to get back on their feet.  

We will also have a community kitchen that will help feed the community at large. In addition to providing basic necessities, our main goal is to restore hope to the people who have suffered such great loss.  

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for making outreaches like this possible. Please continue to pray with us as the recovery efforts continue.  

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Severe Flooding Strikes the Mekong River in Cambodia

Dr. Yem Tevyneath - Hospital Director, Hand of Hope Health Center

Continuous rain has left areas along the Mekong River in the Kandal province of Cambodia completely flooded. At least 83 people, including 34 children have died and hundreds of thousands have been affected. 

According to H.E Nhoem Vanda, Senior Minister and the First Vice Chairman for the government’s National Committee for Disaster Management, the floods have also decimated crops and attacked 13 capital provinces.
 

“About 800,000 people have been affected by severe flooding across the country,” he said. “More than 20,000 families were evacuated to higher ground, which is safer. 120,000 houses have flooded, hundreds have been completely destroyed, and 83 people have died in the floods,” he added.
 

So far, nearly 300,000 acres of rice paddy and numerous other crops have been damaged, along with 670 schools, 370 pagodas and 47 health centers.  

Hand of Hope is distributing food to those affected as well as Joyce’s books translated into Khmer. Currently the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries also enable us to provide feeding programs, children’s homes, a full-time healthcare facility and more throughout Cambodia on a continual basis. These outreaches allow us to reach out to many during time like these and year-round.  

Please continue to pray for those of us in Cambodia who have been affected by the flood. God bless you.  

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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God Did a Miracle in South Africa



Ashley Wilkins - Medical Outreach Director

When 34-year-old Abri found out she was pregnant, it was one of the happiest days of her life! Little did she know that in a few months she would lose the ability to walk and the end of her pregnancy would bring a lot of challenges and questions about her health. 

There was no explainable reason why she was no longer able to walk, and it seemed there was nothing that could be done to help her. Thankfully she didn’t have any complications with her pregnancy and she delivered a healthy baby, however she was still unable to walk. 

Last week our medical/dental team was in the rural part of South Africa where Abri lives, and her family brought her to our clinic in a wheelchair to be treated by our doctors.  

Our team treated her physical ailments, and then they prayed over her. After praying with our team, Abri gave her life to the Lord and He miraculously healed her legs! She stood up out of her wheelchair and was able to stand with no assistance and no pain, something she had not been able to do for months!  

We are so honored that the Lord chooses to send our teams around the world to help people like Abri.  

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Providing Shelter & More Following Pakistan Earthquake

David Meyer - CEO Hand of Hope

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In the past week, a devastating earthquake and powerful aftershocks have hit the southwestern region of Pakistan. More than 500 people have died and thousands were left homeless as their mud-walled homes were destroyed. 

Hand of Hope is partnering with our contact on the ground in Pakistan to provide tents, food, utensils and Joyce’s books to affected families in and around the city of Awaran. 

Tents are in high demand because October is one of the hottest times of the year for Pakistan, with temperatures in the high 90s. Without homes, families are left to sit in the baking sun. These temporary shelters, along with the food and supplies, will provide much-needed relief. 

We ask that you join us in prayer for those affected. And as always, thank you for helping us provide immediate relief after disasters like this.

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Hand of Hope Celebrates 600 Wells Dug

Kacie Campbell, Staff Writer 

Not long after Haiti suffered one of the deadliest earthquakes in history in 2010, Hand of Hope partnered with a couple organizations to provide immediate supplies, food, water, medical care and more. 

I was honored to be part of the media team that covered the relief efforts following the disaster. Although numerous things will forever stick with me—the immense rubble, the feeding lines, the mass graves, the believers coming together to praise God—there is one specific thing that comes to mind often. 

I had several bottles of water stashed in my bag because the heat was unbelievable. We headed to the recovery tent city, which would eventually become Miracle Village—a place where Hand of Hope was later able to build 100 homes for survivors. Several children began to run to me, trying their best to use what little English they knew. I gave a couple of the children my extra water. 

To my surprise, they didn’t take the cap off and start drinking. Instead, they poked small holes in the bottom of the bottles and began to drink. Puzzled, I questioned my translator. What he said changed my heart forever. 

“They don’t get much water to drink, so if they drink it this way it lasts much longer.” 

I had at least four or five bottles in my bag that day and would have drunk them all without a second thought. And these children were cherishing every single drop. 

I’m so excited to know that this year, Hand of Hope was able to dig and install two freshwater wells in Haiti on the island of La Gonave. In fact, those two wells in addition to 48 others this year helped us reach an important milestone—600 clean water wells worldwide.

These wells, established in communities with little to no access to clean water, are a major blessing to these families. Over the years, we have been able to provide clean water wells in 21 countries. 

When you support Hand of Hope, by partnering with Joyce Meyer Ministries, you are a part of bringing clean water to so many in need. Thank you for partnering with us to be a blessing all around the world. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Touching Lives, Both Young And Old In The Dominican Republic



Laura Matheny - Medical Outreach Coordinator

This was our second year to hold medical/dental clinics in the Dominican Republic. Both times, we have partnered with Love A Child, who did a wonderful job in organizing and hosting us! 

Our clinics were set up in two locations. We served both the local Dominican population as well as Haitian refugees who work in the sugar cane fields known as the "bateyes" where they are paid approximately $1 per day. 

Word of mouth had spread, and when our 34 volunteers arrived at the first clinic site, nearly 200 patients were waiting for us. Throughout the day we treated a large number of newborns. One baby was only a week old! Many of the children suffered from scabies and other various fungal infections. Thankfully, we were able to treat some very infectious and painful wounds with strong antibiotics. It is a huge blessing to these people to have free access to these medications.  

Dental needs were huge and our team worked non-stop. Many do not even own a toothbrush and will literally wait all day for a simple cleaning and a free toothbrush. It is always so humbling to see this and to be reminded of what we so often take for granted.  

We also held a clinic in La Romana, where we met a 13-year old girl and her 5-month old baby. This young girl did not have milk or diapers for her son, which we quickly provided and treated her baby for cradle cap and lice. We also connected her with the pastor of the church, which will be vital for her as she raises her child. Had we not been there, who knows what could have become of these two precious lives. Each person who visits these clinics is created in the image of God; He loves them just as much as He loves us.  

We had a lady come in to see us who was 100-years old! She came with her daughter from a neighboring town. While visiting our clinic, she heard the Gospel message and both she and her daughter gave their hearts to the Lord! It was a really precious moment. We were reminded of the reason we are here, not just for the medicine, but also for the eternal salvation of souls!

Through this five-day outreach, we were able to bring medical and dental relief to 2,560 hurting people in the Dominican Republic as well as the hope of salvation to many who were lost. From the very young, to very old, it was another great success for the kingdom of God.

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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In Her Own Words - An Inmate Says Thank You

Melissa K - A Former Inmate in Maryland

I want to personally thank all the people at Joyce Meyer’s Prison Ministry. You gave me hope and the will to survive and make it through. I recently was incarcerated at Maryland Institution for Women in Jessup, MD. Hand of Hope actually came and made an appearance back in May 2013. Everyone was touched to receive the books and personal items that were donated. You are definitely a blessing to those who are incarcerated. 

On July 28, 2013 I hit bottom and surrendered to God. It was the best day of my life, but I didn’t know it at that time. I have been physically abused, mentally abused, and sexually abused. I have been beaten, molested, raped and abandoned. I have experienced death, murder, prostitution and drugs…. [And] God has set me free.

Through the process the Lord never gave up on me. He never left me. He has never forsaken me… I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am so blessed! I am grateful to be alive! I will praise Him through the good and the bad and when I’m happy or when I’m sad. I will give Him all the praise….

Let me say that He has done all this through Joyce Meyer. The Lord has a special anointing on her. Without the encouragement from her books I don’t think I could have made it… when I read one of her books it was like she was speaking directly to me. She taught me in a special way. The gift she has is amazing … not only was God by my side, but Joyce was there as well.

I can honestly say that being physically sentenced to prison was the best thing that ever happened to me. That was when I felt free. It was God’s way of giving me a time out to experience His love.

I want to give back what God has given me. I want to live for Christ. There is a need to help women and encourage them through life’s trials and tribulations. God’s plan for me is to get involved in a prison ministry. He is also leading me to be an advocate for women… I have been released for two weeks now and I have enrolled in a university to earn a bachelors degree of applied science in human services.

I was baptized on June 22, 2013 at the prison. When I went down in the water to wash away the old and come up renewed, I came up praising God and speaking in tongues. I was saturated with the Holy Ghost.

I know that there is an anointing on my life and that I have a purpose and a destiny. I have stories and testimonies of all kinds. I am a witness for the Lord, Jesus Christ. Joyce taught me that the Bible says there is death and life in the tongue. I choose to speak life.

May God Bless you all! 
Your sister in Christ, 
Melissa K.

P.S. Feel free to share this with anyone, especially those that need encouragement that all things with Christ are possible! They can make it!

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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