Partners in Hope assists by providing financial support, sponsoring short term medical and mission teams and by hosting and arranging speaking engagements for the visiting missionaries from India.
History
- Partners In Hope was actually birthed in the summer of 1996 when Cris Rhyner was 1st invited to join a medical team to India with Youth For Christ. That team traveled in Jan, 1997. Cris and her family expected it to be the only time they ever went overseas.
- Cris left her job as a Certified Surgical Technologist in Spring 2000.
- PIH was incorporated in September, 2000 and IRS recognition [501 (c) 3] was complete Spring 2001.
- Ministry includes visits to 16 states in India, working with several different ministries.
- We’ve visited India over 30 times with our teams,having participated with or led about 50 teams.
- Our EKTA leadership team represents 8 different ministries.
- Our US support partners have provided funds to build a well, 4 churches, and helped to purchase computers, sewing machines, vehicles and several motorcycles, scooters, bicycles and instruments of worship for pastors and printed tracts in Hindi language geared to the medical community. PIH partners sponsor and / or support orphans, widows, students and pastors. We’ve also supplied 3 mission hospitals with various educational materials, medical supplies and equipment.
- Working with Herbertpur Christian Hospitals and The Christian Medical College in Vellore, we’ve helped them begin Surgical Technology training programs in their mission hospitals.
- We serve as a source of encouragement, as well as physical and spiritual support to the Body of Christ in India. The Body of Christ here in our own community is build as we represent our partners among an eclectic group of churches and organizations. Our participants grow in their walk with the Lord, their churches become committed to missions and the Great Commission and we brought the 3rd World to Frederick, even introducing missions in at least 2 churches.
Primary ministry partners are our EKTA Leadership Team with ministries in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Chhatisgarh, Delhi and Maharastra;and Gilgal Ministries (Bible school, Church planting and Children’s Home). We also work with the Cuttack Chapter Youth For Christ; the Orissa Evangelical Trust Association (Slum Medical Clinic and Orphanage); Crosspoint of India and KRAM Agency (Kingdom Resources And Management - consulting and networking, supporting local empowerment, development and educational efforts).
