We are a group of Christ-followers motivated by the Great Commission and the Greatest Commandment to love God, love our neighbor, and make disciples of all nations.
We proclaim and live the Gospel, affirming that we all need daily bread and the Bread of Life. In fighting global poverty, we are confronting one of the greatest challenges of our day in service to an even greater God.
Following the fall of the Soviet Union in Ukraine in the early 1990s, Jeff Rutt, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based homebuilder, traveled to Ukraine numerous times with his church, transporting containers of food, clothing, and medical supplies to the city of Zaporozhye.
After several of these visits, a local pastor pulled Jeff aside and told him honestly that the shipments were not helping. Instead of handouts, the pastor felt that his community needed a hand up.
Though people were accessing needed supplies, they had become dependent on American charity. In addition, local businesses could not compete with the free handouts. The well-intentioned aid shipments were actually doing more harm than good by depressing local industry and initiative.
Jeff returned from the trip with a strong drive to find a solution. He plunged into research and eventually discovered the concept of microenterprise development, then a little-known poverty alleviation strategy.
Peter Greer, HOPE’s current president, joined HOPE in 2004, ushering in a period of strategic growth and increased public awareness. Under Peter’s leadership, HOPE has grown to serve in 16 countries around the world.
HOPE is officially established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Paul and Cindy Marty relocate to Ukraine to spearhead HOPE’s first program. They also begin Tomorrow Clubs, a children’s ministry to love and disciple Ukrainian children.
1998
The first loans are disbursed in Ukraine.
2000
HOPE expands to a second country, opening an office in China.
2004
Peter Greer becomes HOPE’s president. HOPE expands to the Democratic Republic of Congo and distributes our 10,000th loan.
2005
HOPE opens an office in Russia and establishes partnerships with Esperanza International in the Dominican Republic, Urwego in Rwanda, Invest-Credit in Moldova, and an organization in Central Asia.
2006
In partnership with Esperanza, HOPE expands to Haiti.
2007
By February, HOPE has disbursed close to 100,000 loans with a net portfolio outstanding of $6 million. HOPE partners with ROMCOM in Romania and the Center for Community Transformation in the Philippines. HOPE also launches a savings and credit association program in Rwanda and partners with an organization to promote savings in India. Desiring to remain Christ-centered, HOPE implements yearly spiritual integration plans for each program and partner.
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