Hope
&
Healing
Inspiring Stories of Your Compassion, Prayers and Gifts at Work
Table of Contents
American Leprosy Missions Becomes Hope Rises International
New name signals new commitment to Jesus’ redemptive work around the world
For 119 years, American Leprosy Missions has served people suffering in isolation from neglected tropical diseases. Today, under a new name—Hope Rises International—the organization is deepening its mission to bring Christ’s healing love to the most vulnerable.
“After significant periods of prayer and planning, we’re confident this is the right time for change,” says President Bill Simmons. “We’re building on our foundation as a parachurch ministry working through local churches.”
The organization already has a successful model in the Democratic Republic of Congo, partnering with IME Kimpese Hospital and local congregations to increase disease awareness, provide early treatment, and deliver Christ-centered care.
Renate’s story shows their impact—once suffering from Buruli ulcer, she’s now a nurse at the same hospital where she received treatment and met the Hope Rises team.
Staff are strengthening partnerships with Christian hospitals worldwide. These hospitals will serve as hubs while local church networks are trained to recognize symptoms, raise awareness, and provide spiritual support in their communities.
Q&A With Bill Simmons
President and CEO of Hope Rises International
Q: What’s a big reason for the name change?
A: Over time, it stopped accurately reflecting who we are and what we do. The people we serve, and the organizations with whom we partner are almost exclusively non-American. And leprosy is just one of many diseases causing disfigurement, disability, and stigma around the world. So those are the first two words in our old name.
Q: But we are still helping leprosy patients be cured, right?
A: Of course! And we’re reaching out with compassion and the love of Christ to leprosy-affected people everywhere. But in some areas, it’s Buruli ulcer, or lymphatic filariasis that’s hurting many more people. Particularly children. We know that these people are all close to God’s heart. We know they all should have the opportunity to be healed and build flourishing lives. And we know they all need the real, authentic hope that comes from the good news of the gospel.
Q: With our renewed commitment to working with and through the Church, are there any programs that will be winding down?
A: We are being very intentional about coming alongside with Christian hospitals and organizations. So, we won’t be moving forward with programs that are based on secular partnerships. One example: the work we did in Ghana with the ministry of health to train nurses and change their official nursing curriculum. A good project but better suited for other organizations. We are a parachurch ministry, advancing Jesus’ kingdom on earth through our work serving people with NTDs.
Q: Are there any exceptions?
A: Yes. For technical projects, where the work is primarily being done in labs and offices, it doesn’t make sense to exclude secular partners. So, we will continue driving forward research on everything from the leprosy vaccine to new tools that diagnose and treat NTDs in the field. Developing these tools and putting them into the hands of our mission partners is an impactful way to bring healing to people while drawing them closer to God.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges with this rebrand, and how can donors help?
A: We are confident God is leading us in this direction. We believe true renewal and healing is only possible through Christ. So, it’s an exciting time. We ask for continued support and prayers as we build new partnerships that will help more people experience physical healing and eternal hope. And we ask people to take their time getting used to the name! Because renewed hope will rise around the world through the work we do together.
You Can Help Ensure HOPE RISES!
Every $1 = $2 in impact
You Can Help Ensure HOPE RISES!
Every $1 = $2 in impact
Right now, every gift you make DOUBLES to provide even more help, healing, and HOPE!
Hope Rises International: A Christian Partnership
Igniting a global parachurch ministry that works with and through the Church to offer hope, healing, and the gospel to suffering people.
Using the already-existing Faith Leaders Project (a collaboration among churches and IME Kimpese Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) as a model, Hope Rises International is launching five new projects this year, with a goal of adding 10 more in 2026, and another 15 in 2027.
Each project is centered on a church network, with pastors and congregations being equipped to:
- Recognize early symptoms of neglected tropical diseases
- Raise awareness in their villages about these treatable diseases
- Refer cases to the partner Christian hospital in the region
- Offer emotional and spiritual support
By replicating this powerful model around the world, applying best practices and coming alongside faithful partners, Hope Rises International will expand Jesus’ kingdom through this redemptive work!
“Hope for me is a new life. Going from not believing to believing. Not being healed to being healed. Not being accepted to being accepted. This is hope.”
— Pastor Pierre Mbombolo
“The Bible says faith is believing something you don’t see. We tell people to believe and have faith that they can be healed. And they are being healed!”
— Pastor Vakoko Gouthier
Renate’s Journey of Hope
After a childhood marred by Buruli ulcer, she now serves patients and inspires people around the world.
When Jim Oehrig met Renate at IME Kimpese Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2007, she was suffering terribly. A Buruli ulcer was destroying half of her face after two years without treatment. Her single mother was desperate and nearly hopeless.
“When I saw her that day,” Oehrig recalls, “I said we must do something to help Renate.”
With the cure for Buruli ulcer and extensive surgeries provided through our partners, Renate not only recovered physically but found faith through the church at Kimpese. The staff prayed with her daily, showing God’s love through their care.
Today, Renate works as a nurse at the very same hospital where she was treated, helping others who face the same painful journey she once did.
“God wanted to heal me but through those people,” Renate says, grateful for the Christian partners at IME Kimpese, Hope Rises International, and people like you who changed her life.