Hearts of the Father Current Programs

Hearts of the Father Outreach operates programs that it founded, and for which it is the sole sponsor, in Ghana, Uganda, India, and Mexico. In the past, HFO has operated programs in Haiti and the Ukraine. In addition, HFO supports children in Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Israel, and Kenya through other individuals or ministries. In the past, HFO has also provided support to children through others in the Philippines and Guatemala.

Click on an area below to learn more (or scroll down to read all):

Ghana / Uganda / India / Mexico / Assisted Works

GHANA, West Africa

JoshKrisDan Home of Refuge, Old Ningo, Greater Accra Region, Ghana

The JoshKrisDan Home of Refuge in Old Ningo is the HFO flagship program. Land was purchased in 1998, a home design adopted, and construction was completed in 2000. It’s name is drawn from the combined names of the Moritz’ three children, Joshua, Kristen, and Daniel. 27 children are presently cared for through the home, including 5 young people who are attending university or post-secondary vocational schools.

Houseparents John and Esther Gozo, along with the part time staff of three, oversee the children and the day to day activities.

Operation Christmas Child Partner, Ghana

Hearts of the Father Outreach in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse started the Operation Christmas Child program in Ghana, Africa. Distributions began in 1998 with 7,000 shoebox gifts and grew to over 90,000 in 2006. The shoeboxes are filled with school supplies, toys and personal hygiene items. Over 400,000 shoebox gifts were distributed during this time. Teams from the USA joined Ghanaian nationals for a portion of each year’s distributions. The vision to bring OCC to every Region of Ghana was accomplished. Distributions took place in orphanages, villages, schools, and homes for the handicapped. Over the years, a capable National Leadership Team has been developed and in keeping with Samaritan’s Purse’s policy, oversight and coordination of the program has been transferred to them.

Association of Children’s Homes and Orphanages (ACHO), Tema, Ghana

In 2007, John Moritz established a national Association of Children’s Homes and Orphanages in Ghana. The goal of the Association is to raise the standard of care for all of the children who are placed into homes and receive aid. The Association, working with the government, has established policies and guidelines for all children’s homes to follow. Other goals for the Association include the following:

Provide training and resources so the homes can better serve the children
Keep comprehensive records on all of the orphanages and children’s homes
Insure proper sanitation, adequate infrastructure, and necessary health care
Mandate and establish standardized accounting principles/practices and bring financial accountability through the collection of audited reports
Raise funds for member homes and oversee the judicious use of those funds
Act as a political lobby for children’s causes and serve as a collective voice on their behalf

UGANDA, EAST AFRICA

HFO-Tororo, fostering program, Tororo, Eastern Uganda

Securing land and constructing a home for children requires capital investment and time. Some situations need help quickly. There are many thousands of orphans in Uganda due to years of civil war and the effect of AIDS. In August of 1999, HFO developed a program of sponsoring orphans and destitute children in the homes of Christian “foster” families. The first of these programs was implemented in Tororo, Uganda. Currently over 55 children are being cared for in over 20 families. A local board of directors and a fulltime Administrator oversee the program.

HFO-Kampala, fostering program, Kampala, Uganda

Following the pattern of the HFO-Tororo, HFO-Kampala, in Seguku Village 15 kilometers from Kampala, began in January, 2007. 25 children are supported in the program, which is also overseen by a local board of directors and fulltime administrator. By virtue of its more centralized location, all the program’s children get involved in weekly sports activities and Bible studies coordinated by the HFO Administrator.

HFO-Kiliro, fostering program, Kiliro, Uganda

This new program began in March of 2008. Houseparents have been prepared and 25 children have been identified and placed within those families.

INDIA

HFO-Madurai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

HFO operates a home of refuge for 24 orphans in southern India. The physical home is rented. Five infants girls have been rescued in the last 18 months (late 2006 - early 2008). All the infants had been abandoned. Left to die, one was discovered by our administrator in an open field, another among some thorn bushes. The infants are placed with “foster” families who will provide them the extensive care they need until they are old enough to be cared for at the home.

MEXICO

Corazones Del Padre - Cuernavaca, Cuernavaca, Morales, Mexico

The first project HFO undertook, was supporting this existing home for children in Cuernavaca. The foundation that established the home in the 1970’s was no longer able to continue funding the home. HFO support began in 1995 and ran into 2006 at which point the home reverted to a self-supported Mexican work. During HFO’s participation, over 200 different children, ages 2 to 20, boys and girls, were helped. The home generally housed about 45 children. HFO invested in the infrastructure. The boys’ dormitory was renovated and doubled in size. Water delivery pipes and water storage capacities were upgraded. The kitchen and dining room were renovated. HFO continues to support four older children who have left the home to attend university or vocational college.

New Efforts in Mexico - Chalco

HFO has been offered four acres of land in the Chalco area on the outskirts of Mexico City, for a new project. Local support is very strong for an HFO type work for orphans and abandoned children. There are plenty of qualified personnel to draw upon for a local board, houseparents, and support staff. Our Project Coordinator has forged an alliance of churches, para-church ministries, and government agencies. The next stage will be the design and cost development phase

ASSISTED WORKS

MOZAMBIQUE

Iris Ministries, Maputo, Mozambique

Natural disasters, disease, and civil war have resulted in many orphaned, abandoned, and displaced children in Mozambique. As part of their ministry (Iris Ministries), Rolland and Heidi Baker take care of thousands of these children. Some of these children are housed in Iris ministry centers. Others are restored to their extended families. The Bakers have also successfully encouraged pastors to care for orphans as part of their respective churches’ responsibility. The way the Bakers care for and equip these children spiritually embodies the HFO vision. In support of what the Bakers and their team are doing, HFO finds sponsors for Iris’s children’s work in general. Funds sent to Iris from HFO sponsors are earmarked for children’s assistance but individual children are not sponsored directly.

UGANDA

Alpha Orphanage Project (AOP), Kampala, Uganda

Pastor Gerald Kwitegereza started the Alpha Orphanage Project in 1998, which today cares for over 500 children. Through the “extended family” network, orphans are provided food, housing and education. A farm project helps to supply much of the necessary food. They have hired teachers and rented rooms in which to hold school. His work was “discovered” by one of our Advisory Board members on a trip to East Africa. HFO has committed to support this work on a monthly basis and was his first international supporter. Gerald also serves on our HFO-Kampala board.

BURKINA FASO

Sheltering Wings, Burkina Faso

As in Ghana, HFO was the original National Partner for Operation Christmas Child in Burkina Faso. On one of their distributions, John and Libby Moritz met Ruth Cox, an American who had relocated to Burkina to care for orphans. Ruth has a small compound, which houses and feeds more than 25 children. She started a school, which is also open to community children. About 90 attend. Hundreds of children benefit from her various outreaches. HFO provides monthly sponsorship for some of the Sheltering Wings’ children.

ISRAEL

Elijah’s Cup of Mercy, Tiberias, Israel

John and Libby Moritz traveled to Israel in September, 2001 on a fact finding mission. They were on one of the first resumed flights after 9/11. John and Libby happened upon Miri Moriah, a widow, who was specifically helping Jewish orphans from the Baltic states, Ukraine, and Russia. She helps them make “Aliyah” and cares for them once they are in Israel. HFO annually sows modest support into ECM in anticipation of a major HFO work in the land.