The Founder's Story

Two passages of Scripture describe the motivation of Hearts of the Father Outreach (HOF). One is found in Malachi 4:6:

“...and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, ...” (KJV)

The other is found in James 1:27:

“This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

The story behind how these two verses became guiding principles for this organization, involves a breadth of human experience.

John and Elizabeth “Libby” Moritz are the founding directors of Hearts of the Father Outreach. John is from a Protestant background and Libby is from a Catholic background. In their early twenties, each underwent a deeper experience of God’s reality and once again began church attendance and church involvement. They married and had three children. For a number of years, theirs was a “good” family life.

However, routine and ritual yielded a dryness that left Libby in particular, seeking for something more. She eventually encountered another dimension of the love of God and the vibrancy of His Spirit. This new relationship resulted in a joy and inner fire. John was skeptical of this new experience but was open enough to pray about its truth and reality. A short time later, Libby became seriously ill with what was finally diagnosed as Lyme disease. She was hospitalized and deteriorated rapidly. Little could be done medically. The only avenue of hope was prayer but John was confronted by the lack of vitality of his own relationship with the Creator.

It was at this time that he sought deeply for the Lord and had an encounter similar to the one his wife had. Libby recovered. They both attribute her recovery and healing to answered prayer. Their personal lives were also significantly changed. Reading the Bible one day, the verse from Malachi gripped John’s heart. He recognized the need for a deeper relationship with his children. Not only was it important to provide for them physically, and be involved with them socially, but it was imperative to love them, be emotionally vulnerable with them, and lead them into the spiritual fullness he and Libby were now experiencing. This aspect of family life, emotional warmth and spiritual direction could not be left to the mother alone, as is so often the case. He felt that this was God’s call to him as a father and head of his family. Libby welcomed this and encouraged him.

What Scripture stated was proven true in their experience. Family life took on a richness and joy that was a blessing. The children flourished in the new atmosphere and their hearts were ignited toward God and their parents. Physical blessings occurred. Among them, their youngest son Daniel was healed of asthma through prayer. The family also began to look beyond itself. They visited nursing homes and became concerned about others, particularly, children.

It was against this setting that events would unfold giving birth to Hearts of the Father Outreach. Another, most difficult step, would be taken. A walk of faith was about to begin, a refining fire undergone, an intense agony endured. In the process, a mystery would remain. That mystery was the realm outside human control, definition, or even understanding. It was the realm relegated solely to the purposes and plan of, not only a loving God, but of a sovereign God.

On a wintry day in 1992, Joshua, Kristen, and Daniel Moritz were returning home from school. They were riding in a car belonging to family friends, with whom they carpooled. The car hit some ice and spun out of control. It went into oncoming traffic. The three Moritz children were sitting in the back seat, the point of greatest impact. They died instantly and together went to be in the presence of the Lord.

The days and months that followed were ones of tears, and numbness, and questions. John and Libby survived the next ten months, though the personal and marital strain was at times overwhelming. John struggled through work in his swimming pool business. In between bouts of intense grief, Libby shopped for children’s toys and clothes. Together they fluctuated between wanting to die and wanting to understand and have purpose in living. The approaching holiday season brought a heightening of pain. Friends graciously offered them use of a home in the Caribbean.

Inexplicably, they gathered up the toys Libby had purchased and carried them along to the islands. Once there, the idea came to them to visit an orphanage for Christmas and give the toys to the children. What a remarkable blessing! The children were touched by such surprising love and generosity. The orphanage directors were encouraged and there was ointment for the Moritz’ hearts. John and Libby also found themselves acutely sensitive to the hurts and pains of the children and desired to bring healing to them.

The following winter of 1994, through what they believed were divinely orchestrated circumstances, they found themselves in Ghana, West Africa, again with bags of toys and children’s clothes. Again they visited children’s homes: homes for orphans, homes for the handicapped, homes for the deaf, homes for the blind. Gradually, they were getting a vision of something to do. They felt God was answering their prayers about purpose. They could picture homes for children, homes where a father and mother were present and active in the children’s lives; homes that could provide the intimate setting and spiritual nurture that they had experienced in their family.

After returning from Africa, they set about writing down the vision and drafting a structure. In the fall of 1994, the non-profit incorporation of Hearts of the Father Outreach was completed. At the same time, John and Libby contacted some other organizations working with children to glean information. They also visited and helped in homes in Central America in order to gain some hands-on experience. During their travels they were told of a home in Cuernavaca, Mexico, that was about to lose its funding. They visited the home, again with toys and clothes. A husband and wife directed the home and deeply cared for the children. Though larger than a projected home of refuge, many of the HFO principles were in place. Once back in the states, the Moritz’ met with the board of HFO and it was decided to take on support of the Hogar de Ninos Douglas. It became the first official project of HFO, an adoption of sorts, much like the children in its care.

Since that time Hearts of the Father Outreach has begun or assisted with other projects. The suffering of children in many parts of the world is extreme. The need is very great and economic, political, social, racial, ethnic and religious circumstances often complicate the problems. Hearts of the Father Outreach is attempting to help where it can, working in cooperation with native groups and in conjunction with other organizations and ministries. The primary goal is to rescue children, redeeming them from hopelessness, terror and despair, and help them flourish in love, nurture, and security.

On a personal level, much healing has taken place for John and Libby. They smile and laugh. They enjoy fellowship with friends. Early in 1995, they began the process of adopting a girl from China. In March of 1997, they received one year old Lily Joy into their lives and hearts. A new stage in their lives was begun and her presence has resulted in another joy.

However, their experience has made them keenly aware of the cries of others, especially the children. At one time they prayed that God would break their hearts with the things that broke His heart. Their hearts were indeed broken. They prayed for grace and comfort. They have indeed experienced grace and comfort. They will always remember their own children. New children do not replace them, but this experience has enlarged the borders of their caring. Their compassion and their capacity to love have taken on a new dimension. It is very clear from Scripture that children are very dear to God. His heart is to care for them, particularly the orphaned and the fatherless. For John and Libby, Hearts of the Father Outreach is their response to heed that heart cry.

The Hearts of the Father story was featured in People Magazine. Read the article here.

Read about The Philosophy and Purpose of Hearts of the Father Outreach, General Operations or back to the main About Us page.