Our Story

Our late founders Dr. Donald and Sharon Gerken established Centers of Hope in 2001. Dr. Gerken recognized a need in Central America and devoted himself to the people of Nicaragua through outreach and the development of churches and feeding programs. A single church and feeding center in Masaya, Nicaragua has grown to a total of 8 churches and 9 feeding programs. His vision lives on through the longstanding partnerships with the people of Nicaragua and continued growth of churches and centers.

Our Mission

Centers of Hope Missions International is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing those in extreme poverty with food, medical care, education, clothing, spiritual counsel, and needed supplies. Our focus is on vulnerable children, who unlike adults, cannot help themselves. We do this through ministry of the nationals to their own people with our support and through outreaches of U.S. mission teams. These teams work in areas of their own choosing, such as construction, medical care, humanitarian aid, and/or evangelism. Our current projects are child feeding in Nicaragua and an orphanage in Kenya, where total care is funded including housing and infrastructure (planned well and power system).

Centers of Hope is dependent on the generosity and prayers of Christians and humanitarian groups with similar caring goals. We cannot do without the prayers that support each mission project and worker on the front line.