As we face the many daily challenges of raising and inspiring young lives once battling real-life torment, we catch glimpses of hope-filled futures. New smiles are born each day as hearts continue toward the goal of complete healing and joy. Such is the story of a young boy, Angel, at Esperanza Viva…
When Jerry McNally was 37 years old he had a soul-searching decision to make. What we see today as a robust, multi-faceted ministry, was just a fresh idea. With a handful of boys living in their home, he felt the weight of a decision that could absorb the rest of his life. It was a decision to pursue what he felt God had laid on his heart as The City of Hope, where much of what you see today was only a dream. Could such a vision of an orphanage, school, ministry institute, church, clinic, and more come together under his watch on a single campus in Mexico?
When Jerry McNally was 37 years old he had a soul-searching decision to make. What we see today as a robust, multi-faceted ministry, was just a fresh idea. With a handful of boys living in their home, he felt the weight of a decision that could absorb the rest of his life. It was a decision to pursue what he felt God had laid on his heart as The City of Hope, where much of what you see today was only a dream. Could such a vision of an orphanage, school, ministry institute, church, clinic, and more come together under his watch on a single campus in Mexico?
When we are faced with hardship, we have a choice. As we run our race in this life, we must run with everything we’ve got. Through the years, we have seen with our own eyes many incredible transformations of young people who have overcome their pasts and whose today is a miracle. A young lady who came to live at Esperanza Viva in her earliest years of life once opened up about her journey.
As you become familiar with the kids of Esperanza Viva, you may see one or more of the following icons indicating their specific circumstances.
Starting a youth home for at-risk children sounds like a noble venture. It can even succeed with dedication, focus, and God’s favor. But what if we took this calling to the next level—to impact an entire generation for Christ? That is why we are so committed to going a step further—training young people to serve the Lord beyond the secure walls of our campus, to a city and world in need of the hope that endures.
This year marks our 25th anniversary as a ministry; we look back in wonder at the faithfulness of God to us and the children over the years.
Jesus came for the sake of us all. We are all the “THEY” for whom He came to offer life—eternal and new. Throughout Scripture, Jesus repeatedly shows care for the least fortunate. Living Hope International has taken His love for the least and made it our mission.
Whether it’s been a while, or you’ve never visited Esperanza Viva (EV) in Mexico, one of the things you may quickly notice is an incredible amount of activity. Seeing in person the various and distinct functions of the youth home, the school, the school of ministry, the church, and short-term mission teams can be quite eye-opening.
You’ve likely heard the movie quote and cultural cliché, “If you build it, they will come…” At Esperanza Viva, the reality is “they” are already coming and we now need to “build it” to fully embrace the growth and momentum. “They” are the young adult La Viña students from all areas of Mexico, the US, and other nations, coming to EV, hungry to learn and establish a faith foundation for ministry service. After La Viña, the next step for many of these young people is to join our dynamic team of supervisors and to fill other key full-time staff positions. “They” are also short-term missions teams and visitors, coming to taste and see what God is so freely pouring out over the LHI ministries in Mexico.