"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
We understand the necessity of having a page "about us", but we write this with some degree of reluctance. We do not seek any praise or recognition for what we are doing and we are uncomfortable when we receive it. This ministry is not "about us". We are nothing special - only His jars of clay who are willing, available, and are trying to be obedient to God and walk in the good works He has prepared for us beforehand.
"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart....But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:1,7
We long for the day when people will see our good works and praise God, not us.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matt. 5:16
However, we know many of you do not know who we are and would like to know something about the people behind these good works. That being said, here's a little info "about us".
His Hands Support Ministries is incorporated under the laws of the State of Maine as a 501c3, non-profit, charitable organization. His Hands for Guatemala is an all-volunteer ministry program being run by His Hands Support Ministries. These are some of our core principals: We strive to promote unity within the body of Christ - HHSM recognizes the need for unity in the body of believers who all share the common bond of faith in Jesus Christ and have experienced His saving grace. Our fellowship is made up of believers from many different denominations including Baptist, Evangelical Free, Assembly of God, etc. and we have joined together with our brothers and sisters in Guatemala to try to make a difference in the lives of impoverished people in that country. Our purpose is not to start an American work in Guatemala, but to come alongside our Guatemalan brothers and sisters to support and encourage them in the work they are already doing.
"So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword." Exodus 17:10-13
We are a faith-based ministry – We do not and will not actively solicit support for the operational needs of the ministry, only for the children or other special projects. 100% of the sponsorship fee we collect will ALWAYS go to the children, not to the running of the ministry itself. When the ministry has a need for funding, we go to God with that need, and not to man, for we know that God is the one who provides for all of our needs.
Philip Charles, president, and his wife, Jamie, met while attending Barrington College, where Jamie received a B.S. in Youth Ministries in 1980, the same year in which they were married. Philip is a PK (pastor's kid) as well as an MK (missionary's kid), having spent 3 years as a child in the city of Lima, Peru. Philip is also a self-employed carpenter but currently spends his time, along with Jamie, giving full-time care to their elderly mothers in Florida. God has blessed Philip and Jamie with 6 children and as well as 8 grandchildren. They have experienced the tremendous blessing of being able to take all of their children and one of their grandchildren to visit several different country programs with them at different times. Philip and Jamie currently attend Cornerstone Family Church in Saint Cloud, Florida.
Henry Cooper, vice president, has served as the Associate Pastor at Fayette Baptist Church (FBC) in Fayette, Maine since 2006. He has earned degrees in Missionary Aviation, Pastoral Ministries B.A., and Biblical Counseling M.A. Along with pastoral duties; he oversees the ministry leaders, small groups, and the local outreach and cross-cultural mission efforts of the church. FBC made their first mission trip to Haiti with His Hands in 2006. Since then Henry has led several trips back to Haiti and takes teams each year to Mexico. He and his wife, Vicki, served as missionaries with South America Mission in Bolivia for 15 years. They have two adult children: Calvin (and his wife Katie) and Benjamin (and his wife Courtney) and two full-of-life grandsons, Israel and Solomon. Henry and Vicki enjoy spending time with family, hiking, and flying.
Scott Verrill, secretary, and his wife Marilee, are currently Pastors at Victory Christian Church (VCC) in Livermore, Maine where they have served in various capacities through the majority of the church’s twenty year history. Scott holds degrees in Business Administration (ABA), Visual Communication (BFA), and Education (M.Ed.). Scott & Marilee are leading this young church into discipleship and loving service in the local community and participation in world-wide ministry through His Hands. They have four children; Winfield, Dexter (and his wife Rachael), Autumn Waite (and her husband Brenden), and Victor, who will be heading off to college in 2020. Scott & Marilee enjoy time with family, serving at the church, and short trips to locations in Maine and New Hampshire.
Wanda Meisner, treasurer, is Dana Meisner’s wife, mother of 4 children, and 4 grandchildren. Wanda teaches her grandchildren at home. She is nutty about math and uses her math skills to assist with the ministry’s bookkeeping. Wanda grew up reading books about missionaries and enjoyed listening to missionaries speak about their individual ministries in foreign countries. Her dear friend and mentor saw this interest. He constantly said, “Wanda, I believe that someday you will be a missionary”. Wanda says that it is a great privilege to be able to serve God and His children through His Hands Support Ministries. She is so thankful for the blessing of traveling around the world and has traveled to Haiti, India, Myanmar, Kenya, Eswatini, and Honduras. All 4 of her children have also traveled with HHSM. Dana & Wanda attend Faith Bible Chapel in Buckfield, Maine.
Lorraine Mitchell, director, has been married to her husband, Brud, since 1958. They have 4 grown children, Nadine, Doreen, Stephanie & Stephen, 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Lorraine has served God by being treasurer for her church as well as two other Christian organizations. She has made several trips to Haiti and Guatemala, her first trip being in 2004, and has formed strong relationships with many of her sponsored children as well as with many of her Christian brothers and sisters in those countries. Lorraine currently works giving in-home care to the elderly and attends the Strong Church of the Nazarene in Strong, Maine.
(Hugh) Tim Corbett, director, served in the military service for 32 years, retiring in March of 2019. He retired as the Assistant Adjutant General-Army with the rank of Brigadier General. He also practiced law in Waterville, Maine from 1991-2002. Tim is the recipient of many decorations, awards and citations for his military service including the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Honor, NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Global War on Terror Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal He married his high school sweetheart, Laura, in 1983 and they have 3 grown children, Tim Jr, Jenny, and Ciara, as well as several grandchildren. Tim and Laura attend Faith Evangelical Free Church in Waterville, Maine.
Wendy Marchand and her husband Ron have two grown children - a son and daughter in-law, and a daughter and a son-in-law - and four beautiful grandchildren. Wendy joined her first mission trip in 2009 to Guatemala with His Hands Support Ministries and after meeting a little Guatemalan girl name Leslie, she was hooked! Together they have returned several times to visit their sponsored children, and to work on various building projects. Wendy has an Accounting background and currently works as a Controller. Wendy and Ron attend Eliot Baptist Church in Eliot, Maine.
His Hands for Guatemala is working in cooperation with the following ministry which is also partnered with Iglesia Galilea in San Lucas -
The Mission of Healing Nations:
To glorify God by cultivating spiritual and physical flourishing through cross-cultural ministry.
The Vision of Healing Nations:
A world that recognizes and declares God’s glory as individuals, communities and nations experience healing through truth and compassion.
To learn more, visit the Healing Nations website.
