who we are. what we do.

God gave a high school student named Wilkyns Chal a vision to make disciples for the Kingdom of Heaven by building a church, school and boys-home in Batey Central, an impoverished community on the outskirts of Barahona, Dominican Republic. Many children in the batey do not have citizenship or the requisite documents to be eligible for attendance in public school. 

Eight years after the vision God connected Wilkyns with a missionary family and they immediately connected with an American church to begin construction. October 2011, eight months after Wilkyns met the missionaries, classes began in the first building; a small, unfinished, cement block, one room schoolhouse without electricity, clean water, sanitary facilities or police protection. Wilkyns and 2 missionaries were the volunteer teachers. Near the end of the first school year a missionary on a short term trip witnessed a little girl crying a lot. Wilkyns said she was okay, just hungry. That hungry little girl was the spark that ignited Children of Hope sponsorship ministry. 

Since day one, 100% of all sponsorship and donated funds have gone directly to the school. Administration in the USA is provided by a small group of volunteers. 

Through Children of Hope, students receive quality teaching plus one meal per day. Bible studies are a central part of the daily activities of the school, providing a path for making disciples.

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WILKYNS CHAL AND FAMILY

Wilkyns M. Chal Batista, 1 of 6 children, grew up in Batey Central, a village within Barahona, Dominican Republic. His dad left the family when Wilkyns was very young. It was an on-going hardship on Wilkyns' mother to make enough money to provide for her loved ones. Throughout his childhood Wilkyns remembers well of the lack of food, and that haunting feeling of being hungry. At age 14, Wilkyns embraced Jesus to be his Lord and Savior and has dedicated his life to following his Lord Jesus Christ since then.

Presently, Wilkyns, his wife Melissa, daughter Wilmely, and two sons Wilkyns Emmanuel and Wilkyns Josias continue to live in Barahona, ministering to the people who grew up in very similar circumstances. God put it on Wilkyns heart to start a school for children. In 2011 Wilkyns founded Centro Educativo Niños Llenos Del Amor De Cristo. Most of the children who attend the school do not have enough food or a basic education. Wilkyns strategy is to teach basic academics, English, and the Scriptures. Each day, approximately 300 children are taught from a Christian worldview in which Jesus is lifted up as Savior and Master who cares about their lives and wants to lead them in “His way”.