About Us

Luke 17:10 – “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Messianic Hope International (MHI) is a non-profit organization that supports Kingdom building by partnering with local initiatives in Africa aimed at alleviating poverty, community building, serving orphans and widows, and other charitable works to inspire and offer hope.

Messianic Hope International (MHI) was established in 2021, though its foundation was laid many years earlier. Jane Reich Yoder was born in Kenya and relocated to the United States in 1998 at the age of 25 after marrying a missionary named Charles Reich. They settled in Penn’s Creek, Central Pennsylvania. Jane’s father, Bishop Peter Kihara, has adhered to Torah practices since 1972 and has founded numerous assemblies across Kenya and Africa. Jane has had the honor of collaborating with him in various roles through the years. 

Jane grew up in a village that lacked running water, experiencing extreme poverty and insufficient educational opportunities that perpetuated the cycle of poverty for many families. Those in her village relied on what they could grow for sustenance. She and other young girls’ daily duties included miles of walking to fetch water and gather firewood. Despite poverty, however, Jane had joy in her life. From these beginnings, Yahweh was planting seeds.

With the help of her late husband, Jane worked alongside her father’s ministry, the Messianic Assembly of Yahweh. In 2000, Jane perceived a voice within her saying they would build a worship center in Kenya. Despite experiencing this voice a few more times, she kept it to herself, fearing it would be too great a task. Astonishingly, Charles came home from work a few days later saying he heard a voice telling him they would build a worship center in Kenya! This experience was nothing short of supernatural, confirming their calling for a shift in ministry work.

With arduous work and self-sacrifice, Messianic Assemblies of Yahweh (MAY) Assembly Hall in Nairobi, Kenya, officially opened in December 2003. Charles passed away in Feb 2015 after a short illness. His memory is a blessing. At that time, Jane was left feeling uncertain, often desperate in searching for meaning and purpose in her life. It was a difficult journey.

Through prayer and guidance from Yahweh, Jane came to know Joseph Yoder and another step in the journey began. Joe and Judy Yoder, originally from central Pennsylvania, began their Hebraic faith journey with their four children in 1999 during the feast of Tabernacles. Judy passed of cancer in 2012. Jane and Joe met casually at their fellowship, and with the Yahweh’s specific answers to both their prayers, Joe and Jane married in September 2016, settling in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

Despite Jane finding love again, personal peace was still elusive until a period of prayer and fasting when Yahweh pointed her to refocus her efforts on the clear and direct missive to “serve others.” She felt it keenly as a word from Yahweh that pulled her from deep despair. The vision for Messianic Hope International began with a visit to Kenya together. Joe observed the profound impact of small actions, and this fueled his desire to contribute further. He had previous experience with missionary work through his two-year involvement in youth ministry in Canada. The primary distinction between his prior mission work and his experience in Kenyan villages was the stark lack of the basic necessities in Kenya. These have presented significant challenges to navigate in the growth of the mission Yahweh has called for, but oh He is faithful and we stand in amazement!

Guided by these visions of extending hope in serving others, Jane and Joe established the non-profit organization Messianic Hope International, a 501 (C) (3) charitable entity, in 2021. The mission of Messianic Hope International is to support children by building healthy relationships and sharing faith values in orphanage centers and schools. The organization serves children by teaching music, providing personal hygiene products for girls, by guiding and mentoring both boys and girls in their spiritual walks, and in growing and fostering the crucial development of strong role models within their own communities. It has been a profound journey for the students and children, as well as for those building the ministry of MHI!

Currently, MHI is seeking to bring significant positive changes to Kenyan villages with the local partnership of Messianic Assemblies of Yahweh (MAY). Some of our initiatives include sponsoring children’s homes, organizing temporary clinics, constructing community resource centers, and supporting widows. We aim to team up with local Kenyans who personally understand the culture and can celebrate the changes with the children and the community in regular contact and celebration, even enabling the provision of employment opportunities. How very exciting to see the growth, and to look with anticipation to how Yahweh will foster His plans and purposes!

We warmly invite you to explore our website to learn more about us, see photos of some of our beautiful children and staff, and consider joining our mission if Yahweh leads you. Your partnership would certainly enable us to make a significant impact for Kenyan children, families, and villages. We look forward to what Father has in store for us! May Yahweh BLESS and keep you, and make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, to turn his face toward you and give you shalom! (Numbers 6)

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Our Team

Dina Wilson | BOARD MEMBER

“I got involved with MHI knowing of Peter Kihara’s family and the work they have been involved with, changing the lives of many people that I would not otherwise be able to help/reach.“

Beth Githinji | SECRETARY

Esther Woodcraft | BOARD MEMBER

Jimmy Mwaniki | ACCOUNTING

Daniel H. | DIGITAL MEDIA PROJECT MANAGER