What Is the History and Impact of Hope Rises International?

Hope Rises International is a Christian charity that has worked since 1906 to fight leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). For most of that history it operated as American Leprosy Missions; the organization adopted the name Hope Rises International to reflect a mission that goes beyond medical treatment to physical, emotional, and spiritual restoration. It works worldwide with Christ-centered partners, local pastors, and faith leaders to provide care and reduce the isolation caused by disease.

A century of work under a new name

The organization's own framing is "New Name, Same Mission." Since 1906, it has provided medical care and gospel-centered hope to people facing disease, stigma, and isolation. The rebrand was not a change in direction but a restatement of purpose: breaking down barriers to health, stopping disease, and reaching people who are marginalized.

The name change matters if you are trying to trace the charity's record. Donations, history, and impact attributed to American Leprosy Missions belong to the same organization now called Hope Rises International.

What the organization says it does

Hope Rises International describes two connected layers of work:

• Medical treatment — care for people suffering from leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases.
• Restoration — addressing the stigma and isolation that accompany these conditions, which the organization frames as spiritual and emotional as well as physical.

It carries this out by partnering with local pastors and faith leaders, equipping them to care for their communities both physically and spiritually. The stated belief is that healing happens through medicine and treatment, while restoration happens through the hope of the gospel.

Scale of the problem it addresses

The organization cites one billion people living in isolation from neglected tropical diseases like leprosy. That figure is the context for its work: the need is far larger than any single treatment program, which is why the model relies on local partners rather than a centralized clinical operation.

A concrete example of impact

The site shares the story of Renate, who seventeen years ago was in a hospital bed battling Buruli ulcer, a flesh-eating disease, with an uncertain future. Today she is a nursing school graduate caring for others in her community. The organization uses her story to illustrate the longer arc of its work — not just surviving a disease but returning to serve a community.

How to evaluate the organization

If you are deciding whether to trust or support Hope Rises International, these are the checkable points from its own materials:

For a fuller picture, review the organization's history and stories pages directly, and check how it reports on programs and partnerships. The site offers a newsletter signup for ongoing updates on how support is used.