About Hope for Hispaniola
Sharing the Gospel with Anyone and Everyone We Encounter
Our Story
Our Work
Our Team
Who We Are
Hope for Hispaniola was found on the mission of serving the people of the Dominican Republic with the love of Christ through short term missions supporting local churches. Now, Hope for Hispaniola's short-term trips have grown to over 60 people from more than 10 different churches in the Western Pennsylvania area.
Hope for Hispaniola also conducts year-round ministries by providing food, medical care, education, and more to those who need it. In addition to building a school in La Higuera and continuing to fund the school's operations, the organization also supports full-time missionary Jake Vincik, who oversees Hope for Hispaniola's year-round ministries.
A Legacy of Hope from Grief
Hope for Hispaniola started with one man and grew to a ministry of hundreds.
After a family tragedy, Matt Henderson traveled to the Dominican Republic
In 2000, a friend asked Matt to go on a Short-Term Missions Trip. Having just lost his wife to cancer and being left with 3 small children, Matt wanted to get away, so he signed up for the trip. Matt would have never guessed the calling that God was placing on his life through this 1 week trip.
Matt fell in love with people in the DR and seeing the many, many needs he knew he wanted to do more for the Haitians and the Dominicans in the Dominican Republic.
From construction projects to medical missions, Hope for Hispaniola grew to reach a nation with the Gospel
In 2004 the Lord blessed Matt with Jenn, a missions-minded nurse ready to join him in establishing Hope for Hispaniola. Over the next several years Matt, Jenn, Max, Wade, and Grace spent several months each Winter falling in love with the Dominican and Haitian People, with their group growing with each trip.
People Came Alongside Matt in Ministry, Creating an Organization that Spread
Many Godly, mission minded people joined the cause, walking alongside the Henderson Family and contributing to Hope for Hispaniola. These people included Chris Palmer, Barb and Dave English, Mark Helgerman, Sam Hovis, and Scott Painte (with Matt in Glory). Without them, Hope for Hispaniola would not exist.
Hope for Hispaniola commits to full-time ministry through our compound and the Vincik Family
After participating in many missions trips through Hope for Hispaniola alongside Matt, Jake Vincik felt called by God to serve the people in the Dominican Republic full time. Through prayer, he and his wife Faye and his two youngest sons made the move in 2018.
After Matt's passing from ALS, we're carrying on his legacy
We're committed to Matt's mission from when he started Hope for Hispaniola: share the Gospel with anyone and everyone we encounter. Through our new Missions Center, partnership with other organizations and local churches, and more people choosing to join us, we're striving to take the Gospel to more people in new ways.
Our Mission Statement
To participate in the glorious redeeming work of God by partnering with churches in the Dominican Republic to offer hope to the Dominican and Haitian people who live there.
We accomplish this by sharing the Gospel, making disciples, strengthening local churches, and serving communities through practical acts of love and compassion.
We partner with churches from both the Dominican Republic and the United States, providing opportunities to work together in ministry through evangelism, discipleship, education, construction, medical care, food distribution, camps, and meeting basic needs.
Through every ministry and every partnership, our desire is to make Christ known, see lives transformed by the Gospel, strengthen His Church, and bring glory to God.
Everything we do is ultimately about Jesus.
What Hope for Hispaniola Does
We Carry Out Our Mission through Short Term Projects and Long Term Work
Short Term Trips
Our teams travel to the Dominican Republic and serve for one to two weeks to carry out projects and support local churches.
Service Areas
- Medical clinics: Doctors and medical professionals on our team set up clinics inside local churches to see patients and distribute medication.
- Vacation Bible School: Children from the villiage can come play with our team, sing songs about Jesus, and learn about the Bible.
- Construction: We take on building projects for the La Higuerra school, local churches, and our compound.
Ongoing Work
The Vincik Family leads our efforts to serve the people of the Domincan Republic and show them Christ's love.
Our Ministries
- La Higuerra School: Our school in the Hatian village of La Higuerra provides food and education to some of the poorest children in the world.
- Food Ministry: We distribute meals and groceries to people in the community who cannot feed themselves.
- Camp Ministry: To break the cycle of addiction, our camping ministry provides men with an outlet and tools for freedom.
- Seasonal Projects: Around the holidays, we provide Christmas baskets and other items to show Christ's love.
Welcome to the HFH Missions Center!
Located in the heart of the Dominican Republic, this missions center serves as our base of operations
The Hope for Hispaniola Missions Center began with an idea in 2018. Since it broke ground, it's become an epicenter of ministry for us. We host our camping ministry here, a permenant medical clinic from an outside organization, and our full time ministry team. Short term teams stay here during their trips.
Built in the heart of the Dominican Republic, the Hope for Hispaniola Missions Center is surrounded by mountains and fields. Dorms are split between men and women with premium twin mattresses with showers and bathrooms. The Missions Center also has 24/7 security, ensuring the safety of all short term teams.
Apartments
Chapel
Dining Hall
Courts
Pavilion
Meet The Governing Board
Jennifer Henderson
Nurse (BSN), Henderson Family
Jake Vincik
Full time missionary to the Dominican Republic in association with Hope for Hispaniola, President of Hope for Hispaniola,
Chris Palmer
Pastor of Missions and Outreach at Victory Family Church
Steve Michalik
President of NursingABC and Portage Learning
Dr. Steve Hagberg
M.D. practicing in Seguin, TX
Our Advisory Panel
The HFH advisory board is composed of people who have served in the Dominican Republic with us and want to contribute to our mission.
HFH Statement of Faith
1. The Bible
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God, given to reveal His will for salvation and the standard for all faith and practice.
2. God
We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—equal in power and glory, perfect in holiness, love, and truth.
3. Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man without ceasing to be God. Born of a virgin, He lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now reigns as Lord. He will one day return in power and glory.
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, regenerates all who believe, indwells and empowers Christians for holy living, and equips the church with gifts for service and mission.
5. Salvation
We believe that all people are sinners in need of God's grace. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—not by works—resulting in forgiveness of sins, new life, and eternal hope.
6. The Church
We believe the universal Church is the body of Christ, made up of all believers everywhere. The local church is God's instrument for worship, discipleship, fellowship, and mission. We are committed to strengthening and encouraging local churches in the Dominican Republic to fulfill the Great Commission.
7. The Mission
We believe Christ has commanded His followers to go and make disciples of all nations. We participate in God's ongoing work through evangelism, discipleship, and service, proclaiming the good news of Jesus and demonstrating His love within the community.
8. Eternity
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost—the saved to everlasting life with God, and the lost to eternal separation from Him.
Stories of Transformational Love
Changing Lives through the Gospel
Your gift will support education, health, and hope for families and churches in the Dominican Republic.