Bringing Love, Dignity and Healing to the Rejected
Providing treatment and practical help for leprosy patients, who learn Jesus loves and accepts all—even those rejected by society and disfigured by disease.
How We’re Helping Leprosy Patients
PRO-grace-supported leprosy ministry started as a small effort in 2017 to help a few people suffering with leprosy. Pastor Bagonza Robert helped lead it at the beginning, and now “Reaching Friends Ministry” quickly became one of the largest PRO-grace-supported ministries in that region.
“We thought we would name the ministry differently, where they won’t have to remember their sickness or feel the stigma of it. So while praying and discussing, we thought, ‘Let us call them “friends” because they have been created in the image of God, like us. It is only the sickness that keeps them different, but let us not make that a barrier. Let us accept them as friends.’” —Pastor Bagonza Robert, who helped start Reaching Friends Ministry
God does not see people afflicted by leprosy as cursed. Instead, He loves them enough to send Jesus to die for them. National missionaries reflect that love to people affected with leprosy. They are taking time to meet their needs, hold their hands, pray for them and treat their wounds. PRO-grace-supported workers care for leprosy patients through social and relief work, such as distributing food, providing medical aid, teaching health- and hygiene-awareness programs, and facilitating adult education and tutoring centers for children.
A daily meal
PRO-grace-supported workers provide leprosy patients with hot, nourishing meals.
Medical care
To prevent further infection, medical workers regularly clean wounds and provide medical care to leprosy patients.
Practical help
Workers help with everyday tasks like washing dishes, doing laundry or trimming fingernails for those who are unable to do it themselves.
The Impact of Leprosy Ministry
PRO-grace-supported leprosy ministry, or Reaching Friends Ministry, helps remind people affected by leprosy that they have dignity and are valued by God. They aren’t defined by their disease. When leprosy patients learn Jesus cares about them personally, many want to put their trust in Him and be defined by who Jesus says they are: treasured.
The Lord has blessed this leprosy ministry tremendously. Patients have found healing, compassion and love, which equips them to live with more hope in the future. In many of the colonies, fellowship groups of believers now regularly gather for worship.
Jesus always ministered to the poor and rejected, inviting them to become children of God. Let us follow in His footsteps.