Love and Hope Ministries was started with a vision and burden given to Dr. & Rev. Jabez and Mrs. Gloria Rapaka while attending Regent University Graduate School, Virginia Beach, VA, to help children, widows, the elderly and pastors in India and Haiti. By the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Rapakas incorporated Love and Hope Ministries in India in December, 2003 and also in the United States on March 4, 2004.
MISSION STATEMENT
Love and Hope Ministries believes in meeting the spiritual needs of people through evangelism, church planting and discipleship. We also believe in meeting the physical, educational, emotional and social needs of the poor, needy, destitute, abandoned, neglected and the unwanted of society by providing food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education.
VISION STATEMENT
Love and Hope Ministries’ vision is to bring God’s Love and Hope to those who are without hope in the society through the life-changing and life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ. We also seek to provide humanitarian aid to alleviate their misery and suffering.
ABOUT THE RAPAKAS
Dr. Jabez (Yabbeju) Rapaka was born and raised in a devout Christian home in India. While he was attending Andhra University to pursue his own dreams, God called him instead into full time ministry. God brought Dr. Rapaka to the USA in 1993 to further equip him in order to fulfill His divine plan and purpose for his life. Dr. Rapaka attended Elim Bible Institute, Lima, N.Y., for one year and later attended Zion Bible Institute, Barrington, R.I., where he obtained his B.A. in Biblical Studies. He then served as a staff member at Zion Bible Institute for four years, from 1997-2001. He also received dual master’s degrees, earning both the M.B.A and M. Div. in 2004 and a PhD in 2012 at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. He was an adjunct faculty member in the school of Divinity and also Undergraduate Religious Studies program at Regent and St. Leo University prior to his relocation to Haiti. He is the author of Dalit Pentecostalism: A Study of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God, 1932 to 2010 (Emeth Press, 2013). Copies of his book may be purchased by contacting Dr. Rapaka here.
Mrs. Gloria Rapaka was born and raised the daughter of a minister in Haiti. She wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer, but God redirected her plans and called her into ministry. Mrs. Rapaka fled Haiti and came to the USA in 1992 due to severe violence and political upheaval in Haiti. According to God’s leading, she attended Zion Bible Institute, where she earned her B.A. in Biblical Studies and met Dr. Rapaka, whom she married later in 1998. She also served as a staff member at Zion Bible Institute from 1998-2001. She is also a graduate of Regent University, where she obtained her M. Ed. degree in 2003.
Rev. Jabez and Mrs. Gloria Rapaka currently reside in Virginia Beach, VA. with their two daughters, Glorianna and Theresa, and their son, Jeremiah. They are New Life Missionaries also.