For nearly 40 years, WorldServe Ministries has equipped local churches around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities.

The group is currently working in Myanmar, China, Ethiopia, and Cuba.

President and CEO Brian Rushton says their goal is to give people a leg up so that they can also help others.

“It's surprising, a lot of the people there are just struggling because they don't live the way we do here in North America,” he said.“What we do, is we go over and give them a hand up rather than a hand out and we try to help them get to a different level. We bring resources, whether it be in training and leadership development, or it might just be in disaster where we bring some help to help them get by. It gets them a leg up so they can actually be better in their community but also help their community members as well.”

Rushton notes current projects for WorldServe Ministries include opening an orphanage in Myanmar, along with advancing education in Ethiopia.

He notes their goal is to provide practical help in addition to offering spiritual training.

“Yes we talk about Jesus, and yes we talk about the church but we have to do that in a practical way,” he said. “It talks about education, it talks about feeding people. People can't hear the message of Jesus if they're hungry. We need to also meet their physical needs first off, and then from there we'll work with them. It's learning to love people the way Jesus loves.”

Rushton adds they often have to work "underground" in areas of the world where Christianity is not accepted.

WorldServe Ministries recently benefited from the Decor Cabinets Charity Classic Golf Tournament held in Morden.