Blessings International

Summary

Blessings International ("Blessings") obtains pharmaceuticals that are essential for the eradication of major diseases and parasites infecting people in developing nations. Blessings obtains pharmaceuticals primarily from donations solicited from major pharmaceutical firms, but also purchases pharmaceuticals in order to provide those medicines for which donations are inadequate. Blessings distributes pharmaceuticals overseas to over 100 developing nations for the treatment of needy of indigent people. Blessings works through Christian physicians or other Christian medically trained individuals associated with Christian missions whom a government has licensed to operate a private hospital or clinic. It is the hope of Blessings, that the combination of medicine, prayer, and evangelism brings the needy more readily to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Blessings was founded in 1981 by Harold Harder, Ph. D. This organization is an Oklahoma nonprofit. Contributions to Blessings are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Blessings International ("Blessings") obtains pharmaceuticals that are essential for the eradication of major diseases and parasites infecting people in developing nations. Blessings obtains pharmaceuticals primarily from donations solicited from major pharmaceutical firms, but also purchases pharmaceuticals in order to provide those medicines for which donations are inadequate. Blessings distributes pharmaceuticals overseas to over 100 developing nations for the treatment of needy of indigent people. Blessings works through Christian physicians or other Christian medically trained individuals associated with Christian missions whom a government has licensed to operate a private hospital or clinic. It is the hope of Blessings, that the combination of medicine, prayer, and evangelism brings the needy more readily to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Blessings was founded in 1981 by Harold Harder, Ph. D. This organization is an Oklahoma nonprofit.

Contributions to Blessings are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Blessings uses the following to express its mission:

"Giving hope to destitute children and adults by providing life-saving pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and medical supplies for treating needy patients in developing nations and US clinics."

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Blessings International provided the following program services:

Relief and development programs directed by Blessings International: Specific programs designed to supply pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, food, and other supplies for relief and development efforts following national disasters and wars or various types of armed conflict such as for Liberia, Iraq, Sierra Leone, and Sudan. (Program Service Expense $10,643,900)

Medicines for short-term medical teams: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supply Program for short-term medical teams visiting developing nations to serve indigenous children and adults suffering from various diseases and illnesses. (Program Service Expense $8,989,491)

Relief and development programs in collaboration with other organizations: Pharmaceuticals were provided for indigent care efforts in developing nations achieved by networking with other organizations that handle shipping and on-site distribution. (Program Service Expense $7,265,064).

Cancer Medicines for Iraqi Children: Blessings International continued its program of purchasing anti-tumor drugs for treating childhood tumors in Iraq. Due to the extreme shortage of one drug, 6 mercaptopurine in Iraq, and a more than tripling of the price of the finished product on the world market, BI began an effort to produce this drug by contract in order to thwart the price increase. Because the drug was not delivered during the just completed fiscal year, the costs will be expensed in the new fiscal year.

HIV/AIDS Treatment Program: This newly initiated program supported one African clinic caring for HIV/AIDS victims through donated (non-retroviral) pharmaceuticals. This program is expected to grow. (Program Service Expense $47,636)

USA Indigent Care: This program supplied purchased medicines for indigents that were treated through non-profit and church-based clinics. (Program Service Expense $592,171)

Total Program Service Expenses 02-03: $27,538,262

BI estimates that over 1,000,000 patients were served through hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries that received medicines and medical supplies from Blessings.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Blessings uses the following to express its statement of faith:

1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and revealed will of God. It is the final and complete authority in the life of a believer (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Heb'. 4:12).

2. There is one true Godhead comprised of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are co-equal and co-eternal (Matt.28:19; I John 5:7). Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead (Is. 9:6; John 1:1, 14).

3. Man was created in God's image. By voluntary transgression he fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7, Rom. 5:12-2i).

4. Salvation of Man (a) Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and healing for all mankind (Ps.103:3). This salvation comes by believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing with your mouth, Jesus as Lord (Rom. 3:24; 10:8-10; Eph. 2;8).
(b) Tho inward evidence to the believer is the direct witness of the spirit (Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of tree holiness and love (1 John 3:23; John 13:35).
(c) Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however our works are evidence of our faith and will determine our rewards in eternity (Acts 16:3; Rom. 10:9-10; 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:1o; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; James 2:18).

5. Baptism in water is a declaration to tho World that a believer has died with Christ and that they have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-45; Rom. 6:4).

6. The celebration of the Lord's Supper by eating of the bread and drinking of the cup is a remembrance of Jesus (I Cor. 11:24-30).

7. All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the 'Promise of the Father, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the command of Jesus Christ. With this comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of gifts' and their uses in thc work of the ministry: This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Ltlko 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:38-39; 10:44-46; 11:I4-i6; 15:7-9; 1 Cot. 12: 1-31).

8. The Evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit: The full consummation of the baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:2, 6; 1:8).

9. The Church is the Body of Christ. Each believer is an integral part (Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23).

10. Total Prosperity
(a) Spiritual (John 3:3, 11; 2 Cot, 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9-10)
(b) Mental (2 Tim. 1:7; Rom, 12:2; Is. 26:3)
(c) Physical (Is, 53:4, 5; Matt, 8:17; I PctQr 2:24)
(d) Financial (3 John 1:2; Mal. 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Deut. 28: 1-14)
(e) Social (Prey. 3:4)

11. Blessed Hope: Jesus is coming again to gather all His saints to heaven (1 Cor. 15:51,52; 1Thess, 4:16-17; 2 Thess. 2:1),

12. Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from Godhead. They will burn in the lake of tiro (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, i5).

13. The Millennial Reign of Jesus: The return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His saints from heaven to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth as the Scripture promised (Rom.11:25, 27; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev, 19:11~16; 20:1-7). After this, there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21)."

History [ Back to top ]

Blessings was founded in 1981 for the purpose of obtaining pharmaceuticals for treating indigent patients in developing nations. At that time, Harold Harder, Ph.D. and President of Blessings International, was an academic pharmacologist and found that the other organizations existing at that time lacked what he considered to be many of the essential medicines for use in developing countries where tropical diseases prevail. These were the very pharmaceuticals about which he used to lecture medical and graduate students. Having a background in pharmacology, he chose to limit the types of products Blessings would handle to medicines, although they now carry a number of essential hospital and surgical supplies as well.

Blessings International now sends medicines to over 130 countries, with an administrative cost of 0.4%.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

Blessings expresses the following needs:

New or reconditioned medical equipment for Liberia

Funding for ocean freight shipment of containers of medicines to developing nations

Garden tools, seeds, mosquito netting for development projects in West Africa

Four wheel drive, high axle pick up truck for use in West Africa

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Relief and Development Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		6 of 353	6 of 54
Fund Acquisition Decision		25 of 353	10 of 54
Resource Allocation Decision		3 of 353	2 of 54
Asset Utilization Decision		54 of 353	15 of 54