Our Story: From a Heartfelt Vision to Global Impact

In a world often shadowed by hardship, JOY Missions International was born from a profound desire to be a beacon of hope. Founded by Reverend Heung Soo Kim and Dr. Mi Ja Kim, the organization emerged from their unwavering commitment to serve and uplift communities in need.

Their journey began with a simple yet powerful belief: that love, when put into action, can transform lives. This belief led them to establish initiatives that provide education, vocational training, feeding malnourished children, and spiritual guidance to those yearning for a brighter future.

Group of children and adults sitting outdoors on a hillside with trees, listening to a man in plaid shirt and tan pants showing something on his hand. Others are sitting on the ground or standing, some smiling and engaging.
Group photo of children and adults gathered outdoors on a dirt ground with some greenery and a small structure in the background.

The JOY Center: A Legacy of Love, A Future of Hope

In the quiet hills of Rwanda, where the sun rises over red earth and resilient hearts, stands a place born from love, sacrifice, and vision. The JOY Center is more than just bricks and mortar.

It’s a living symbol of compassion, gifted by Reverend and Dr. Heung Soo Kim and Dr. Mi Ja Kim—two hearts deeply moved by the call to serve. What they gave was not only a building, but a home for hope, a space where dignity is restored, and futures are reimagined.

The JOY Center name is an acronym that the founders lived their lives by: Jesus, Others, and You. A simple way to remember to put God first in your life.

Women dancing in traditional clothing with yellow skirts & blue tops, with a group of children playing drums and a brick building in the background.

A Dream Realized

For over two years, the JOY Center was lovingly crafted—every wall laid with purpose, every room echoing a promise: you are seen, you are capable, you are loved. In 2015, that promise was fulfilled. The doors swung open, and light flooded in—not just sunlight, but the light of opportunity, faith, and transformation.

Located in Kigali, in the heart of Rwanda, the JOY Center quickly became a vibrant lifeline for the community. It stands today not just as a building, but as a story still being written—by the hands of those who come to learn, grow, and lead.

Map showing the location of the Joy Center in Kigali, Rwanda, near Nyamata and surrounding towns and roads.

A Center Built on Connection

More than a school, the JOY Center is a sanctuary of celebration and care. Every year, its halls are filled with laughter and joy as we host a Christmas party for the community—complete with nourishing food, warm drinks, and thoughtful gifts for those in need.

Here, community isn’t just a concept—it’s a family. And the JOY Center is the heart that beats in the middle of it all.

Sunset over an African savannah landscape with a solitary acacia tree, grassy plains, distant mountains, and scattered clouds.
A modern house with a red tiled roof, brick and white exterior walls, multiple large windows, surrounded by a landscaped garden with trees and shrubs, in a rural setting under a partly cloudy sky.

Be Part of the Story

At JOY Missions International, we believe transformation starts with love—and love is something we can build together. The JOY Center is proof. Come see what happens when faith meets action. Help us write the next chapter of hope.

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