One Trip that Changed Everything
For Joe, the story of Embrace a Village began on a mission trip in 2002. He visited different parts of the world, but he was especially moved by the suffering he witnessed in India. People affected by leprosy were shunned by society—discarded with nowhere to turn.
Unable to forget the people he met, Joe knew he was called to help.
Around the same time, husband-and-wife team Anil and Rose Kumar launched their National Leprosy Relief and Rehabilitation Work initiative to serve the same community that had so deeply impacted Joe. The Clendennys and the Kumars recognized they were being drawn into something bigger than themselves, and they chose to join forces with a shared purpose and commitment to compassionate care.
Together, they founded Embrace a Village (EAV) in 2003. EAV became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2004, strengthening its ability to grow programs and provide consistent support for those affected by leprosy.
Donate to the End of Year Campaign
Today, we serve over 4,000 people in southern India through medical care, after-school programs, custom-made footwear, a rehabilitation center, hospice, nutrition outreach, microenterprise farming projects, and spiritual support that brings hope and encouragement.
Our hospice center provides care for older patients who don’t have families or who were abandoned by relatives. Check out the recent surprise they received when a special guest came for a visit!
God has blessed this mission beyond what we could have hoped for, but we know this is just the beginning — God has so much in store!
Through your prayers, hope and faith will spread through the villages of Tamil Nadu!
Through your generosity, we believe families will find healing and purpose!
Help us bring hope to even more people in the coming year: Join our End of Year Campaign!
Your prayers and support of this mission are changing lives—thank you!
We pray you’re enjoying the holidays and spending quality time with loved ones.
Happy New Year!