Russell and Sonya Schweighardt have been married 29 years and have been adoption and orphan advocates for over 20 years. Their hearts desire has been to reach the unreachable and to share the love of Jesus with the least of these.
Sonya has been given a passion to work with children and women in all walks of life. Russell’s heart is to pour into boys and men to help them to understand what it means to be a godly man. God has blessed Russell and Sonya with 15 amazing children (3 birthed from the womb, 12 birthed from the heart).
Their hearts are passionate about missions and sharing the gospel message through being the hands and feet of Jesus. With over half of their children from Africa, the Lord has drawn her and Russell to international missions in Africa. “Go!” has been the motto in their home. Go and be the hands and feet and do for God with what has been placed in your hand.
With Sonya’s background as an occupational therapist, orphan care advocate, Mission Minded Women’s leader, and teacher of the gospel message, God has given her passions that run deep and a heart to serve in a special way. Russell’s background as a respiratory therapist, orphan care advocate, teacher of the gospel message, and heart for serving has prepared him for this new God adventure.
God began birthing the ministry in Sonya’s heart back in 2004. In 2014, God opened the door into Uganda and then after a year of praying with Russell, God directed them onto the path to meeting Gerald Tugume and his wife Barbara with Hope Ministries Uganda. 2015 was a life changing moment as they began to see the journey that the Lord had prepared them for over the years. Uganda has become home in their hearts.
