Kids Alive International was founded in Shantung Province, China in 1916, as the Home of Onesiphorus. Rev. Leslie & Mrs. Ava Anglin arrived in China in 1910 as evangelical missionaries from the United States. Their hearts were deeply moved by the many homeless children they saw in and around the city of Tai An, so they stepped out in faith and opened the first Home of Onesiphorus.  To read about this incredible story and the children they help, click here.

Following the change in China’s government in 1949, Kids Alive responded to the need in Hong Kong by starting a food and clothing distribution ministry for refugees. 

Since that time, Kids Alive has expanded to include ministry in the following areas of the world:

• Lebanon (1948)
• Hong Kong (1949)
• Taiwan (1971)
• Dominican Republic (1989)
• Guatemala (1992)
• Peru (1992)
• Papua New Guinea (1992)
• Myanmar (1998)
• Romania (1999)
• Honduras (2000-2003)
• Kenya (2000)
• Zambia (2001)
• Haiti (2002)
• Sudan (2006)
• China (2006)

In 1983, the Home Office of Kids Alive International was relocated from Chicago to its present location in Valparaiso, Indiana.

In 2002, President Al Lackey visited the original Home of Onesiphorus. Click on “Going Home” for the exciting story!

Today our missionaries serve around the world.  They are modern day heroes.

HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY HEROES? by Gordon K. Sheffer, Director of Operations Services Have you ever spent time with your heroes? I have. Sure, there are those amazing Biblical heroes who are listed in Hebrews 11 for their exploits of faith—Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and others. But I am referring to a different list. This past November, I spent some long hours with fourteen men and women who probably don’t view themselves as heroes.   read more...