University of Mary Hardin-Baylor sophomore Hannah Balkenbush knows exactly where her hope lies — in Jesus Christ. That conviction is the driving force behind Beautiful Hope Ministries, a nonprofit she founded in 2021 to raise awareness about human trafficking and to offer Christ-centered restoration to survivors.
The seeds of Balkenbush’s mission were planted during her freshman year of high school when she partnered with Unbound Now, an anti-trafficking ministry. Her first event — a benefit concert at her church — raised $12,000.
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That early success led to even greater impact. In 2023, she organized a gala that raised $75,000 to support the rescue of more than 100 children.
“I decided long-term that I didn’t just want to fundraise — I wanted to do the work myself,” Balkenbush said.
In 2022, she officially launched Beautiful Hope Ministries, which since has become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Support and restore survivors in Jesus’ name
At the heart of Beautiful Hope Ministries is a simple but profound belief — without Jesus, there is no hope.
“Our mission is to support and restore survivors of trafficking and poverty in Jesus’ name,” Balkenbush said. “Outside of Christ, there is no lasting hope.”
Balkenbush’s passion for ministry has taken her across the globe — from the impoverished neighborhoods of Honduras to the streets of Paris and Warsaw.
In Honduras, she met villagers who had gone without water for eight days. When she asked how they were surviving, her translator replied, “They live off the breath of God.”
To date, Hannah has raised more than $120,000 for anti-trafficking efforts, helping rescue hundreds of children.
In addition, Hannah was invited to Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympics, where she met with an ambassador from the International Olympic Committee, France’s Minister of the Interior and undercover agents from the U.S. Embassy.
Together, they worked to establish the French National Human Trafficking Hotline in preparation for the expected surge in trafficking during the games.
“If a girl doesn’t find her worth in Christ, she’ll look for it elsewhere,” Balkenbush said. “When she goes searching for things other than Christ, she is going to find darkness.”
Developed a Care Closet to provide essentials
As a freshman at UMHB, Balkenbush started developing a Care Closet with Beautiful Hope Ministries to provide essentials for children and young people in need. She’s also researching nonprofits in Belton and Temple to find ways Beautiful Hope can help fill unmet needs locally.
Long term, her goal is to build orphanages and safe houses around the world, “specifically in the 10/40 Window, because that is where the majority of the unreached people groups in the world are,” she said.
The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude.
Even though she knows there are numerous steps to get to that point, Balkenbush has faith and is patiently waiting on the Lord, knowing that is what he calls his children to do.
“God can do the impossible even through suffering and brokenness,” she said.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Keely Mills and originally published by Baptist Standard.
