Our Vision

Unlocking the potential of every forsaken child in Mexico through the love and teachings of Jesus alongside a transformative education and work ethic, ensuring them a brighter future.

Our Mission

To offer a lasting refuge for children who have endured abandonment, abuse, and orphanhood. To extend a temporary haven for those caught in court custody battles and guardianship disputes stemming from neglect, abuse, and abandonment. Ultimately, our mission is to mend these children's shattered lives through the boundless love of Jesus Christ.

Our History

1972

Dr. John Cook, Ph.D. and Maria Lucia Cook, began their visits to an orphanage in rural central Mexico, located in the state of Michoacan. In addition to providing medical care to the ailing, they imparted valuable agricultural knowledge to the locals. Over the course of four years, the Cooks dedicated their summers to nurturing and tending to over 60 orphans in Michoacan.

1976

Upon learning of the passing of Gerard Stokes, the dedicated caretaker of the children in Michoacan whom Dr. Cook had visited, Dr. Cook received the distressing news that the ministry would cease operations permanently. In response, he made the selfless choice to relinquish his tenured position as a professor at New Mexico University and assume responsibility for the orphanage in economically disadvantaged rural Mexico.

~50 years later

More than 600 orphaned children have triumphed in establishing their own families and excelling in professional or technical careers. Each one was plucked from the brink of destruction, and many were saved from near-certain demise. Consequently, 16 churches have taken root, spreading the message of Jesus Christ to hundreds of thousands. Additionally, over 100,000 surgeries have been conducted free of charge for Mexico's most vulnerable populations, and John Cook himself has attended to over one million patients at his clinic.

Today

The GNL Orphanage & Clinic in Michoacan, Mexico, persists in its mission to serve the community. It is now under the capable stewardship of Dr. Cook's son and daughter-in-law, Josue and Karla Cook. They are steadfastly upholding Dr. Cook's legacy and fulfilling the will of our Heavenly Father.

Core Values

Love
We hold the conviction that love serves as the primary and paramount catalyst for the recovery and metamorphosis of children who have endured abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Devoid of love, the reclamation of the joy pilfered from countless young souls remains an insurmountable task. Absent love, gaining the confidence of children who struggle to trust even themselves, let alone others, becomes an arduous endeavor. In the absence of love, rekindling the will to live that many children have relinquished due to their adverse circumstances is an unattainable goal. Without love, purpose falters, and without purpose, freedom remains elusive.

Patience
It is often said that patience is the virtue of maintaining composure in the midst of adversity and moments of great need. When it comes to the care of children, patience is foundational. Transformation is not an instantaneous process. Therefore, patience becomes indispensable when tending to abandoned, abused, and orphaned children. We firmly believe in sowing seeds in the lives of these children, but just like a seed, growth and fruition take time. It is through patience that we witness these young lives undergoing remarkable transformation.

Perseverance
We hold the conviction that perseverance paves the way to attaining our goals. As children of the Divine, we encounter various adversities in our journey through life. Yet, with steadfast determination, we find that our aspirations become attainable. Sadly, many parents have relinquished their belief in their children, contributing to the self-doubt that often plagues them. Demonstrating perseverance in our service to God signifies not only our faith in His transformative power within a child's life, but also our unwavering belief in the potential of our children. God did not beckon us to surrender; rather, He called us to persist in our faith in Him.

Opportunities to Give

Monetary Donations

Help cover the cost in raising children at our orphanage and operating our clinic.

One-time Reoccurring

Select Frequency Recurring weekly on Monday Recurring every other week Recurring monthly on the 1st Recurring monthly on the 5th Recurring monthly on the 10th Recurring monthly on the 20th Recurring quarterly Recurring yearly

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Item Donations

View our supplies registry on Amazon.com to meet more specific needs.

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