HERO Makers is a ministry dedicated to serving children at risk, the people who care for them daily, and the short-term missionaries who come alongside to help. It is a 501(c)3 tax exempt charitable organization.
HERO Makers’ International Reach
HERO Makers is an independent non-denominational organization, and is connected with a number of participating churches and many individuals from around the U.S. and Canada. Groups have come to serve with HERO Makers from as far away as Alberta, Canada, from California and Nevada, from New York State and Massachusetts, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, and Texas.
HERO Makers teams have served orphans and children at risk in both Araras and Sao Paulo, Brazil and along the Northern Mexico border: from Acuna, Piedras Negras, reaching into Nuevo Laredo through a mission base in Laredo, TX, extensively in Reynosa, around Matamoros and even a Regional Bible Institute and Christian Academy in Edinburg, TX, whose students hail from Mexico.
Since 2011, our efforts have been focused almost exclusively on two specific ministries about 18 kilometers west of Matamoros, Hogar de Ninos Angeles de Dios (Angels of God Children’s Home) and Esperanza Viva Casa Hogar (Living Hope Children’s Home).
The Next 5 Years
As of 2020, there is probably another 2 years work to meet the needs of Angeles de Dios. At AoG, a large multi-purpose building is being built as a companion to the Guest Workers Dorm. It will include a large kitchen, dining, and meeting space. It will also include a small apartment. Once completed, it will immediately free up space in the dorm, increasing the housing capacity with beds for 52 short-term missionaries.
The Guest Workers Dorm and the completed Multi-Purpose Building will meet HERO Makers’ need for a regional base to expand ministry outreach to less-supported children’s homes in the area.
The new Multi-Purpose Building will also support the needs of AoG children’s home for large get-togethers, special celebrations and perhaps Christian social events within the community.
In 2020 Esperanza Viva closed their Matamoros campus and moved many of their children to their main location in Puebla.
Rocky Rhoades: Our Founder’s Story
Sheri & Rocky Rhoades
Rocky Rhoades took his first mission trip to the Texas/Mexico border in 1988, joining a California team helping Bible Colleges, Missionaries, and local Pastors from Del Rio and Acuna to Brownsville and Matamoros. Rock fell in love with missions and the people of Mexico. In 1993, Rocky and his wife Sheri moved to Texas but Rock maintained his place on the ministry team out of California, all the while replicating discipleship principles that were instilled in him by his mentor in California.
That annual mission event grew to a traveling team of 80+ men from California, Kansas, and Texas attending the mission the same week. By the time he left that original ministry, Rock had recruited and led a huge group of men in both Kansas and Texas, joining the Californians for the weeks in Mexico.
In 2005, the Lord turned Rock’s heart toward the people who gave their lives to care for children at risk. How could he support these dedicated, selfless people? He founded HERO Makers to serve that purpose.
Eventually Rocky’s day job as a real estate loan broker was overcome by his all-consuming passion to improve the condition in which orphans and their caregivers were living along the border in Mexico. In 2008 Rocky and his wife Sheri sold their home in Plano, TX, bought a fifth wheel trailer and a semi-hauler, packed the cat and moved to where the action is. With a home on wheels, they continue to move wherever they need to be for the ministry.
During winter, the Rhoades park their rolling home on the Texas side of the border as Rock assesses project needs, stages materials and leads construction missions trips to Children’s Homes in the Mexican countryside near Matamoros. The rest of the year the Rhoades travel, building relationships, raising teams and funds to meet the operational needs of HERO Makers and the long-term project needs of the children’s homes HERO Makers serves.
Just click on the photos to expand:
The Rhoades base near Kansas City in April & September. The Smart car rides on the deck of the Volvo when they're on the road. "Ramps."
The Rhoades live near the border in Mission, TX, November - March, at Melody Lane Christian Renewal Center, a perfect staging area for mission teams.
Rhoades' Rolling Home on the Road - click photo for short video
Experienced Men’s Ministry Leader
Rock has led men’s ministry continuously since 1994, as a lay leader in churches, in small groups, and on the mission field. His heart for his brothers is as deep and wide as it is for the children he serves. In winter, HERO Makers Missions are designed for men only. Focus is as much on ministering to the participating men and their needs as on the children and caregivers they’ve come to serve. The guys return to their families and churches stronger men, stronger leaders, stronger brothers, and stronger believers.
In the summer, the men return to the mission field with their families, but summer HERO Maker trips are not just for families; adults can attend, too.
Sheri Rhoades, Global Dove Ministries
Rocky and Sheri have been married since 1988. They have no children, but together raised a fine calico cat who they spoiled from the moment she joined the family in 2003. An excellent traveler, for 15 years Kitty was up for whatever her people were doing. She was 16 at the end of her journey and is buried in Wylie, Tx. In 2019, again during a short stop in Wylie, TX, a beautiful stray cat came aboard the rolling home and Hunter has been a Rhoades ever since.
In 2000, Sheri founded Global Dove Ministries, an international prayer network of ministers and ministries. Sheri’s led Global Dove teams in prayer initiatives, on international journeys, and occasional projects with strategic ministry partners aligned for common purpose. How to maximize ministry effectiveness and minimize risk to those so engaged are key components of Global Dove’s message and ministry. With a professional background in advertising, sales, training, consulting and volunteerism, Sheri has a deep well from which to draw when supporting HERO Makers and mobilizing volunteers within her broad sphere of influence.
While Global Dove Ministries remains a separate non-profit organization, together both ministries complement each other well. Global Dove intercessors pray over HERO Makers’ leadership and ministry needs, including HERO Maker teams while they’re assembling and in the field. Sheri mans the home base wherever they’re parked while Rock leads mens trips in Mexico. She joins Rock on Summer Family Mission trips and unscheduled forays across the border to visit ministry friends and partners in Mexico.
Pastoral and Church Leadership References Available
Please be sure to see the testimonies from Pastors and church leaders who know us best. Pastoral references can be provided regarding the Rhoades personally and HERO Makers as a ministry.
Greg Montague, Senior Pastor, Southwoods Christian Church, Partnering with HERO Makers
Pastor Greg Montague and Rocky Rhoades at Esperanza Viva
“Nothing will open the eyes of a man to the challenging needs of our world like a personal experience outside of the United States.
HERO Makers specializes in providing just that – and more. The leadership team will help your men to make a difference! Your guys will:
Feed the hungry.
Assist orphans and widows in need.
Build meaningful relationships with other men.
Help under-resourced pastors and churches.
Grow in their love for God.
Reassess what’s really important in life.
All this and more can happen without you having to plan all the logistics or coordinate a trip. But you will have to encourage your men to go. I did, and I’ve never regretted it. In fact, I even joined them!
I hope you will as well.
Tom Worstell, former Senior Pastor, Southview Christian Church, Partnering with HERO Makers
Pastor Tom Worstell and son Jonathan (front left) led the bunk bed carpentry team in Summer 2015.
“The first two years we brought a few men to “come and see.” Then my son Jonathan came with me for our traditional “father/son” mission when he turned twelve. This will be my third year and I’ll be bringing over 15 men – some new men and some returning HERO Makers. It’s wonderful to participate as one of the guys, and yet fill a leadership role I’ve chosen that works for me on the trip. HERO Makers provides a great mission experience which we just don’t have the bandwidth to plan and execute to this extent.
Whether you come with your men in the winter or bring your family in the summer, I highly recommend HERO Makers. It’s an awesome experience.
Update: By summer 2018, HERO Maker Pastor Tom Worstell will have attended 5 men’s trips with his guys; and 4 summer trips with his son, sons, and sons and nephew! That’s what we mean by Hero MAKER!
Enjoy these video testimonials
HERO Makers who arrived early for the Men’s Mission Team Week 1 in January 2018 shared their HERO Maker experience. Click on each picture for the video to begin.
Be the Storm's Pastor Don Foor speaks about his 30-year relationship with Rocky Rhoades. Don is from Southern California.
Don Foor, Founder of Be the Storm, gives his report after 2 HERO Maker trips.
Kent Lester shares how easy it was to connect for his first HERO Makers mission
Kent Lester shares his experience after his first HERO Makers mission
HERO Maker from the beginning, Jeff Alton speaks about his relationship with Rocky and Sheri Rhoades and the impact HERO Makers has had on his life. Jeff is an Elder at Southwoods Christian Church, Overland Park, KS.
Click image to hear Wade Wright talk about his role on the HERO Makers team. Wade is an Elder at Southwoods Christian Church in Overland Park, KS.
Jeff Park is veteran of many HERO Makers Missions - both men's and family trips. He shares how he pursues being a Hero MAKER and how his life has been impacted. Jeff takes on a variety of roles on HERO Maker teams. He's from Louisburg, KS.
Ben Florence, from Overland Park, KS, is a real HERO Maker by bringing members of his family down to also experience being a Hero in the lives of children at risk.
Sheri Rhoades, Global Dove Ministries
