Our Story

It began in 1997 with prayer, a vision, and a specific mission statement.  The Lord gave JoDee Herschend, founder of the Caring People, a vision of a walled city.  There were no gates in or out of the city, and the people inside were listless, milling about with no vision, purpose, or strength.  Then God showed JoDee two holes being punched into the walls, and the people climbing out over the rubble. 

When coming out of the city, the people were like children at recess.  They were purposeful and full of joy.  JoDee knew these were believers coming out of the church and going into the world with the Gospel.  The Lord woke JoDee up one night and told her to start a company with the specific mission statement “to create an awareness of and a desire to meet Jesus”, and in 1997 the Caring People was born.

Through JoDee’s experience with their family business, Herschend Family Entertainment, she knew that she needed to target a specific audience to “create an awareness and a desire to meet Jesus.”  She wanted to target a large people group who had much influence … and God led her to Single Moms.

The Caring People started focusing on Single Moms in San Jose, Fresno, and St. Louis through radio ads.  These ads encouraged Single Moms to call an 800 number and trained women to respond.  Approximately 94% of the Single Moms who called were ready and willing to meet face-to-face with a mentor. 

The Caring People researched the motivators and barriers for Single Moms coming to Christ.  The Caring People discovered that Single Moms desire unconditional love, acceptance, and friendship.  In 2002, the organization sharpened its focus to train Christian women to lead Christ-centered support groups to reach Single Moms. 

Today, the Caring People is concentrating its efforts in Branson and Springfield, and is working to develop a ministry model that will go into cities nation-wide.  One in three homes is headed by a Single Mom in America, and 95% of these Single Moms are not involved in a church family.