In the Beginning...

Threshold Ministries, Inc. (TMI) has been an officially recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization since 1997. The story, however, begins two years earlier.

In 1995, Dean Reynolds was sent to China by his employer, Celite World Minerals, to build a diatomaceous earth processing plant right outside of Linjiang City--a small town on the banks of the Yalu River, bordering North Korea. In the summer of 1996, his wife, Cindy, followed Dean to Linjiang. While Dean managed this growing joint-venture mining operation, Cindy set out to make a home for them in this remote, northeastern corner of China. It wasn't long until winter set in, and Cindy was filled with questions regarding the plight of the poor people who surrounded her everywhere. Her questions were seldom answered. "Why are those people digging through the trash heaps?" Cindy would ask. "Don't look over there," her interpreter answered. "It will just make you sad."

Cindy soon discovered that the people were searching for burnable coal. They were forced to make a choice on whether to spend money on food or fuel during the cold season. Of course, both of these basic supplies are needed for survival in the depths of winter. In this area of China, temperatures often dip below zero throughout the winter months. Also, so many people living here were suffering greatly. The neighboring villages had unemployment rates as high as 80%. The once-booming lumber industry in the area was dying. The absence of hope was underscored by the size of the annual budget for the local Red Cross, which was a grand total of $250. Many school-aged children were not attending school because their unemployed and / or sick parents couldn't afford their tuition fees. The income of many of these children's families was less than one dollar per day. School fees, though affordable for many, were simply out of reach for the poor families of Linjiang.

Cindy felt called to help feed the hungry families and to find a way to enable school-aged children from desperately poor families to remain in school. First, Cindy started an ambitious project to deliver 50kg (110lb) bags of rice to nearby families. She gained permission from the local government to do this work. After sharing the story of Linjiang with friends in the States, she gained financial support from Americans in her native Santa Maria area (central coast of California). All in all, Cindy and friends distributed nine tons of rice that winter. Soon after, a sponsorship program for children was put into place. A sponsored child is provided with school tuition and supplies, appropriate clothing for the changing seasons ,personal care items and supplemental food for their family.

Threshold Ministries, Inc. is Founded

In November 1999, Threshold Ministries, Inc. was recognized as a 501(c)3. Since its founding, what began as a meager enterprise based out of Cindy and Dean's home that supported a few hungry families has blossomed into an organization that....

Has fed, clothed and educated over 475 needy children.
Currently has 43 sponsored children attending university
Has had 84 sponsored students graduate university and 9 students who have graduated from technical school!
Built a 22,000 square foot orphanage which can accommodate 60 children. Hope House for Children
Delivers food to hungry families living within a 250 mile radius of Linjiang City.
Delivers chickens in spring and cows (when needed) to poor famiiles in the area.
Partnered with the Free Wheelchair Mission and delivered 500 wheelchairs to Linjiang and other nearby cities.
Built a lasting relationship with the government and people of Jilin Province.
Has significantly changed the future for the better for many people in the Linjiang area.

Threshold's focus in China is centered in on Linjiang City, China
and the villages surrounding it in a radius of about 250 miles.