History of JOY International

The story of JOY International began with Dr. Jeff Brodsky. As a boy, Jeff grew up in a Jewish home in Brooklyn, New York. In his teen years he lost his brother to cancer that caused him to turn away from his Jewish faith into an atheist. He became so disillusioned with life that he turned to drugs and rebellion all through his teens and into his marriage.

In 1976, through a series of miraculous circumstances, Jeff came to an understanding that God was real and truly loved Him. He then came to see that Jesus (Yeshua) was the promised Messiah and Jeff’s life changed dramatically as he dedicated the rest of his life to serving God.

Three years later Jeff found himself traveling around the world as a good will ambassador for the disaster/relief organization, Food for the Hungry dressed as his beloved character Snuggles, The Love Clown. It was during this time that he had the privilege of being invited by Mother Theresa to share his special and unique gift of joy at The Home for Children and Home for the Destitute and Dying in Calcutta, India. Jeff saw first-hand her care for the poor, which had a major impact on his life.

During his visits to hospitals, orphanages and children’s homes around the globe, he became overwhelmed with the needs of children. In 1981, he launched the ministry of JOY International with the idea of establishing children’s homes in places around the world where he found children that were hurting.

During those early years, JOY International was able to help establish ministries and homes for children, as well as working with established ministries in India, China, Russia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Venezuela, and Fiji. New projects are currently being developed for Cambodia, Thailand and a new work for trafficked and sexually exploited children in India.

In more recent years, Jeff’s eyes were opened to a burgeoning evil against children. An evil that is an abusive exploitation of the world’s most innocent and vulnerable. This atrocity has radically refocused his heart and the vision of JOY International. It is an atrocity that has quickly become a 32 Billion dollar industry. Child Sex Slaves. Those words don’t even belong together, and yet, it is happening around the world.

Jeff says: “In all my years of travel throughout the world and seeing the desperate needs of children; the trafficking and sexual exploitation of a child is without question THE worst atrocity being perpetrated against children in our society today. There are thousands of children’s organizations doing great work in meeting the needs of children in all areas, but I found just a handful devoted to helping children who are forced into the child sex trade.”

Today, JOY International is a global ministry working to prevent the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, while providing those who are rescued a renewed hope and joy for living through “Safe Havens” that offer physical emotional, psychological and spiritual restoration. We will both build and support approved homes specifically for these children who are rescued.

These children have distinctive and unique needs. Many of them have HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Some are addicted to drugs; they lack trust and have severe emotional problems.

Yet, while the problems may seem overwhelming, there is hope through Christ with many stories of redemption. There is a wonderful opportunity for a new start, a new life. Together, we can offer these children the gift of true love.

With your help we can bring children in desperate need out of a life of hopelessness and into a life of JOY!