Archive for the ‘ministry’ Category

21 Feb

WHY Indigenous Missionaries

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in Africa, church planting, disciple-making, indigenous pastors, Leadership Training, ministry, mission trip, missions, missions trip, pastoral training, planting churches, poverty, Zambia. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


Partnering with indigenous ministries in Africa just makes sense.

When you support a Zambian missionary you have saved time, money and SOULS!

TIME is saved because these missionaries already know the language and the culture of their native country. They have a built in understanding of their people both culturally and linguistically. The average western missionary must spend years preparing to go (language studies and building support) and once on the field it takes MANY years to truly learn the culture and communicate relevantly. Over 60% of western missionaries do not return to the field after their first “furlough” meaning everything has to start over.

MONEY: It costs over $500,000 dollars to train, equip, move and keep a western missionary/family on the field for 4 (FOUR) years! It does not include the cost of “doing” ministry on the field. Native missionaries already live in the economy of their culture. There is no moving, language studies or abnormal costs of living. Unlike the western missionary they live at the same standard of living as their fellows. For a fraction of the cost ($21,000 over 6 years) 40 native pastors can be trained and equipped in the Word of God and they stay on the field all their lives.

Missions trips also known as “short-term” missions are very expensive. Many well intentioned believers spend multiple thousands of dollars to go on a mission’s trip for a few weeks. This same amount of money could support scores and even hundreds of native missionaries already on the field and working but without many needed resources.

SOULS: A HUB of 40 missionary pastors will will thousands of people to Christ, starting many new bible preaching, Gospel believing churches in their cultures. It is amazing to see and experience the growth of the church in Africa. God is bringing in a GREAT Harvest of Souls through the ministry of the African Indigenous Church. Because of the cultural and language barriers a foreign missionary may win a few hundred people to Christ and plant a church or maybe two but most do not last when the missionary departs.

A CHURCH or individual can sponsor a HUB of native missionary pastors for $300 a month. In 6 years this HUB can grow into 40 trained pastors and 40 Gospel Churches with THOUSANDS of new souls serving Christ and becoming Disciples. NOW that is  FRUIT which can be shared in the DAY of Visitation! Many will gather around the Throne of God with thousands of their brethren they had a part in coming to Christ.

The Mission Paradigm has changed. Many places do not need foreign missionaries, but they do need their fellow Christians to partner with them. The Apostle Paul collected gifts from the Gentile church to take to the poor church in Palestine. A few went to distribute the funds and give accountability to the project but there were no missionaries sent to Israel. There were plenty of Christians there, even apostles. They needed material help. This is the case in most countries around the world. The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is well established, but it is poor. It is not leaderless. The leaders there need help to train more leaders. They need Bibles and training materials. They can use bicycles and motorcycles to help them to cover more territory in places that do not have adequate roads.

Hope Builders Ministries provides the link between the American Church and the Church in Africa. With your partnership literally thousands of believers can be trained and equipped to take the Gospel to their own people in a very short amount of time and a strategic investment.

Join us today. There will be much to “boast” about in the Kingdom that is coming.

30 Dec

ITS NOT TOO LATE To Make a Difference In 2011

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in Africa, Bibles, Bibles for Believers, church planting, disciple-making, indigenous pastors, Leadership Training, ministry, mission trip, missions, missions trip, Pastor Conference, pastoral training, planting churches, Zambia. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , .


This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Looking back 2011 has been a marvelous year in Zambia to the Glory of God!

In April and May my friend Bill and I traversed Zambia delivering Training Manuals and reinforcing the HUB model of Church Planting, Pastoral Training and Discipleship. 700 NEW pastors began training with their mentor/pastors who disciple them. We began our journey in South Africa hitching a ride through Zimbabwe with Herbie who is Hope Builders Ministries’ partner in Malawi. In Livingstone we met another ministry, ERM, that “loaned” us their vehicle for the next 6 weeks so that we could make the journey throughout the vast and rugged country.

As we traveled and visited with the different ministries throughout Zambia it was encouraging to see the deep conviction and dedication of the men and women we are privileged to work alongside of. They are doing so much with so little, except FAITH. They truly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, not only for saving grace but for living grace. They live by faith day to day in a place where the next meal is a matter of trusting God and hard work. We have a hard time comprehending that kind of faith and living.

Our ministry (HIMAfrica) with Hope Builders Ministries is TO SUPPORT the indigenous missionary pastors in Zambia. I emphasize TO SUPPORT because unlike traditional missionaries I do not LIVE in Zambia, setting up home and headquarters and DOING the work of ministry myself. The World of Missions is rapidly changing as church and mission organizations realize that the vast resources expended on training, equipping and keeping ONE Western missionary on the field (6 years – $500,000)  is much better spent directly on the missionaries that already live on the “field” of service. The local Christians already know the language, culture and HOW to live on the local economy. (Most Western Missionaries continue to live like westerners in developing countries causing all kinds of hindrances to the Gospel.)

HIMAfrica and Hope Builders Ministries exist to support the native missionaries that are already there. We are Helping Indigenous Ministries in Africa. Hope Builders Ministries philosophy is to equip and encourage the church in Africa to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord to Make Disciples to the end of time.

Using the local Christian leaders, who have formal Biblical training, we come along side these godly men and help them “Make Disciples” by providing the resources they need… Bibles, Training Manuals, Bicycles, Training Centers, Farming implements, basic widow/orphan support and other basic “tools” …to do the work of the ministry. These men focus on making disciples who in turn make disciples who make disciples. IT is the multiplication method taught to us in the Scriptures.

Zambia has seen over 1500 church planted and pastors trained in the past 10 years. Hope Builders Ministries has been directly involved in upwards of 5000 churches planted and pastors trained in the same period. These are phenomenal results that are unheard of in traditional missions.  As the momentum builds it is possible in this next year that over 2000 new churches will be planted and new pastors begin training in Zambia alone! This is because THEY, the Disciples of Christ on the ground, are doing the work just as they were designed to do. Ephesians 4:12 clearly tells us that the PEOPLE do the WORK of the MINISTRY. We believe this. The indigenous pastors believe this. AND God does it, by His Grace and the empowering of the Holy Spirit as we obey the Word of God.

This is where you come in and can MAKE A DIFFERENCE before this year is over. Here is what you can do:

  • PRAY for us (HIMAfrica) and Hope Builders Ministries regularly.
  • GIVE a year-end gift to help us close the year in the “black.” Zambia needs to pay off the $4500 vehicle we purchased using funds from a fellow ministry. They need their money and we need your help to pay it back.
  • MAKE a decision to partner with Lou Ann and me this next year by giving to our monthly support so that we can continue to Help our brothers and sisters in Zambia. We need your partnership.
  • RECOMMEND our ministry to your church and contacts. This ministry is growing and the needed support base must grow with it.

Lou Ann and I send you our warmest blessings in Jesus Name. Thank you for loving us and partnering with us in the great work God is doing in Africa making disciples.

Jeff and Lou Ann Hawkins (working in Zambia, southern Congo (DRC) and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe)

Hope Builders Ministries, PO Box 317, Greenwood, VA 22943 (all gifts are tax-deductible and will be receipted)
 

National Ministry Vehicle

30 Dec

Sunday in Kasama, Zambia

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in Africa, indigenous pastors, Leadership Training, ministry, pastoral training, poverty, Prayer, prosperity, Repent, Wealth, Zambia. Tagged: , , , , , .


Sunday in Kasama, Zambia.

30 May

Building At Coldstream Christian Camp

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in ministry, missions.


This week I have been working on the basement apartment. The work has been cleaning out the things stored there and sealing the walls for moisture. Today I will be getting gutters to put on the house which will fix 99% of the moisture problems. There is much to do. We have to raise the duct work so as to gain as much height as possible. We do not want to live in a cave! This is the next big step. After that we will start framing up the walls/rooms.

Yesterday Joe Goodman finished up installing the sewage pump…ugh… but another essential that is out of the way. The apartment is big and roomy but limited as to what we can do because of the issue of “access/egress” safety.

It has been a nice adjustment since our arrival here in Central Tennessee. The Goodman’s have been superb. Our new partners at Coldstream are Jon and Kelly Burkeen moved in the same weekend we did. They are settling in. Jon has been busy mowing the large campus.

JOHAN left for Africa yesterday. Please keep him in prayer. It will be a busy month for him as he coordinates and organizes ministry with our partners in Mozambique and Malawi.

June will be busy for us as we continue to build the apartment and shuffle our accomdations for those who have booked the cottage in June and July. Lou Ann and I have to vacate the premeses the weekend of June 7/8… Our anniversary is the 9th so we may just go somewhere… we will see.

Also in June I will be speaking at Davidson Baptist Church near Hazard, KY and the following week performing the wedding for our dear “son in the faith” Joshua Holland and his bride Taran Cody.

REMEMBER that I will be traveling and working in Zambia August 5 – September 18. This is a coordination trip that will be focused on strengthening our leadership and making sure the training is in place for our HUBS. There will be a lot of traveling involved from as far west as Solwezi and northeast to Kasama.

We will be conducting two HUB pastor training seminars in the Northeast District.

Pray with us for the funds needed for this important trip. THANKS!

Have a great day as we prepare for THE DAY.

Jeff

17 May

MOVING

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in ministry, moving, planting churches, relocating.


HEY Friends,
Lou Ann and I are in the midst of a major move. We said our final goodbyes this afternoon in East Kentucky and we are now mid-trip in Bowling Green, KY.

We have been in the middle of moving for several months now. Last November we move over half of our belongings into storage here in Bowling Green. In February we moved our furniture and other goodies to Coldstream Christian Camp and a small barn near the Potter’s House. Yesterday and today we have moved out of our temporary home at Calvary Campus. Lou Ann’s car, my van and Jeremy and Grace Ann’s truck and 16foot trailer are now full of the rest of our belongings. We are Gypsies again. BUT hey, are we not to be “sojourners” in this world?

Lou Ann and I are very excited in the journey the Lord has us on. We are truly looking for “the city made without hands.” Everything here is temporary but OH so important as we walk the path and do the work God calls us to do. That walk and work is to represent the ONE who loved us and gave himself for us, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow we finish our travel to Coldstream Christian Camp. It is amazing to think that we have tried to move to that ministry on three different specific occasions over the last 20 years. NOW the Lord has said , “It is time.” We are excited about the days of ministry ahead with our friends at Coldstream.

While we continue working with Hope Builders International as the Zambia Coordinator for Harvesters International Ministry Zambia, we will live at the Potter’s House on the campus of Coldstream and oversee the ministry to pastors and missionaries. Specifically we will be booking the Potter’s House and caring for it. This provides us with a “base” of operation to also represent HIM Zambia and coordinate that ministry in the States.

Lou Ann and I are continually looking for individuals and ministries that will partner with us in this ministry. Bibles for Believers and support for our District and Hub leaders in Zambia continue to be the focus for these partnerships. I will also be working to continue to train our leaders there through the three year “on site” Bible School, pastor’s training modules and leadership conferences.

What can you do?

  1. Pray for us and this ministry.
  2. Participate by personally giving to this ministry. The 365/20 Partnership is a challenge to for 365 individuals to give $20 per month and provide the “foundation” of support for this ministry.
  3. Participate by sponsoring a District $300 per month supports a district leader who oversees 10 Hub leaders and their ministries. This is potentially 400 churches and their leaders in training and discipleship. The District leader receives a small 125cc motorcycle to help facilitate this vital ministry of mentoring.
  4. Sponsor a HUB. $300 per month provides training materials and bicycles for 40 pastors and a small monitary gift to the HUB pastor.
  5. Bibles for Believers! Literally thousands of our brothers and sisters do not have a Bible. We want to provide at least ONE Bible per family that is in discipleship in the churches we plant. $10 will buy and deliver a Bible in the venacular of the believer. There are many different “heart” languages spoken in Zambia. The Bible has been translated into the major ones. S
  6. BE an advocate for this ministry in your church and circle of friends.
  • ASK your church to have a Bibles for Believers Day. I will send you everything you need to conduct a successful event where your church can be a HUGE blessing to our brothers in Zambia. I will personally report back to your church what the Lord has done in providing these Bibles
  • ASK your friends to come to your home or a brunch where I present the awesome ministry of HBI and HIM in Africa, winning thousands to Christ, planting over 3000 churches in the past 10 years, mentoring pastors and discipling believers.

WE ARE MOVING as the Lord opens doors. Come along with us.

Thank you so much for all you do!

Jeff and Lou Ann

%d bloggers like this: