Archive for the ‘pastoral training’ Category

2 Apr

Adventures in Zambia

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in Africa, Leadership Training, pastoral training, Zambia. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


The following is the report from the HBMZ administrator Matthew Daka concerning their 800 mile round trip to Mansa to deliver training material and encourage the  Hub pastors.
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We started our journey to Mansa at 7 o’clock am on Good Friday the 29th March 2013. I was accompanied by Brother Sinoya Sakala and my brother Stephen who was our driver. We put a full tank of fuel at the filling station and topped up the brake fluid. The cost of the fuel was K 465 ($93). Passing through Kapri Mposhi we followed great north road toward Serenje.  Mansa trip adventure 004We rested there and had our lunch. We also checked the vehicle and all seemed okay. About half way along Tuta road (Serenje to Mansa) we had our first tire burst in front on the right side of the vehicle. Sakala and I were frightened by the noise of the tire burst as the vehicle was now dragging on the right side of the road. Thank God because my brother did not step on the brakes but concentrated on controlling the steeling. Finally the car stopped on the right side 0f the road and we came off safely praising the Lord for saving us. The front fender was slightly damaged and the right side mirror had been broken by the peeled off rubber from the wheel.

Mansa trip adventure 005We took the spare wheel and fitted it to the car. We also did some inspection on the remaining tires but the temperature was normal. After completing the replacement of the spare wheel, we started off and drove for less than 10 minutes and we heard another bang on the front tire. This time it was easy for my brother to control the car as we were driving at about 60kpm (35mph). I decided that Brother Sinoya and Stephen remain at the scene to watch for the vehicle while I travel to Samfya to look for Mansa trip adventure 001spare tires.

I was given a lift by a Good Samaritan on his way to Mansa. While I was in this vehicle on the way to Samfya turn off, we had a tire burst at the rear too! Thank God that they too had a spare wheel which they quickly fitted and we started off on our journey. When we arrived Samfya turn off, I caught another car which took me to Samfya. Since it was a holiday, many shops were closed but I managed to find one which was open and they had the 16 inch tires though they were not the right size as the ones on the vehicle. I bought two new tires $280 and fitted one on the wheel which I had come with.

I took a cab back to the turn off (Samfya/Mansa). Once there I found a mini bus going to Lusaka and I boarded it. It was at about 8:40 PM when I reached our vehicle with Sakala and Stephen. We fitted the wheel onto the car and we drove slowly to Mansa. We arrived at Happy’s, my brother in-law, at midnight.

Mansa trip adventure 028The following morning, I told my brother Stephen to make another spare wheel with the tire that I bought in Samfya while Sakala and I went to meet the pastors from Lubwe who we asked to come to Mansa. We met the men in town and went Kaluba’s place were the rest of the men were waiting for us and started our meeting with a prayer. I spoke to the pastors on the need to communicate to us after which I explained to them about the hub model. Also Sinoya encouraged the men and shared the vision of HBMZ. After encouraging the brothers, we gave them 3 sets of training manuals. The following are the books which we gave them: – Old Testament part 3, Values of Christ and Gospel and Acts. Two brothers came from Lubwe and after the meeting; we reimbursed them the transport money they had used. We finally had some snacks with the men and left them after a word of prayer.

When we finished we went to Happy’s home and found Stephen had made a spare wheel for the vehicle. He put the new tires in front which were the same size so that the car is balanced. We spent the night with Happy and his family. Early in the morning we left Mansa on our way back to Lusaka using the DRC route which is shorter as we were told that the road has been graded. We crossed into DRCongo and did all the border formalities. The road was bad in some portions, but we had a safe trip and entered Zambia again through the Kasumbalesa border post.

When we crossed over, we decided to meet Robinson Muzeya in Murundu, since he is very near the border. We found him and had a time of fellowship with him. I collected some French manuals which I intend to give to DL Mulenga Nkole so that he can give them to Pst. Makopo (DRC) whenever he asks for the copies. We left Robinson and passed through Mufulira taking the shortest route to Ndola. It was on this road that we had our third tire burst at the rear on the left side. We stopped safely as we were driving slowly and replaced the tire with the spare wheel. When we reached Ndola, I decided that we cannot proceed to Lusaka without a spare wheel. So we had to buy a used tire at K270 ($52) and made a spare wheel.

We finally reached Lusaka safely. The following day I took the car to our friend and mechanic Frank who looked at it and he fixed the fender. What remains is to look for the front right side mirror and fix it. Frank also reminded us that when we get a car from Japan, we need to replace all the tires as these are exposed to the sun and having passed through salt water in the ocean.

Pastor Matthew Daka

Pastor Matthew Daka

Passing through this experience the Lord showed us what needed to be done to the car and kept us safe. I am once again grateful to you our Brothers and Sisters in the US for your prayers. Indeed you are our true friends and partners in this noble work of our King Jesus of bringing many souls to His Kingdom.  God bless you all.

Reporting,

Pastor Matthew Daka

HBMZ Administrator Zambia


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13 Mar

HIMIndia – Helping Indigenous Ministries in India

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in church planting, disciple-making, pastoral training. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .


Orrisa Pastors

Orrisa Pastors

In February Jeff Hawkins was sent to India by the Grace Bible Church to validate a pastoral ministry there and to explore possibilities of developing it along the lines of the ministry in Zambia. You can see many pictures and posts on Facebook/HIMIndia. HIMIndia will be an “associate ministry” of Hope Builders Ministries. Today HIMIndia.com

has been registered and will be launched soon. Praise the Lord for the opportunity to begin this ministry of training pastors and planting new churches in a country of over 1.2 BILLION souls with less than 5% being evangelical Christians.

The initial goal is to find partners to support this ministry. The goal for 2013 is $3000 in monthly support. At present there is $300 pledged, 10%! A good start! Praise the Lord. Donations will be given through HBMin.org online or Hope Builders Ministries, P.O.Box 317, Greenwood, VA 22943 Designated: HIMIndia

What is the plan?

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First, HIMIndia will support the administration of the ministry in India. This will be done through Stephen Prasad and Gospel for the Perishing Souls Ministry. Bishop Stephen has a network of 23 pastors who are coordinating the ministry in many districts in Andhra Pradesh (over 100 million souls). This team will administer the training and help organize the planting of new churches using the HUB model of discipleship. The MiniBibleCollege curriculum will be used as the basic 3 year Bible training program.

At present there are upwards of 500 pastors in this network. Most of these men have never received any formal Biblical training and desire it. The problem is availability and affordability. The MBC curriculum make it affordable for HIMIndia and its partners to print and distribute this material to men in the rural areas of India. The HUB model of disciple making provides the availability in partnership with GPS and Stephen Prasad.

Pray with us for the financial base to provide this ongoing training that will grow exponentially as the men begin making other disciples in the years to come. The projected initial training will begin with about 250 pastors/pastors in training.

PUSH with us. That is Pray Until Something Happens!

Also, please considering giving a generous gift to help us get this ministry off the ground. Men are ready and waiting on the training material. You can help expedite the HIMIndia ministry.

Thank you,

Jeff Hawkins
HIMIndia Coordinator

20 Jul

BIG Vision in Zambia

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in Africa, Bibles, church planting, disciple-making, pastoral training, planting churches. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


The Vision Statement for Hope Builders Ministries Zambia is to “Saturate Zambia with Bible believing churches with trained pastors“.

This is a BIG vision and I think one that is worthy of our expectations of our BIG God “who desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” It was William Carey who said “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” This is a worthy aspiration for all true disciple making believers of Jesus Christ.

To accomplish this vision we must believe not only that God can do it (He Can!), but that it is also His desire to do it. I believe it is. The Lord has established His Church as His ambassador on earth. The local church is that ambassador in any given locale. A healthy local church makes a better representation than an unhealthy church.

Healthy churches must be bible centered and need pastors whose priority it is to teach and preach “the Book.” This is especially critical in a place that has very few Bibles per believer. Zambia is “saturated” with cults and false prophets, but not Bibles, nor Bible centered churches, nor Bible trained pastors. Many churches will have only one or two old copies of the Bible. Many rural churches will not have Bibles in their “heart” language. Many churches will not have a trained pastor. Well trained pastors are crucial to Christ’s Church because they have the mandate to “equip the saints to do work of the ministry, building up the church to become unified in THE FAITH and in THE KNOWLEDGE of God’s Son, GROWING into mature believers who looks like Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 – 13 paraphrased). This can only happen as believers love, learn and live the Word of God and trained pastors are an integral part of this spiritual equation.

Christ Jesus Himself gave “some” gifted men to the Church for this very purpose. Gifted men need to be trained. Disciple-making and training does not happen in a vacuum. The individual mandate is for pastors to “be diligent and study” to become good workers in the Word. The corporate mandate is to “make disciples/train followers.” Pastoral training should not be the exception but the rule for God-called men. The pursuit of training approves the “call” and accomplishing it qualifies the called. Learning the disciplines of good Bible study and pastoral care as well as a thorough understanding of the Word of God are part and parcel of being an Ephesians 4 pastor-teacher or evangelist (church planter). Jesus, our example, Himself being “called” “learned obedience through the things He suffered”. In fact, training should be the life long pursuit of the “God-called” man.

This “corporate” mandate to make disciples is the driver to accomplishing the mission in Zambia. Jesus said that the “disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained (discipled) will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Paul instructed the Corinthians to “follow/imitate me as I follow/imitate Christ”(1 Cor. 11:1). HBM Zambia pastors in the pastoral training program are all being discipled and becoming disciple makers with the goal that all look like “Jesus”. The goal of the District Leader is to be  discipling at least 10 “HUB” leaders who in turn are discipling their “Peter, James and John” who will also make three disciples to the 4th generation (2 Timothy 2:2). It is the goal of each District to develop and train up to 400 pastors and plant and/or build up 400 churches in a 6 to 7 year period using the “1 to 3″ HUB Model. Today Zambia has 22 Districts and 147 HUB leaders training hundreds of men. In late 2008 there was 1 LARGE district and  35 HUB leaders and churches. The Lord is blessing the “disciple making” process.

It is the dream and vision of HBM Zambia that the 22 Districts become 9000 trained pastors and churches by 2020. I fully expect to have over 30 districts by 2015.

This follows the motto of Hope Builders Ministries, “Equipping Disciple to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples”. The “1 to 3″ HUB Model is the method HBM uses to accomplish its mission.

This year 400 new pastors have been brought into pastoral training and discipleship. In November another 600 will join the training.

HBM Zambia has a BIG Vision and we are confident that our BIG God will continue to empower us and YOU to “Saturate Zambia with Bible believing churches with trained pastors.”

Jeff Hawkins is the HBM Zambia Coordinator working with Hope Builders Ministries, Greenwood, VA.

(If you would like Jeff to speak to your church, missions team or small-group contact him at: Jeff@HBMin.org)

15 May

2012 Zambia Mission

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


Training Pastors in Zambia

Prayer Requests: 2012 Zambia Mission
My flight to Zambia yesterday had to be delayed because of passport issues. Hopefully this will be resolved in a few days. Please pray that I will have it soon.
Another prayer request is for additional funds for the work to be done while in Zambia. Would you prayerfully consider presenting this ministry to your contacts, church and associates to help with the expenses of this trip and future ministry in Zambia?
Here are the things I will be focusing on while in Zambia (May 22 – July 13).
1. Pastoral training Our main mission is to train pastors and raise up new pastors in the Word of God. I will be encouraging the leaders in this training and conducting as many leadership seminars as time and money allow. The emphasis is on the centrality of the Word of God in their ministries, proper Bible Study Methods and use of the training material as well as the implementation of the Hub Model of Discipleship.
2. Distribution of training material to over 1400 pastors presently in training or waiting to start. (There are over 1000 pastors besides these that are praying for training.)
3. The establishment of 3 new areas of ministry – Kafue, Mansa, and Kabwe.
4. The organization of a new Region This will be the combining of 5 districts into the Muchinga Region under the leadership of Pastor James Bwalya.
5. Encouragement of the work in the extreme Northwestern Province around Kabompo. This is a very difficult area because of its remoteness. Pastor George Masela is the District Leader there and needs our encouragement.
6. Outreach in Rural Livingstone area, working with our pastors there.
7. DRC There will also be contact with our work in DRC on the border of Zambia. The District Leader, pastor Deco, is waiting on French training material and Swahili Bibles. We will also instruct and encourage him and his leaders in the HUB model of discipleship.
As you can see there is much that is hoped to be accomplished. Please partner with us, the pastor-missionaries and me, as we strengthen their hands with pastoral training, bibles, ministry tools and encouragement in the work they are doing.
Specifically the need is for a minimum of $5000.  Give Here
Your gift can be mailed to: Hope Builders Ministries, P.O.Box 317, Greenwood, VA 22943 Designate Zambia
Hope Builders Ministries is committed to the indigenous missionary. The incredible work that God is doing in many remote places through them is marvelous to behold. We have the privilege in our day to partner with them. HBM is your ambassador overseeing the proper distribution of funds and the quality of the work. We have personally witnessed God’s favor with our brothers as they are trained in the Word and encouraged by the Western Church with the resources we take for granted.
Nchelenga Leadership Conference

Leadership Training Seminar

6500 indigenous pastors are in Bible training at the present moment with Hope Builders Ministries in 8 African countries.  1400 of these are in Zambia. This biblical training of pastors affects multiple thousands of believers in the congregations of these pastors. New congregations/churches are continuously being founded as the Word of God spreads in remote areas where multiple languages and cultures are not a barrier to these indigenous witnesses for Christ.

Please prayerfully consider partnering with us. We will be honored to be your ambassadors to indigenous pastoral and church planting missions in Africa.
Making Disciples in Africa,
Jeff Hawkins (HIMAfrica)

28 Mar

12 pastors in 2009 become 75 in 2012!

Posted by HIMAfrica - Jeff Hawkins in church planting, disciple-making, indigenous pastors, Leadership Training, pastoral training, planting churches, Zambia. Tagged: , , , , , , .


Pastor Chali

Pastor Makanta

Pastor Makanta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KAWAMBWA is the capital of the Luapula (WAH-POO-LA) Province of Zambia. It is beautiful country. Bill, Matthew and I traveled through it last May and were dazzled by the beautiful, lush country with rolling hills and lots of waterways. We drove through canopies of tree lined dirt roads for miles and miles. When we arrived in the city we were met by two young pastors, Ebeneezer Chali and Thomas Makanta. I first met these young men at a conference on the Copperbelt in September 2009. There they received their first set of training manuals for their new hub of 12 pastors to train. The course of study was Values of Christ and The Gospel and Acts.

My friend Steve Warren and I traveled to Kawambwa later that month in 2009 where we met and encouraged Ebeneezer and Thomas. God provided them with a new bicycle each. They were very happy with that gift as it enabled them to travel to the distant churches much easier, to plant new churches and to train new pastors.

Today March 28, 2012 I received their latest report on the work in Kawambwa. The original 12 pastors are now 75 pastors in training. 27 of these men will begin their studies in May when the new material is delivered.

The heart of Hope Builders Ministries is “Equipping Disciples to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples.” It is the biblical principle of 2 Timothy 2:2. Our pastors in training are in a course to study a 3 year Bible Curriculum under the tutelage of trained pastor. To graduate each pastor in training must make 3 disciples, a “Peter, James and John.” They will work with their disciple pastors to establish three new churches winning people to Christ in the villages they have chosen.

Church saturation is the goal. Remote areas that have had no gospel witness now have a growing Christian community being led by a trained pastor. The community of believers are taught to “make disciples” and in turn reach even deeper into the rural community. Many times a whole village or chiefdom are won to Christ and then neighboring villages.

Faithful churches and individuals in the United States partner with the Lord and the HUB Pastors in Zambia to make this possible. $300 per month supports the work that faithful men like Ebeneezer and Thomas to grow 12 churches with trained pastors into 75 in less than three years! By 2014 all of these will have completed their training and hundreds more will have come into training.

Each church averages over 100 souls!

Share this story with your church, small group or Sunday School class and sponsor a Hub. YOU will be a part of planting scores of churches and winning thousands of souls to Christ. In eternity you will have the JOY of meeting people that are there because you cared and shared in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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