Hope Builders International (Africa)

HBI facilitates the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by presenting opportunities in Africa to U.S. Christians, Churches, Foundations & Corporations developing the resources to empower National Leaders to reach their people.

Po Box 317
Greenwood, VA 22943
Tel: 540 456 7300
E-Mail: Africa@hope-builders.org

Dear Partners in the Kingdom,

My first trip to Zambia to participate in the work of Hope Builders in Africa was in 2005. It overwhelmed me. I could hardly believe the number of souls being saved and the tremendous need for trained pastors. The many new believers not only needed shepherds and organized churches, but the existing shepherds needed more training and materials to better care for the flocks God had given them.

Therefore, Lou Ann and I have stepped out of the boat and into the water as the old saying goes. I resigned the position of pastoring the church we served in for 5 years. We are now pursuing the call God has placed on our hearts – serving Zambian Christians to reach their own people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ – we have dreamed about it before but now it is time to “go for it”. The call began about 4 years ago when I heard Johan Gous, Africa Director at Hope Builders share the magnificent things God was doing in Africa. Tens of thousands of people are being saved on this continent that has had and continues to have so much sorrow. With these thousands of new believers there is a great need for organized churches with trained pastors. Johan shared the vision of how to meet this need. I responded to this message and experienced the reality of this vision in the summer of 2005.

In 2006 I returned to Zambia and preached at a regional Baptist convention. The response to expositional preaching was overwhelming. Christians want to know what the Bible says and not what a man says it says. They are truly sheep without shepherds in many cases. There are also many men who are godly servants shepherding the church as best they can, but they need training and other help. My desire is be a conduit of God’s grace in meeting this need.

To accomplish the mission God has placed on our hearts we are partnering with the ministry of Hope Builders International. HBI has ministry in place and a working vision to accomplish the planting of hundreds, even thousands of churches and the training of men who will shepherd them. The model is in place but as with all ministries it needs manpower enabled by the Spirit of God and His Word. By God’s grace and the support of my helpmate of 33 years, Lou Ann, I am partnering in God’s work of planting churches and training pastors in Zambia. Now I am prayerfully seeking partners to enable us to fulfill the call.

There are 35 HUBS representing over 800 churches planted since 2001 operating in Zambia at present, but only a few are supported - few pastors have been fully trained. The reason is simply a lack of partners and awareness of the needs here in the American church. This is what God is calling me to do - to raise support and awareness of the great strategic opportunity in Zambia to grow the church there to God’s glory and the edifying of the saints. By God’s grace we want to activate 100 more HUBS (representing up to 4000 churches) in Zambia in the next 5 years. That means a lot of work for everyone. And by an active faith in God and His enabling power and His abundant provision we will see it done.

I will be communicating further with you in this regard. Please consider becoming a PARTNER in the incredible opportunity that is currently available in Zambia. The office details are given above but if you want to call me directly at the following: 606-438-1731  

God’s blessings are our prayers for you until we meet again,

Jeff Hawkins
HIMAfrica
HBI Zambia Coordinator

HIMAfrica@yahoo.com

www.himafrica.blogspot.com