HIMAfrica Blog

Partner With Jeff and Lou Ann this New Year

2011-12-31T00:37:00.000-06:00

Jeff and Lou Ann are in full-time ministry supported by the prayers and gifts of partners like you.

Thank you for prayerfully considering partnering with us in this incredible ministry working directly with native indigenous Christian Missionaries in Africa. Our ministry focus with Hope Builders Ministries is Zambia. Please join us. God is working in mighty ways through the ministry in Zambia and is glorifying His Name.

Online Giving @ HBMin.org Then click the PERSONAL SUPPORT and go to Jeff Hawkins
MAIL:

Hope Builders Ministries

P.O.Box 317

Greenwood, VA 22943

Designate: Hawkins Support

Indescribable Gift - Jesus

2011-12-16T13:36:00.000-06:00

Top: Children in Kasempa Above: HUB Leaders from Chinsali

December 2011

God has given awesome gifts to mankind and especially His Church, Christ's body.

He gave His "indescribable gift" when the Son of God became the Son of Man so that sons of men could become sons of God. Thank you LORD!

The Lord Jesus gave all who believe in Him the gift of His Holy Spirit so that the very Spirit of Life lives in us!

The Holy Spirit gives each believer gifts "according to His will" so that we can serve God and one another to the glory of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has also given His Church "gifted-men" to equip the saints for ministry. Thank God for the pastors and church planters He has given to the local church!

Together we are helping these "gifted-men" in Zambia to grow and mature the church as well. Thank you for partnering with us, gifting these brothers with training, Bibles, books and bicycles! With your prayers and gifts we are working together with them to win souls to Christ, plant churches and train pastors who make disciples of the flock of God.

Your gifts also enable us to help orphaned children and widows "in deed." We are able to supplement three Christian orphanages with food and education by your prayerful gifts.

Lou Ann and I want to send our special thanks to God for each one of YOU who love us, pray for us and gift us! Without your faithful support we could not be your representatives to the church in Africa. Thank you!

It is our prayer that each of you experience God's grace in Christ in special ways during this Christmas holiday. May your time with family and friends be filled with great joy as you love one another.

Let us keep our eyes on the prize of the upward call of our Lord Jesus Christ, God's indescribable Gift!

Because of HIM,
Jeff and Lou Ann

HIMAfrica: HIMAfrica November Newsletter

2011-11-17T11:56:00.000-06:00

HIMAfrica: HIMAfrica November Newsletter: 2011 has been an awesome year of spiritual growth for the work of HBM in Zambia . By God's grace 700 new pastoral students were bro...

HIMAfrica November Newsletter

2011-11-17T10:21:00.001-06:00

2011 has been an awesome year of spiritual growth for the work of HBM in Zambia. By God's grace 700 new pastoral students were brought into training last April. In November the second set of training manuals were delivered to the country headquarters in Lusaka in preparation for distribution. At present over 1000 men are in the three year Bible training program. Another 300 will soon join these.

Pastor Daka (Back RT.) with new HUB of Pastors in Training

Pastor Matthew Daka planted a new church in rural Lusaka in 2010. Now he is training 10 other pastors in the surrounding area in biblical studies, discipleship and church planting.

Mazabuka District Hub Leaders

Pastor Matthew also serves as Hope Builders Ministries administrator in Zambia. He diligently keeps all records and distributes funds that are sent to Zambia. He and several other District Leaders have registered Hope Builders Ministries in Zambia to help facilitate importing materials and also acquiring my "employee" permit so I can travel in and out of the country more freely.
Pastor James Bwalya's district in the Northern Province continues to experience rapid growth and expansion in church planting and discipleship. In November he led an outreach to a remote village leading hundreds to Christ and planting a new church. Pastor Daniel Phiri reports from Mpulungu that his pastors in training are showing exceptional spiritual growth and are preaching the Word of God with great power. He himself has been used of the Lord to minister to many people as well as surrounding pastors. They are coming to him for prayer. Many are being healed of sick- nesses and demons are being cast out as he
shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

District Leader Solomon with new Hub Pastors in Training

District Leader Solomon Muleya has seen some of the most significant growth this year. God has given him another 12 pastor disciples to train in the HUB model of church planting and disciple-making. These men began their studies in April. Each will be challenged to disciple 3 men of their own and plant 3 new churches this next year. This process will be repeated with each new generation of pastors in training. In the course of 4 to 5 years 40 new churches will be planted and 40 new pastors will be in training and thousands of new souls will be saved! Praise the Lord!

District Leader Pastor Titus Shampanda (RT)

Pastor Titus in the Northwestern Province is also reporting many blessings from God as they reach into the remote rural areas with the Gospel. New Churches are being planted and new pastors are being trained. Pastor Titus shared recently that a powerful witchdoctor was convicted by the Holy Spirit when the Gospel was preached and surrendered to Christ. Together they burned all the fetishes and idols he used to cast spells. Titus is personally discipling the man and his wife.

Hub Leader Simon Mulenga and family

In 2010 Pastor Simon moved 200 miles to Isoka. He had to learn a new language and a new culture. He did this in 6 months. Today he has a growing church in Isoka and 15 other new pastors he is training. In April while I was conducting a pastors conference God also opened the door to a new tribe with over 70 villages without the Gospel. The tribal chief sought out Simon and asked him to bring the Gospel to his people! Praise the Lord.

	Simon and his wife Precious have 4 children. Like all the District Leaders and key Hub leaders he is supported by your generous gifts. He supplements our support by conducting a pre-school where he teaches 4 and 5 year old children how to read and write in English and other basic skills preparing them for school.
Pastor Simon's little pupils

Pastor Robinson Muzeya, wife and children

Pastor Robinson is the District Leader in the Mufilira area of the Copperbelt. He has been training over a dozen pastors in the Calvary Academics Bible course with good success. He oversees a large orphanage complex that our ministry helps to support. Recently we have made arrangements to acquire one of the facilities and property for the headquarters of Hope Builders Ministries Zambia.

Robinson also maintains contact with a large group of pastors in the DRC we are partnering with. This month he will deliver 40 sets of the Bible Training course in French to them. PTL!

New Office for Hope Builders Ministries Zambia

Lou Ann and Jeff with Bishop Davies and wife Gladys

THANK YOU for partnering with Lou Ann and me as we serve the church in Zambia. It has been an awesome 6 years working in Zambia. By God's grace and your faithful support I am able to Help the Indigenous Ministries in Zambia train new pastors, plant new churches and disciple thousands of new believers!

Lou Ann and I represent you in Zambia.
If you are not already, please consider supporting us in our work in Zambia.

Send gifts to: Hope Builders Ministries, POBox 317, Greenwood, VA 22943
Designate "Hawkins" or "Zambia"
All gifts are tax-deductible.

2011-09-28T10:53:00.000-05:00

HELPING INDIGENOUS MINISTRIES

In AFRICA

FALL 2011

Dear Friend and Partner in the Great Commission,

Greeting in Jesus’ Name! The world is a mess but our God reigns! He has called us to work until Jesus comes. The work He has commissioned us to do is “Make Disciples.” May we be found faithful. Lou Ann and I pray for and thank God for you and your partnership with us in Africa.
Your gifts and prayers continue to encourage us. The Zambian Pastors and church pray for you often and rejoice in this partnership that is essential to their work.

2011 has been an incredible year of growth in the establishment of many new churches with trained pastors (and pastors in training). Many souls have been saved and saints encouraged. The job never ends. As pastors are being discipled they are making other disciples. This is part of their training. They equip others to do the work they are doing. The HUB model works on this principle. The HUB that plants the new church is responsible to train the new leadership. When we began this partnership in the fall of 2007 there were 34 HUBs in Zambia that had established over 1000 churches with as many pastors in training in 7 years. Today, 4 years later, there are 100 HUBS and over 1000 new pastors in training! The support given by churches and individuals provides for the leadership and materials needed to train these new leaders.

Our task is to raise these funds for the pastors and ministries in Zambia , which has also spread into the DRC (Congo). We work hand in hand with these ministers planning, organizing and implementing the HUB method of church planting, pastoral training and disciple making. As the Lord provides I travel to Zambia in the Spring and Fall to conduct supplemental training seminars, to meet with the District leaders for reports and to provide accountability for the funds sent to Zambia. I receive monthly financial and activity reports as well. We communicate frequently by phone, email and text messaging. I did not go to Zambia this Fall because of the June accident (broke my left arm and right foot - Lou Ann and I praise the Lord for His provision in paying the medical bills!) and the need for more finances to accomplish the mission.

We are committed to indigenous ministry. It has been amazing to see the fruitful labor of the native believers as they win their villages and districts to Christ. They do not struggle with the language and culture as we do. Their struggle is with the things we take for granted physically like “food, clothing and shelter.” Spiritually they long for Bibles and trained pastors. With as little as $50 a month, a Bible and biblical training, pastors are able to care for their families, feed the flock of God and disciple other pastors. They win literally hundreds of people to Christ as they share the life giving message of the Gospel. These are the times past missionaries longed to see. Their labor is continuing to bear much fruit as the indigenous missionaries carry forth the Gospel.

With your help we will continue to represent the Zambian church here in the USA and YOU in Zambia. Your support provides for us personally and for the expenses of ministry here. Thank you for considering a financial partnership with us or increasing your present support. We understand and appreciate the sacrifice you make in these financially difficult times.

We want to encourage you to visit www.HIMAfrica.com regularly for updates and testimonies from the ministry in Zambia. These are also posted on Facebook and Twitter.

May the Lord continue to multiply His work! Pray for us as we seek new partners for Zambia. It is our prayer that the Lord would raise up an army of committed believers here to support the work of “Making Disciples” in Zambia and around the world.

Our family is well. We have 10 grandchildren now! Joe is in Iraq while Shannon, Jakob, Olivia and Jonathan are in Alaska. Our son Luke is here in Clarksville, TN with his wife Amy and their two, Jared and Isabella. Mary Beth and Ben are in North Carolina with Chloe, Regan and Corbin. Grace and Jeremy live in Bowling Green, KY with their Ava and Jeremy Kale (Charlie Brownie). We currently live in the home provided by Ben and Mary Beth near Clarksville, TN.

Serving our Lord together with you,

Jeff and Lou Ann Hawkins

Jeff@HIMAfrica.com
LouAnnHawkins@yahoo.com
931.237.6077

Visit us on the web at:
www.HIMAfrica.com

Blog: www.HIMAfrica.blogspot.com

Facebook, Skype, LinkedIn,Twitter @ HIMAfrica

Support Jeff and Lou Ann online at http://himafrica.com/EVENTS.aspx

Or by check and mail to:
Hope Builders Ministries, P.O.Box 317, Greenwood, VA 22943 Designate “Hawkins”
Hope Builders Ministries is a 501c3 non-profit ministry that exists to train national Christians to win their countrymen to Christ, plant churches and equip the leaders who make more disciples of Jesus Christ.

Kasempa and Chililabombwe

2011-04-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

The past few days Bill and I have traveled from Chingola to Solwezi to Kasempa and back to Chingola, about 600 miles round trip. Our truck has always been loaded with our luggage and four or five extra pastors. The country side is always beautiful but not near as beautiful as the men and women we are privileged to partner in ministry with here in Zambia.

I have been meeting with District and Hub Leaders reinforcing our mission of disciple-making through the HUB model of pastoral training and church planting. The fact that disciple making will produce more converts than just evangelizing has been a wonderful eye-opener to most. That you can make three disciples in one year who will in turn make three disciples who make three disciples and so on will make many times more believers than pure evangelism is a fact. For instance, if you make 100 converts to Christ per year for six years you have 600 converts! Praise the Lord! BUT if you make three disciples this year who make three disciples next year who make three disciples the next and so on for 6 years there will be 729 Disciple making Christians in 6 years! and the next year over 2100! Making disciples takes more work and commitment than just sharing the gospel. You have to give yourself completely to the convert who is to be a disciple. Like Paul we must be willing to say "follow me as I follow Christ!"

How we have missed opportunities! But we can all start making disciples today. Lets be disciples of Christ and make disciples as He has commanded us. That is how we can turn the world upside down like the early church did in a few short years.

On my HIMAfrica Picasa web album you can see 50 recent pictures from our travels in Zambia.

Tomorrow we are on the road again going to Mufilira where we hope to meet with some of our Congolese Pastors. From there we will travel back to Lusaka for a night and then off to the Northern Province. Thank you for continuing to partner with us in prayer as we journey and work with our pastors all over Zambia. They are much encouraged when they see us and are always very glad to hear that you are praying for them and sharing in this great ministry of making disciples and planting new churches and training the pastors.

View in route to Kasempa

My Friend and Partner Bill found a "fellow" Marine

Biblical Sized Locust

Go to this link for many more pictures.
Lastest Pic from Zambia

Reinforcing Discipleship and the Hub Model

New Motorcycle for District Leader Titus

Hub Leaders with Pastor Titus in Solwezi Rural District

Typical Bush Church

Built by hand from the earth

Temporary Meeting Place

Church in the City Expanding

Zambia Bound - Take 2

2011-03-29T09:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Bill Witkowski and I arrived at the Nashville airport with plenty of time to spare. After Lou Ann and I said our goodbyes Bill and I went through security to our Gate.We were being leisurely as we had over an hour before the plane flew out when we noticed the line forming at our gate. What was happening was the plane had been cancelled for some reason and everyone was being sent to different gates and planes. Our options were to fly to London and have an 8 hour layover there (in the airport) and then arrive in South Africa Wednesday or we could hang out in Atlanta for a day and arrive in SA Wednesday OR we could just go home and come back today...and arrive Wednesday. We decided easily on Door #3. Lou Ann was almost back to Clarksville when I called in a ride from her.

And so the adventure begins. We can plan and prepare but we can not dictate life. Fortunately our GOD is not surprised or thrown off balance by such surprises. HE IS our soveriegn Lord. No one and nothing can overcome Him. So we are confident that the extra day in the States will work for our good and His glory. It has not changed our schedule in Zambia. Lou Ann and I were glad to spend another day together. I will be gone 7 weeks this trip.

As I am waiting for Bill to arrive and our return to Nashville I want to share with you some recent updates from Zambia. The biggest obstacle we are facing in our upcoming mission is the washed out bridges on the route we were going to take to the Northwest Province. This change will add at least a half day to our travels and make it much more difficult to get to one of our intended destinations. Thanks for praying with us. We are trusting the Sovereign Lord's guidance in this as well.

As we are going about in Zambia we will be representing you. Thank you again for your partnership with us in prayer and giving. My pastor reminded me this past week of a principle in giving learned from Philippians. Paul said the Philippians had first given themselves to the Lord and then to him when they shared financially in his mission. I thank our Lord Jesus Christ in the same spirit when I think of you and your partnership with us. Thank you for giving yourselves to the Lord and to us. Bless you!

The Lord has provided in advance all the basic needs for this trip through many of you. Our main mission being to work with the District Leaders in mapping and identifying all the locations of the churches that have been planted in partnership with Hope Builders Ministries in the past 10 years. There are many hundreds of churches to be mapped. The overall purpose of this task is to help assess the effectiveness of our work and seek to make improvements.

The basic needs are met but the constant need for Bibles continues. Bibles for Believers is our ministry to provide this most precious of resources. As you provide the funds we are able to purchase language Bibles in Zambia or South Africa and then deliever them directly to the new churches planted or the older ones still needing God's precious written Word.

Last week I receive two specific requests amounting to several hundred Bibles, and there are hundreds more churches needing Bibles. Let me encourage each of you to be a representative in your church, small group or Sunday School class to help raise funds for Bibles. Ask for a "Bibles for Believers" Sunday when the whole body brings a love offering for the purpose of buying Bibles for their poor brothers and sisters in Zambia. YOU know this is a worthy sacrifice and well-pleasing to the Lord. And as the old pastor pictured below displays, your gift will be much appreciated.

As always your gifts can be sent to Hope Builders Ministries, P.O.Box 317, Greenwood, VA 22943. Designate gifts to Bibles for Zambia.

http://www.HIMAfrica.com
I will be sending out updates from Zambia every few days.

Be blessed! In Jesus Name,

Jeff

Upcoming trip to Zambia, Help Needed

2010-10-20T14:57:00.000-05:00

Pictured are over 60 of the men that I have the privilege of serving in Zambia. I am YOUR ambassador to them. We are their partners in ministry. We fellowship with them in the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Zambia. Thank you for your active involvement in prayer and giving. You are laying up treasures in heaven when you invest in the ministry of Church planting, pastoral training and disciple making in Zambia. Literally thousands of souls have been saved and many of them are becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Soon I will be making another trip to Zambia and join these men for a month of distributing Bibles,Books and Bicycles as well as assessing future needs while gathering the latest data in the field.

There will be four separate gatherings with over a dozen key leaders in the Northwest, Copperbelt, Lusaka and Northern/Luapula Provinces. Most of these men will have to travel long distances to meet with us. One of the Hub Leaders and I will be traveling several thousand miles to the designated meeting places. We will gather together for several days of strategy sessions, data gathering, Bible training and good fellowship with God and one another.

I need your help with the following expenses for this trip:

Roundtrip airfare - $1600
30 days of traveling in Zambia - $1000
4 mini conferences (will include travel exp. and food for the men, we will be sleeping in churches and tents) - $2000
Miscellaneous expenses (food, phone and internet) - $400

The Trip will last 4 weeks start to finish. I will be staying in pastor's homes or a tent as much as possible. There will be a few nights I will have to stay in a guesthouse. Because of the conferences we will be traveling with our own vehicle instead of public transportation. We always purpose to be frugal and careful with the Lord's money.

Your participation with us in this incredible ministry is a joy and encouragement to all of us at Hope Builders Ministries and especially to the church in Zambia that we have the joy and privilege to serve.

Your Representative in Zambia,

Jeff Hawkins

Hope Builders Ministries, Zambia Coordinator

Explaining our Mission Model

2010-09-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

HopeBuildersMinistries

Equipping DISCIPLES to make disciples who make disciples

Tel: 540 456 7300 Fax: 540 456 7288 Cell. 434 825 7661

Website: www.hope-builders.org E-Mail: Africa@hope-builders.org

Our vision of reaching Africa for Jesus Christ, in collaboration with Harvesters International Ministries and Evangelical Rural Mission is progressing well and we are seeing our Hub-model Saturation Church Planting Strategy achieving results that are beyond our own expectations. We are currently working in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Congo Brazzaville with Botswana and Zimbabwe under research consideration and receiving increasing attention.

The Hub-model

The hub strategy forms the basis of our entire ministry - with the hub church and the hub leader being the key elements. A hub-church is chosen for its strategic location in an area where the population is distributed such that outreaches can be done in an area covering a 25 mile radius around the hub-church. Generally speaking that could encompass villages housing about 50,000 people in total. It also doubles as the training center where the identified “pastors”, for that area, will be trained.

The Hub Leader is a trained Pastor who joins our team by accepting and implementing the Hub-model strategy. He leads an evangelism team who reach out to villages within walking/bicycling distance from the Hub church. The hub-leader is required to plant 10 churches within a year.

His second task is to identify leaders for the church plants his team has done. These leaders are brought in to the hub church on a regular basis (3 days every 5 weeks) to receive Pastoral Training. The training is done on a mentoring basis for three years. The hub leader also mentors each student in the practical side of their ministry i.e. he teaches and assists them in performing baptisms, communion, funerals, meeting procedures, etc (in an apprenticeship model).

Each student (pastoral leader of the church plant) is required to plant one church per year while being trained, in a village within walking/bicycling distance of his church. Thus over a period of 3 years 30 additional new churches are planted within a 25 mile radius around the hub church, bringing the total number of churches planted in that area to 40 plus the hub church.

Our goal is to saturate the entire community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the hub grows each village is targeted by the evangelism teams after the church there has been planted and the leader is in training. This allows us to perform the very important task of following up on new believers, making them DISCIPLES of Christ and accommodating them in an Evangelical church within walking distance from their homes. On average each Hub can potentially reach 30,000 people when fully developed over a five to six year period, while also providing trained local leadership to continue the ministry when our commitment comes to a close. Tithing forms an integral part of our practical training and as such the congregations will be self supporting through the growth in spiritual stature and numbers.

ICM (International Cooperating Ministries) has become our partner in providing the sanctuary/training center which serves as the hub-church. We presently have 86 buildings finished or under construction with another 20 planned for the next 12 months.

The fact that the Pastors of the churches planted all know one another and share the vision we have taught them has a unifying effect that is seen in their cooperation in reaching out to new villages. Thus sharing the load and enhancing the effectiveness of the outreaches. In this way we presented a number of “national-to-national outreaches” in 2009 resulting in 27,000 people responding to join the discipleship program.

We currently have 182 hubs in various stages of development and we expect to establish a further 40 in 2010. The number of Pastoral students in training currently stands at just over 5,400 and will grow to an expected 6,000 in this next year.

We provide pastoral students with a bicycle, Bible and training materials while the only person we employ is the hub leader. The average cost per hub per month to accomplish our goals is $300.

The Discipleship program, where new believers are taught the basic tenets of the Christian faith, is run at every church planted by the pastor/student undergoing the training firsthand. As the Lord provides, one Bible per family is made available to ensure that they receive the maximum benefit from the training we provide. The importance of practical participation in living out our faith is stressed and for that they need to at least have access to a Bible.

To enhance the impact of our basic Hub-program we have augmented it with a program designed to reach children, called the Children Harvest Project. This “Cluster system” works on the same multiplying basis as the Hub Model, but trains local women to reach children with the Gospel. The success of this program has drawn the attention of public schools officials in a number of districts and our locally trained teachers have been invited to bring the Gospel to entire schools with great effect.

The child sponsorship program provides food, clothing, medical needs and school fees to 230 orphans currently in the program. This outreach focuses on orphans and their foster families. We expect this leg of our ministry to grow as there are many “child led families” where the first two or three children are born before the parents contract Aids – children born there after as well as the parents succumb to the illness leaving the oldest child (10 to 14 years of age) to lead and fend for the surviving siblings.

In sub-Sahara Africa, 1.4 million people die every year of AIDS related illness, about 3,800 every day.

We have started using widows in the roll of caring for orphans also as they themselves find it difficult to live after their husbands family have taken his belongings as theirs – stems from the cultural practice that only men own anything. The roll the widow plays in child rearing (orphans) redeems her as a respected member of the community – thus two purposes are served in one action. We are experiencing great success in Mozambique.

All gifts made out to Hope Builders are tax deductible.

More information contact:

Johan Gous 434 825 7661 or africa@hope-builders.org

Jeff Hawkins 931 237 6077 or jeff@HIMAfrica.com

BIBLES NEEDED

2010-09-15T12:51:00.000-05:00

Old African Pastor with his NEW Bible.

Our ministry partner, HOPE BUILDERS MINISTRIES, has received word that we have the opportunity to distribute 25,000 Shona Bibles to a previously closed "Christian" group in Zimbabwe. It has a mixture of African Traditional religion with some "christian" influence. The lack of the Word of God is evident. In the last two years God has opened doors for key leaders to be saved and receive Biblical discipleship training. These leaders have been used of the Lord to reach much deeper into this group with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The great need is for Bibles to continue discipling the new believers.

Would you help us by scheduling a Bibles for Believers Day in your church? This is an opportunity for your church family to make a tremendous difference by providing the funds to purchase Bibles in the language of the people.

We need 25,000 Shona Bibles. Every dollar counts.

Pick a date for your church to conduct a Bibles For Believers Day. Contact us to receive a short Power Point Presentation to help explain the event and motivate your congregation.

Announce the Date for Three Sundays prior to the Day.

Challenge the Body to give according to their ability and faith. Each Bible will cost about $15 (purchase and delivered all over Zimbabwe).

On the designated Sunday take a love offering for Bibles to be distributed to our church family in Africa.

This gift is needed as soon as possible. Join in the gift of Giving Today.

Contact Jeff Hawkins at HIMAfrica@yahoo.com or call 931-237-6077

or Johan Gous at Africa@hope-builders.org or call 540-456-7300

The Written Word declares the Living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Without the Written Word one cannot have a "faith that pleases God."

Thank you!

Jeff Hawkins

KABWE Conference and HOME

2010-08-04T14:48:00.000-05:00

Melinda teaching the Pastor's wives in Kabwe

The Pastor Trainers/Disciple Makers

One of the pastors in Livingstone teaching from a story illustration The Graduates in Lusaka

I want to bring you all up to date on the last week of our trip and the great things that the Lord accomplished when we finished the Livingstone outreach!

We (Matthew Daka, Sinoya Sakala, Melinda and Amy Dykestra and myself arrived in Lusaka early on Monday the 12th and traveled north to Kabwe to conduct a combination Leadership, Ladies and Marriage seminar. It proved to be an excellent event. 12 of our key leaders with Hope Builders Ministries in Zambia gathered with their wives for training. This was a first for all of them to be together in a conference! The ladies were especially happy and excited for this. Melinda and her daughter Amy conducted our first ever ladies conference while I did leadership training focusing on disciple-making. In the evenings Melinda and I taught on "marriage and the family." It was wonderful to be a blessing to these dear husband and wife leaders in the church planting disciple making ministry in Zambia!

We returned to Lusaka on Saturday morning and continued to take advantage of the Daka family hospitality. I had been staying with the Daka's in between events for the entire 6 weeks of this trip. They also hosted travelers coming in from the States. It was incredible to have the privilege to live with this dear family and be loved by them.

That Saturday Matthew and I joined Sakala and his men for their graduation ceremony from the 3 year Bible course. I had the privilege to don cap and gown and deliver the "charge" to these dear church planting pastors who had diligently studied under the tutelage of Sakala these past years. They made their own cap and gowns and made a real celebration or this special occasion. The event started at 2 and finished around 6 with over 100 family and friends attending. These brothers are working in the compounds around Lusaka where hundreds of thousands of people live in very impoverished conditions.

The next day the Daka family and us joined Pastor Modguy at his HUB church in the Chipata Compound for church. Over 150 souls gathered in a small school room to worhip the Lord, hear the Word, fellowship and pray together. Most of you have not experienced a Zambian church service. These brothers and sisters sing and worship the Lord in a way that I think we will experience in heaven! Such singing to the Lord! Such exuberance and sincerity in worship! Such enthusiasm for the preaching of the Word! Wow! Men, women, boys and girls, little children everywhere. It is beautiful to behold. I know the Lord is pleased with such worship.

Monday morning we traveled to the airport and began the long journey home. The time home was a time of reflection and praise anticipating the next trip to Zambia to be with these dear brothers and sisters to share with them in the saving of souls, planting of church and training men and women as they make disciples in Zambia.

God bless you! Thank you for being partners with us!

2010 Zambia Trip

2010-06-01T16:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Ones,

Well the time of departure for Zambia is very near! June 8th I will be flying to Lusaka and arriving the morning of the 10th (30+ hours). A very busy schedule awaits me, PRAISE THE LORD. I love being busy in Zambia and it is not hard to do.

The brothers will meet me in Lusaka upon arrival where I will spend a day re-couping from the trip. From Lusaka I will travel with one of the brothers to Chinsali and Isoka (600 miles). There I will meet with Hub Leader James Bwalya/Chinsali and Church planter Simon in Isoka. James is the brother God has used to plant over 100 churches in that area this past year. I want to visit with him and some of his pastors and "see" what the Lord is doing there and collect some data. In Isoka we want to encourage our young Pastor Simon (Pictured with Pastor Steve Warren) and his family as they endeavor to plant a Bible preaching, disciple-making church in Isoka.

After a week in the Northern Province I will travel south to Mazabuka and Pastor Michael (Pictured with me). He is the Hub Leader in this area. He will be working with 3 young men from the US who are helping him evangelize and follow-up on new believers. We will do some "strategizing" on where to plant new churches as well as spend time together before the Lord. It is always an awesome time to pray and fellowship with our partners in Zambia.

On June 29 the US team begins to arrive in Lusaka for the outreach in Livingstone. Denson Mushitala and I will meet them and see that they make the final 6 hour road trip to Livingstone on July 2nd.

The next 10 days will be an intense time of learning the absolute necessity of making-disciples, how to do that and how to teach others to do the same. Pastor Bert Spann will be our "discipler" and all of us including the Zambian Church will be tremendously blessed as we follow the Lord's example of disciple-making. As we work with the HIM Zambia Hub Pastors in Livingstone and their churches we will partner with the Zambians evangelizing new areas, planting new churches and beginning the process of disciple-making. This is how I was first introduced to the disciple-making ministry of HIM Zambia. It has been incredible being a part Jesus Christ's redemptive work.

The outreach will last until July 12 when the US team returns to Lusaka and their flight home. I will keep you updated on the outreach via HIMAfrica Group mail.

On July 14 we will conduct a 3 day pastor and wife conference. This is a first for us! We are excited to share the Word of God with these team leaders and encourage them in the work and their marriages. Pray for Denson Mushitala, Melinda Dykstra and myself as we team teach this conference.

On July 19th I will be flying home and arriving on the 20th. SIX weeks of serving the Lord and our co-laborers in Zambia. May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in it all.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Endurance - Everyone will need patient endurance on this trip. Every aspect will be a spiritual and physical challenge. Christ is our Strength.
Souls - Pray for the souls whom the Lord Holy Spirit is already drawing and preparing to hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Savior.
Provision - This has been one of the most expensive trips we have taken. Because of the World Cup and scrambling for flights we have had to spend $10,000 more than anticipated on airfare. This has cut into our supply on the ground. Christ is our Provision!

We are trusting the Lord for the following:

$2000 for the first 3 weeks of ministry.
$2500 to overhaul the national ministry vehicle.
$2500 to conduct the "Pastor/wife" conference.

You may share with us through Hope Builders Ministries, POBox 317, Greenwood, VA 22943. Designate your gifts to ZAMBIA.

As always I am grateful to God for providing you as ministry partners in Africa. God continues to do great and mighty things through His people to save a lost world from their sin and His righteous wrath and to glorify Himself.

May His Name be Praised!

Christ is ALL!

Jeff Hawkins

HIMAfrica serving Hope Builders Ministries as the Zambia Coordinator

HIM Zambia News

2010-05-10T19:54:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends and partners in Christ.

The Great "Co-mission" is our Sovereign Lord's final marching orders to all His followers until His return. The command is "make disciples." This is done "as you are GOING" you are to be seeking people to "baptize" (lead to repentance and faith in Christ) from ALL nations (ethnic groups, people groups) and "teach" them all that the Lord Jesus Christ has taught you. This is how we are to be disciples, by making disciples. Every single one of us is to be a missionary/disciple maker.

Our ministry verse is 2 Timothy 2:2. We are making disciples who make disciples. This is the heartbeat of HIMAfrica partnered with Hope Builders Ministries here in the USA as we come along side our brothers and sisters in Africa. The Christians in Africa are especially made to win their people to Christ, just as we are best able to win our neighbors here in the USA. We help them by providing much needed biblical training and basic equipment. Basic equipment as fundemental as a Bible and Basic theological training, and bicycles to maximize travel are some of the things we focus on so as to "equip" our brethren to win their own people. They know the language and culture and are already "accepted" by the people (something that takes a foreign missionary many years to accomplish, if ever). They are living in the land and are witnesses of Jesus Christ, known and read by all. Plus it costs a lot less to train and equip multiple nationals than it does to equip and send ONE missionary ($18,000 vs. $500,000 over 5 years).

Some of you are very involved with this partnership ministry, both in your prayers and in your giving. Our brothers in Zambia send their deepest thanks. I, too, want to personally say "thank you!" and may the Lord richly bless you as you have them. "He will provide all your needs according to His riches in glory."

Many of you have thought about helping and being a parnter but maybe you do not think your "little" is much, but as the old hymn says, "Little is Much when God is in it!" I also want to assure all of you that 90% and more of your gift goes directly to the African ministry. In Zambia's case we have been sending 100% of the funds because of they are so low. The 10% is purely administrative to make the "office" function. Johan (HBM) and I both raise our own support separately from these funds. You can be assured that your gift has maximum impact in the field and benefits our brethren there. Please consider partnering with us in Zambia. Yes I am begging and without any shame! The need is great.

This month I am having to make come very difficult decisions. Gifts have been dwindling for several months and we are now in a position that we have to make some "cuts" in ministry funding. This is critical.

This week I have received some other serious prayer requests as well. In the Northeast Province our District Leader Titus has been sick for some time with kidney problems. We sent him to the hospital a few months back and the treatments helped then. Now he is vomiting blood and in much pain. This is very critical in a country that does not have the benefits of our great medical care. Please pray for him!

Titus is on the left. Next to him is Danny Makina who lost his mother this week. Last week our National Leader buried a brother. Also pictured above are pastors Kolumbo and Zamphere "John Peter."

Besides this trouble our brothers Gainos and Dominic were in a car accident, probably a taxi. Both are in the hospital. Dominic has a broken arm. Again we must pray for them. All medical issues are very serious in rural Africa.

Please pray with us for these men. All of them are "disciple makers" training other pastors and shepherding personal congregations.

Also be praying for the TWO major international outreaches being conducted in June and July in Zambia. I will be joining the team there in mid-June for both outreaches. After this we will be conducting leadership training and a marriage conference. Before I return in late July Denson and I will be conducting some annual administrative business.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers! We need them. Pray that "doors" will be opened to the ministry of the Gospel for all our men and their congregations. Pray that the Outreaches will be fruitful with many new souls won to Christ and new churches planted. Pray for the leadership training and marriage seminar. Pray for our brethren's HEALTH. Pray for Partners willing to commit to monthly sacrifices that are "pleasing to the Lord" and a great help and encouragement to your brothers in Zambia.

If you are interested in partnering with us in Zambia please contact me by return email.

I have more news to send but will give you a few days to digest this and pray with us. May the Lord Bless you and keep you in Jesus Name!

Jeff Hawkins

Zambia Coordinator with Hope Builders Ministries

HIMAfrica - Zambia 2010 Summer Mission

2010-04-20T14:04:00.000-05:00

Mushitala and Hawkins

There has been a lot of activity in Zambia and here at home and I want to bring you up to date.

In Zambia Denson Mushitala our national director has been in contact with our HUB Leaders distributing training material and coordinating the training of pastors. Last September there were 350 new pastors registered for the three year pastoral training program. Book have been distributed along with thousands of Bibles to the churches they are pastoring. There are over 300 more pastors that need to be put into training this fall.

Last week Denson returned from a trip to Livingstone preparing for the outreach to be held there July 1 - 12. There are over 20 Christians from America joining us for the work there. It will be a time of evangelism and church planting, as well as a great encouragement to the HUB churches that we will be assisting. There will also be some pastors from Zimbabwe joining us for training and participation in the event.

Pictured above is our pastoral team from Livingstone and three pastors from Zimbabwe. #2 is Pastor Paul Soka and #5 is Pastor Amos Tiki from the Livingstone Hub.

Denson has also been in the Northeastern Province preparing for the June Outreach in Mpulungu. There is an established work there lead by our HUB leader Pastor Daniel Phiri. This outreach will be conducted by our ministry partner Herbie Venter from South Africa. Denson and I will be joining them in mid-June. While there we will visit our new work in Isoka (ee-so-ka). Pastor Simon Mulenga is our new church planter there. He is moving his family to this strategic city located ont the "Great Northern Highway" that connects Africa north and south. Simon is pictured below on the right.

July 14 - 16 the Hope Builders Minsitries team will be conducting a Marriage and Family seminar for the HIM Zambia District Leaders and their wives. Please pray for Melinda Dykstra and me as we minister the Word of God to our partners.

NEEDS:

Along with many of you, we have felt the effects of the ongoing economic situation in America. In fact we have lost some of our regular monthly support for the mission in Zambia. Would you pray about helping us with the following needs.

$1000 to replace the turbo charger in the Honda. We had to "borrow" the money from the dealer who installed a new one for Denson on his promise to repay.

Our monthly budget requirements for HIM Zambia are $1000 in the red. We desperately need new monthly partners. We have had to reduce funding in Zambia because of this.

The Marriage Seminar in July will cost $2500 for the 26 attendees and will include travel, meals and lodging. It will be a first for many of them.

The need for Bibles is ongoing.

It is a very difficult thing to have to "cut back" when the ministry is going well but in continual struggle for resources. Of Course we acknowlege with you that God is our Resource. He is all we need, but in saying that we know that HE provides our needs through the faithful help and partnership of other believers.

While asking for your help and partnership we also say thank you for your prayers and any help you can give us. We are always grateful to God for you. He is faithful.

Send you gifts to Hope Builders Ministry, POBox 317, Greenwood, VA 22943

Designate your gift to Zambia. If you would like to specifically help with a "need" just add that to the designation.

Thank you so much!

Be blessed in Jesus Name!

Jeff Hawkins

Your Chruch Planting Partners in Zambia

2010-02-04T20:39:00.000-06:00

Denson Mushitala is the National Director of Harvesters International Ministries in Zambia. Lou Ann and I have the privilege of being partners together with him. IN the picture is Denson and Rebekah and their 7 children.

77 HUB Pastors and 6 District Leaders are the heart of the ministry in Zambia.

YOU are partners together with us as you pray and share in this vital and effective church planting and pastoral training ministry. Literally 10's of thousands of souls have been saved and 1000 churches planted through this ministry! Praise the Lord.

Prayer and Prep for Zambia Trip

2009-08-13T13:16:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends,
It is a little over 3 weeks until Lou Ann and I board the plane in Nashville for Zambia! There is always a lot to do before a big trip like this.
Just today I have been up since 3AM working on lists and "to do's" and making phone calls. I will be calling Denson back in a bit to go over some more information we need to clarify and finalize. Over 50 HIM Zambia men have been invited to attend. We will meet at the same Christian center as last April in Musenga.

When reading in Acts 1-8 this morning I was reminded at how GOD does HIS work of glorifying Himself and saving sinners. He took a scared group of 120 men and women led by 11 uneducated and untrained men by the world's standards and shook the world to its very foundations. They did it by God's power and grace alone as they were continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Through them the Lord saved thousands, healed many of their diseases, performed miraculous escapes and yes,allowed sufferings to be part of the glory shared, even martyrdom. WE too have the privilege to see God glorify Himself in and through us. We have received the same Holy Spirit and we have the same Word of God and we have the same privilege of prayer, accessing the ALMIGHTY at any time in Jesus Name.

With one voice and in one accord pray with us about the following

PRAYER, PRAISE and PREP REQUESTS:

1. August 22nd Lou Ann, Johan and I will be back in the Hazard, KY area. Our friends there are sponsoring a BIBLES for BELIEVERS benefit concert! They are so excited. I spoke with Olivia this morning for the latest news. NOW they are really concerned that they have enough room! Good problem. Sounds like an "Encore" waiting to happen!
2. Lou Ann and my Zambia "Work Permit" arrived this week! PTL. This should eliminate the "visa" trauma I've experienced the last several times going over. I am now an employee of HIM Zambia with a work permit that is good as long as my Passport is... 2014.
3. Our friend Steve Warren will be traveling with me the full 4 weeks. This is his first missions trip. Pray for our health, strength and focus.
4. Pray that the men will "own" the administrative part of this trip. It is so important for us to receive accurate and timely information to share with our partner/donors here at home. Communication is difficult at times and culturally different all the time. This gathering (an annual event) is very important so as to update and clarify information.
5. We want to be a blessing to all who attend by paying for their trip to Musenga, there room and board, and their trip home. This will cost $3000 ($12 per day per man). Your help will be a blessing to these brothers and us. Most could not attend without this provision.
6. We will be working with Denson and HIM Zambia distributing Bibles the last two of weeks. This will involve a lot of travel and coordination.
7. Continue to pray earnestly for the HIM leadership in Zambia. Denson and the District leaders are key to the HUB system working. The goal is saturation church planting, mentoring and training pastors, and making disciples of converts to Christ. The Job never ends for them. They remind me of the Marines... "doing so much with so little!" OF course, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! PTL.

BIG REQUEST: The HUBs need partner/sponsors. We are swiftly approaching 50 HUBs in Zambia (maybe more by the end of the year). Less than 20% have any sponsorship. Johan and I have asked the Lord to provide for all HUB leaders to receive a "quarterly blessing." $50 per month will sponsor a HUB pastor and $300 will sponsor the entire Hub of up to 40 churches. This gift has the potential of impacting 6 to 10,000 people in discipleship! There are churches that could sponsor a whole district of 10 HUBs and individuals that can only afford $50 a year. The Lord puts it all together to take care of the need. Pray with us. (NOTE: to be a blessing to all the total sponsorships are spread among the total work. Every one is blessed.)

Thank you and God bless you
Acts 4:31 (Be filled and Be bold!)
Serving Christ and YOU,Jeff and Lou Ann HawkinsHIMAfrica http://www.himafrica.com/
Hope Builders International http://www.hope-builders.org/
Phone Johan @ 540-456-7300
or Jeff @ 931-237-6077
Tax deductible gifts to:
Hope Builders International, HIM Zambia
POBox 317
Greenwood, VA 22943

INVITE your friends to join our HIMAfrica Group mail.
Receive regular updates the ministry in Africa.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgroups.yahoo.com%2Fgroup%2FHIMAfrica%2F&h=5ea7b1bc3a0ec3cdba16af49c4c1ced7

Camp Nathanael

2009-07-24T08:19:00.001-05:00

This week has been filled with the sound of children singing, playing and praying (praying to receive Jesus as their savior).

Last Saturday Lou Ann and I drove back to eastern Kentucky near Hazard. Our destination was Camp Nathanael in Emmalena (http://www.campnathanael.org/home.php). Johan Gous and his wife Lida met us there for fellowship and planning coming events in Zambia. Sunday Lou Ann and I went to Happy Bible Church to share the Word and HIMAfrica ministry to Zambia. Johan and Lida went to Bethanna Baptist Church (where I pastored for 6 years) and we all met there for lunch and fellowship. GREAT TIME.

That evening we all met with Olivia Callahan and the Gospel singing group Free Indeed. They are organizing a benefit concert for Bibles For Believers to be held August 22. Monday morning Johan and I joined "Sug" Brashere at the local Christian radio station and did an hour long interview for Bibles for Believers! It was awesome. Thank you WJMD! We then had lunch with some local pastors and shared the ministry of Hope Builders International and HIMAfrica.

Johan, Lida and Lou Ann all returned home and I stayed at Camp Nathanael as the missionary speaker for 71 children. What a great time! The first night there were a lot of children wanting to receive Jesus as their Savior. The camp theme was "Be Energized!" and I sure am! My theme with the children was "How to be a Missionary." The three lessons were 1. you must be a Christian and ALL Christians are Missionaries. 2. You must be a Sacrifice (Romans 12:1). 3. You must be Changing (Romans 12:2). We kept it simple and showed lots of pictures from Africa. What a precious privilege to teach young teachable hearts and to love them and be loved by them. Thank you Jesus!

Here are some pictures of the classes and also a blessing from Ronnie and Myrt Miller who put decals on the car! Looks really sharp!

Today (Friday 24th) I will return home after the chapel time and a few more visits with dear friends here in East Kentucky.

Reaching Out

2009-07-17T08:20:00.001-05:00

The picture above is the Malawi Mission Team of South Africans and Americans.

Pastor Titus Shapanda is recording the names of new converts and below praying for a new believer.

Pastor "Jean Pierre" is with the crowds in Mufumbwe and below is the team of Pastors from Harvesters International Ministries Zambia. The National Leader and District Leader Denson and Titus are on the left. All the men pictured I have had to privilege to meet and teach in training seminars.

This week our team from Malawi returned with great news of God's great glory and grace! The team of South Africans and Americans led by the Spirit of God witnessed over 8000 people profess faith in Christ! The end result was that 20 new churches have been started! These churches are immediately under the care of HUB church. Leadership from that church will oversee the establishment of these new churches. The Hub pastor will begin training the new leadership that God will appoint in the coming weeks and months. The task is great but our GREAT God, the Lord Jesus Christ will build His Church. Our part in that is in obedience to His command to "make disciples."

Pray for the twenty or more new leaders that will begin their 3 years of discipleship and Bible training. The National Leader Harrison and the South African Coordinator Herbie covet your prayers.

I also received some more pictures of the outreach in Mufumbwe Zambia. I rejoice with the dear brothers that joined Denson Mushitala on this outreach. All of these men are our pastors serving in other locations but came together with the National and District Leader Denson and Titus to evangelize and new area in need of a clear gospel message and to start new churches with the new converts. Rejoice with me as you look at the pictures of these dear, faithful brothers. These are the men I am privileged to work for and represent here in the USA.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for the work being done in Africa. The fields are white unto harvest. Many good mission work is being done most of which is oriented towards meeting physical needs. Harvesters International Ministries has many widows/orphans projects, including homes, farming projects and others, but the focus and determined aim of HIM is to plant new churches, train new pastors and make disciples of new believers.

By God's grace many thousands of souls have been been saved and over 4000 churches planted since the year 2000! God gets all the glory because HE gives all the grace. Thousands of pastors have been and are being trained by other indigenous pastors through the Hub Church Planting model.

When you partner with us in prayer and support you share in the reward of seeking and saving the lost and obeying the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to "make disciples." Thank you! Please continue to make sacrifices that are well pleasing to the Lord as you join with these men to win a Continent that is truly ripe for harvest. The laborers are few! So pray that the Lord of the Harvest will raise up laborers.

Blessings in Christ,

Jeff Hawkins

HIMAfrica

Zambia Coordinator for Hope Builders International

Malawi Team Returns

2009-07-15T13:48:00.000-05:00

Malawi Team, family and friends
I have spoken to Herbie (National Coordinator for Malawi/Team Leader) to make sure that they arrived safely back home (South Africa). The group arrived at home at 2:30 am this morning (Wednesday) - it has been a long haul for them but they are excited about the results of the outreach. Obviously he has not yet had the time to draw up the final report but as you have asked for any detail I received I can share the following with you giving all the Glory to our Lord:
1). The outreach groups worked with the 11 congregations that are part of the new Hub that was formed towards the end of last year - it had grown to the 11 new congregations over the last 9 months since the Hub itself was established.
2). A total of 23 villages were served during this outreach.
3). Twenty new churches have been planted in the new villages - their establishment as congregations is the first task of the Hub Leaders in that area so that they can become local congregations with a local pastor - Pastoral training will be started within the Hub System shortly
4). The Jesus Film was shown 12 times.
5). The total number of people who made contact with the work the teams were doing is estimated somewhere between 15 and 18,000 (the numbers attending the Jesus Film shows are very difficult to estimate because it is dark, people are standing in clusters and more arrive all the time as they hear the sound projected by the loudspeakers.
6). A total of 8,800 names of people who made confessions of faith were shared with the pastors so that local follow up could be done by all the participating churches.
From this it can be seen that God has answered the prayers of the saints all around the world who received the information of this outreach and undertook to pray for your safety, effectiveness in sharing the Gospel and receptive hearts of those with whom you shared the Word of God. All Praise and Honor to Father God and to the Son for His sacrificial death to open the door for us to be reconciled with the Father, under the indwelling guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What a joy to share this early info with you - the final report may change some of these figures slightly and will give more detail together with some testimonies.
If you (travelers) will send a testimony of your experience of this trip to me I would appreciate it greatly.
Blessed greetings
Johan
Hope Builders International
Africa Director

Malawi Mission Team News

2009-07-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

Here is a word from Johan Gous the Africa Director with Hope Builders International and our liason with the team in Malawi.

I am also including some pictures from previous Mission Team in Mozambique that I participated in.
As you read you will hear the "mission" and "heartbeat" of our work in Africa. We want, by the Grace of God, to empower and impassion the "indigenous" believers to reach their own people. We believe this is how we can best, that is most efficiently, economically and speedily, reach the world for Christ.
As you read this please pray for our Team in Malawi. Pray for the local believers they are working with. Pray that both the "foreigners" and locals will be strengthened renewed in their commitment to serve Christ and represent Him to the people around them.

Be Blessed,
jeff

Dear Parents, Family and Friends of our Malawi explorers,

I tried purposefully to get hold of Herbie or Steven today but did not succeed to speak directly to them as there seemed to be problems with the cellular phone signals. I did however speak to two people who have had contact with them yesterday and this morning.

The reports from there are that they are doing well and that the work is progressing well - now from experience in such situations I can tell you that the first days are spent getting to know your team members (every one is still unsure of themselves and most times a bit shy to speak out) but by tomorrow (Wednesday) that will all have passed and they will be in the swing of playing their respective rolls that they are comfortable with.

The team is a big one (40+ South Africans) the 5 Americans and then the local Pastors and interpreters together with the 5 to 8 local congregation members who are being trained (and mentored) in sharing their faith so that they can continue doing so after the "foreigners" leave. This is the whole strategy - empowering the locals to effectively reach their own people (community) with the Gospel.

I have been assured that all are well and learning a lot from both sides - the truth is that your loved ones will return richer in general experience but also in their own faith walk with Christ while the locals will be encouraged in their Walk. It is our prayer that the locals grab the vision of how God can use them in their local situation while our trippers see the vision of how much God can do through them as they inspire the locals by encouraging them to stand firm in their faith in some pretty difficult situations - My personal prayer for each of our travelers is that God will instill in them the understanding that the continent of Africa can be won for Christ purely because the natives are so hungry for the Gospel and we have it to give in abundance if we are prepared to obey God's command to be His witnesses even to the ends of the earth (where the Gospel has not yet fully reached) something that can be done through equipping and empowering the locals.

I will be trying to get hold of them again in the morning - so until we "talk" again.

Blessed greetings
Johan Gous

HUB Conference and Bible Distribution

2009-06-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends and partners of Helping Indigenous Ministries in Africa (HIMAfrica).

In September Lou Ann and I will need your help in traveling to Zambia and conducting a week long HUB Leaders conference and two weeks of Bible distribution. September 14th over 50 Hub Pastors, the national leadership team and the cooks will gather in Musenga at a Christian conference center.

This is an annual event especially designed for HUB leaders to train them and help them to stay focussed on the mission of planting churches, training pastors and making disciples of new believers in Jesus Christ. It will also be a time of encouragement as we distribute study Bibles to the men who have yet to receive them and also bicycles for those who do not have one.

This event will cost $3000. HIMAfrica coordinating with Harvesters International Ministries Zambia will provide transportation for each of the men to come to and return home from the conference. Their lodging, food and training materials will also be provided.

After this event Denson Mushitala (HIM Zambia national leader) and I will spend two weeks distributing thousands of Bibles coordinating with the district and hub leaders. The Harvester International Ministries national coordinator for Malawi, Herbie Venter, will also be with us (The Lord willing).

The total mission will cost approximately $7500. Some of Lou Ann's airfare has already been given, but the majority of the funds needed are yet to be raised. Would you help? Your generous gift is most appreciated and will bless not only Lou Ann and me as we journey to Zambia on your behalf but also the 50 pastors and leaders gathering for this important annual event.

I am also asking God for a teaching partner to accompany us on the first leg of the mission to teach at the conference and then escort Lou Ann home on Sept. 21st.

Your gifts will help Denson and me travel and distribute thousands of Bibles as well. Please consider helping us as we partner with our Zambian brothers planting churches and making disciple.

Send your gifts to our partner minstry: Hope Builders International POBox 317 Greenwood, VA 22943

Designation to Zambia Conference

All gifts are tax deductible.

Home Again

2009-06-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

Lou Ann and I returned home to Coldstream and the Potters House yesterday. What a wonderful time celebrating our 35th Wedding Anniversary. Thanks to the Lord and some dear friends we were blessed to stay at the SanDestin Resort in Destin, FL and then represent HIM Zambia at the Lifespring Community Church in Georgia and visit my Dad (74 and going strong). We drove over 1200 miles safely and comfortably. Thank you Lord!

Titus Shampande - district leader

2009-06-02T14:30:00.000-05:00

Titus Shampande is one of our newest District Leaders in Zambia. He is overseeing the training of Hub leaders in the Solwezi area west of the Copperbelt. In the Kangwena Hub he reports there are 17 men in Phase C and 12 men in Phase A of the 3 year Bible School. This team of men recently went to two new areas and planted two new churches.

In the Solwezi B Hub there are 13 men in Phase B of the training. During the week of Easter this group of men went to a village “5 kilometers from Messengers Compound” near Solwezi, evangelized and planted a new church called Chasobe. The new leadership is being discipled by Pastor Kebo.

Brother Titus is planning another work at Mambili along the Solwezi/Chingola highway where he has some contacts in place. He also says, “I am very much excited for what the Lord is doing in my Life and the Ministry at large. I have been also doing every day one on one (evangelism). Have led four people to the Lord. They are coming into our church. One of the Ladies among those who came had charms. We counseled her and she confessed then later gave all what she had, after that we burned the charms. The lady is now free and she is coming to our church.”

Titus’ prayer requests:
1. That the Lord will provide more Bibles
2. That the Lord provides us with four Bicycles
3. That the Lord will help us with 25 roofing sheets for Glory Baptist church

“Once again I would like to thank you for the wonderful conference we had in April.
Pray for us that we remain strong and faithful to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thank you for everything you are doing for me and my family. May The Lord Bless you and our International Leaders.”

July 2009 Zambia Outreach

2009-04-26T09:05:00.000-05:00

Harvesters International Ministries - Zambia
in partnership with
Hope Builders International
presents
Zambia Outreach 2009
15 July 2009 - 29 July 2009
Livingston, Zambia

HIM Zambia invites you to join us in an outreach to the Livingstone area of Zambia in July 2009.HIM has planted many churches in this area and has well developed HUB structures with strong leadership and willing churches. We will join hands with local churches to reach this ripe harvest field.

Goals:

One-on-one Evangelism
Train local believers and mentor evangelism in the area
Plant several new churches in the area
Encourage local believers
Identify potential leaders for future training

Preparation has already begun in the town of Livingstone and surrounding villages that we hope to send teams to. Churches are preparing to fully participate in the outreach, local chiefs are being visited to identify where new churches can be planted and local believers are already praying for each team member who will come and help them win people for Christ.

HIM Zambia will provide training, infrastructure, thorough planning and follow up. We need YOU to come and share your faith in one of the greatest harvest fields in the world today. Thousands will come to Christ, new churches will be planted and many will be discipled. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Individuals, couples and groups are welcome to join us. Already teams from the USA and South Africa are preparing to come and we hope to have close to ….. participants joining up with local pastors and interpreters. Most people in the area speak English ensuring that communication will not be a problem.

Travel Arrangements

Our US office will book all flights within and from the USA. Local flights and road transport will be organized by HIMAfrica (Jeff Hawkins) and HIM Zambia. Prices include all flights, road transport, food and accommodation, interpreters and all other possible expenses. The full price for the outreach is $3800 per participant. A deposit of $300 will secure your place and enable us to book flights for you.

DISTRICT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

2009-04-16T22:30:00.000-05:00

From March 31 – April 3 HIM Zambia gathered its district leaders from all over Zambia along with other key Hub leadership for training. The sessions included a general understanding of the HUB Method of Church Planting and defining of the different roles of leadership. Other sessions dealt with the Mission and Purpose of HIM Zambia. There were also several workshops teaching a simple inductive Bible study method that does not require extra study helps. Most pastors do not have the luxury of a pastor’s library. Daily prayer, personal devotions and corporate worship were also a mainstay of the daily activities. Four of our dear mothers prepared the meals for the leaders.
Thanks to the gifts of the Berea Baptist Church, Bible.org and Sister Patty 36 new Study Bibles were brought to the conference and given to the men without study Bibles. The 30 NET Bibles were given by Bible.org and the six Discipleship Study Bibles were provided by Harvesters International Ministries. Study Bibles are not available in country and must be shipped. Thank you for your help and part in this. Praise the Lord for His bountiful gift. The men were grateful to God to receive a new “study” Bible giving them extra tool for preparing sermons and Bible lessons.