HIMAfrica

Prayer and Prep for Zambia Trip

2009-08-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

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

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Camp Nathanael

2009-07-24T06:19:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-17T06:20:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-04-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

Good week at YWAM training base in Muizenburg, South Africa

LIVINGSTONE MISSION

2009-03-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Great Commission Keepers!

July 14-28 we will be hosting a mission to Livingstone, Zambia. This is the home of the Victoria Falls, traditionally called "The Smoke that Thunders." It is also the home of thousands of poor souls without the Lord Jesus Christ or a church to help grow them in the faith once they are saved.

Our mission will be to partner with Harvesters International ministris and local churches to go into the bush and villages to share the Gospel and establish new churches. The Jesus Film will be shone in the evenings.

We will be staying at the modest but very comfortable accomodations of the Sunbird Guesthouse outside of Livingstone. Harvesters International Ministries Zambia will be our host.

HIM Zambia is our partner planting churches, training pastors and making disciples in Zambia.

Would you join this trip? Your cost will be $3800 plus your passport, visa and any vacinations you might need. This fee covers your roundtrip airfare, food, lodging, and any transportation in Zambia.

You will work for 8 days with a local church winning souls and planting churches. Your evenings will be spent at the guesthouse or in the field showing the Jesus Film.

Some of you want to go but can not see how you could possibly afford the trip, but the Lord is able. This will give you the opportunity to trust the Lord as most missionaries have to in raising the support needed to serve on a foreign field. Your church can be a wonderful partner with you. It's sponsorship and that of friends and family are available but you must make the need known.

If you can not go would you consider a gift to help sponsor someone else? We either GO or Send...
Either way,
Consider joining us! Email me today if you are interested.
Jeff@HIMAfrica. com

March Leadership conference

2009-03-04T12:06:00.000-08:00

HIMAFRICA

PARTNERED WITH

HOPE BUILDERS INTERNATIONAL

Rev. Denson and Rebekah Mushitala
Denson is the national leader of HIM Zambia
They have 7 children from 24 to 10 years of age,
4 sons and 3 daughters. Denson works with 5
District Leaders and 35 Hub Leaders planting
churches and making disciples in Zambia.

Rev. Jeff and Lou Ann Hawkins
Jeff is the Zambia Coordinator for
Hope Builders International representing
HIM Zambia in the United States.
Jeff and Lou Ann reside at the
Coldstream Christian Camp in Adams, TN.

1ST ANNUAL DISTRICT LEADERS CONFERENCE
On March 23rd Jeff will fly to Zambia and meet Rev. Denson to conduct a District Leaders conference near Chingola. The objective is to further coordinate the ministry of HIM Zambia and develop a strategic plan for the next five years. It will also be an opportunity to develop and coordinate the work of the district leaders. 12 key Hub Leaders have also been invited for the purpose of developing leaders in depth. Some of these will be future District Leaders.

Much of the time will be spent in prayer as we seek the Lord for HIS direction. He has promised to guide our steps as we walk with Him.

Some objectives of the conference to pray about:
1. Assign Hubs to District Leaders
2. Clarify the Mission and Purpose of HIM Zambia
3. Evaluate past performance
4. Evaluate needs for Bibles and Bicycles
5. Develop a Strategic Plan for the future

Jeff will also teach a simple Inductive Bible Study Methods course for the Leaders to teach to their pastors in training.

God is our Provider through the generosity of you His servants. The ministry of HIMAfrica in general and this conference in particular need your help. Please pray for us and give as the Lord leads you.

Designate your your gifts to Zambia and mail to:

Hope Builders International POBox 317, Greenwood, VA 22943

All gifts are tax deductible and will be receipted.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH US!

ROPE HOLDERS

2009-03-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

'I will go as a volunteer to seek sinners drowning in the well of sin, but I can not do it alone. I need "rope holders." Will you be my ROPE HOLDER?

BIbles Needed

2009-01-06T12:28:00.001-08:00

One of the greatest needs among pastors is Bibles. Study Bibles. Yes they need ongoing training but Bible Training focuses on the BIBLE. It is always disturbing to meet these dear brothers serving the Lord and His church as pastors that have a tattered and worn Bible or no Bible at all. Many Bibles are not in a language they readily read. Though they speak Bemba for instance I have found many do not read it well or understand the "Bible" words used. Zambians for the most part are much more proficient in English. The video was taken last September 2008 of a group of HUB pastors receiving pastoral studies from Bro. Sakala (district leader in Lusaka rural). The testimony and image is to let you know that these dear men need our help. They need Study Books and bibles to better serve the people God has called them to Shepherd. Partner with us.

Re-capping the April Trip to Zambia

2008-04-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

As most of you know I returned home on Thursday the 24th. The Lord blessed the trip to Zambia.

Lou Ann and I left that evening for parts unknown and ended up at Cumberland Falls on Friday. It is a beautiful place and recommend the Dupont Lodge as a great place to stay. Great food too. The Falls were gorgeous. They don't compare in size to the Victoria Falls but the beauty of both declare the awesome Glory of God.

I arrived in Livingstone, Zambia on April 2nd. It was my joy to overnight in Johannesburg with Hennie and DiDi. This gave me a chance to recoup from the long 18 hour flight from NY. I stayed with them last September too. When I arrived in Livingstone I was met by Kennedy Mukumbo. He is family to Denson. The trunk with our computers did not arrive so we proceeded to his guesthouse and got settled in.

The Sunbird Guesthouse is a nice fascility. I was so very comfortable and therefore grateful for a nice place to stay while we waited on the computers to arrive. You can check out his business at http://www.sunbirdguesthouse-livingstone.blogspot.com/. I helped him develop this site to attract more business and be competitve with the other higher cost places near the Falls. I ate with the Mukumbo's at their home in the evenings. May the Lord bless them now and on that Day for their kindness to me.

April 3 - The trunk arrived and we began the "process" of clearing customs. It took two days and $950 to accomplish this. We were thankful it did not cost more and that they arrived safely. I had planned to leave Thursday for Monze but we ended up staying until Saturday.

In between times I had the joy of revisiting the Victoria Falls. Because of the recent heavy rains they were on FULL display. I will try and attach a few videos to this blog. Again, the majesty and might of God are seen in His creation.

April 5 - Kennedy drove me the 4 hours to Monze where I met Denson and we made final preparations for the conference to begin Monday. On Sunday we both preached in two different churches. I preached at the Reformed church where our host, Joseph Phiri, is the pastor. Denson preached at Pastor Derek's church (Pentecostal). Both of us preached on the Authority and Sufficiency of the Word of God. A needed message all over the world as feelings, opinions and personal interpretations dominate much of Christianity today.

April 7 - 10 Monze Pastor's Conference. This conference was sponsored by another rural church planting organization (Evangelical Rural Missions -ERM). Denson and I were not surprised at the mixture of "ilks" but we were surprised that there were also six women "pastors" in attendance. 'NOW don't you know' this put a bit of pressure on me to be "sensitive" and not overbearing with these dear sisters. I must say that all of them were totally sincere in their sense of "calling." So I too had to be careful to "speak the truth in love" as we dealt with critical leadership passages in the conference. This basic conference is focused on church leadership, i.e. male leadership. I taught from Acts 20, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. These made up the heart of our study.

I am pleased to say that the Scriptures were well received by the Grace of God and His Holy Spirit's working. Some of our sisters struggled but four of them were challenged to re-adjust their thinking and admit that the role of the man and woman are different in Church just as they are in the home and nature. The equality of the Christian man and woman and the priesthood of the believer was emphasized. The brothers were challenged to respect the sisters as equals in the church while recognizing God's established order of leadership.

April 10th when we finished the conference Denson and I loaded up and headed to Lusaka but stopped in Mazabuka on the way. This is the home of our dear brother and Hub leader Michael Mufaya (MU-Fi-Ah). Last July our team from the US and South Africa worked with local Christians to evangelize hundreds and plant several new churches. Pastor Michael is our leader there training the new pastors.

Cumberland Falls, Kentucky

2008-04-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

Victoria Falls - The Smoke That Thunders

2008-04-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

Some Pictures of Victoria Falls from the Zambian Side

The Big Move

2008-05-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

Today marks the big day of change for Lou Ann and me. Lou Ann has gone to work at the courthouse in Whitesburg, KY. Tomorrow we start our weekend with Joe and family at Coldstream Christian Camp. Both our mom's will be with us and all our children and grandchildren. Joe's family is off to Alaska for three years with the Army. In June he will be shipping out to Iraq again. Thanks for your prayers for his safety and that of his family. Shannon will be keeping the home in his absence. Jakob, Olivia and Jonathon will miss their daddy while he is gone.

Lou Ann and I will also be starting the permanent move to Coldstream Christian Camp. The Potter's House will be our new responsibility booking and hosting pastors and missionaries there. We will be putting an apartment in the basement (ground level in back) of the house for our new dwelling. Lots of work ahead of us!

The Lord is good and has led us on this path. We are thankful. He is giving us important ministry both in Zambia and at Coldstream PLUS HE is giving us our desire to be closer to our children and grandchildren.

This stage of our mission in Eastern Kentucky is over after over 13 years of ministry there. We will sorely miss our dear ones there but will be back periodically to minister in churches and represent HIMAfrica/Hope Builders International.

Thanks for your prayers!

Jeff and Lou Ann

family reunion

2008-05-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Lou Ann and I gathered with our kids, grandkids and mothers at Coldstream Christian Camp's Potters House for a great time of family happiness. Our oldest, Joseph, is on his way to Alaska with his family. He is being stationed at Fairbanks for the next few years. His wife Shannon and three children will be there while he is in Iraq. Thanks for remembering them in prayer.

Pictures are posted.

family reunion pics

2008-05-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures. Our Moms... Myrna Hawkins (redhead) and Bernice Lane Jackson.

Our children... Joe (Shannon), Grace (Jeremy), Mary Beth (Ben), Luke (Amy)

Having fun fishing... (R to L) Joe, Luke, Chloe, Jeremy, Jeff, Ben and Joe Rosignol

Grandchildren... Chloe, Jakob, Regan, Olivia, Corbin, Jared, Jonathan, AVA (in the hopper)

Grandchildren

2008-05-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were blessed with the arrival of our 8th grandchild. Her name is Ava Grace Phelps. Mommy Grace and Dad Jeremy are doing fine. Memaw (Lou Ann) is staying with them a few days to help Grace get some much needed rest.

Ava weighed in at 8#s and 1 oz. She is 22 inches long with beautiful dark hair.

We praise the Lord for His gift of this new life to our family.

Chloe and Regan are staying with Papaw tonight at Coldstream. We fished and then watched the "Secret Garden" with popcorn. They are sound asleep now.

At Coldstream Christian Camp

2008-07-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

Lou Ann and I continue to be busy building the apartment below the Potter' House. It seems to go slow somedays but all in all it is getting done. My son Luke and sons in law Ben and Jeremy are coming over this weekend to help prepare the walls and ceilings for drywall. The girls, Mary Beth, Grace and Amy will help Lou Ann clean the Potter's House and Cottage in preparation for new visitors.

The past two weeks has seen a full camp with children from the surrounding area and a group from Bethel Church in Crown Point, IN. It has been a rich blessing but a lot of work, a work of faith, labor of love and a lot of patient hope! It has been great to meet new people and see others come to Christ.

Today Mary Beth's Ben organized a helicopter landing in front of Denson Hall. It was quite spectacular! The rotor wind from the big CH-47 was so intense that it blew out the back window of our van!

The camp honored the men aboard with loud applause and shouts. We live in a wonderful country. Praise the Lord.

Lou Ann and I are in a rush to finish the basement apartment before I leave for Zambia August 21. Sometimes it seems quite overwhelming. We are doing most of the work ourselves. We are thankful for the help we get! Our family will be a big help this weekend.

Heading to Zambia in 2 weeks!

2008-08-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

August 5, 2008

Dear Ones,

Our ministry, HIMAfrica, is your ministry too. We are partners together in this task and calling to help our brothers in Africa to win souls, plant churches, train pastors and make disciples (real Christians) in their culture where they live.

We work together with Hope Builders International to bring this help to them. On the 21^st of this month I have the privilege of again joining my brother Denson Mushitala in ministering to churches and pastors in Zambia. We will be traveling many hundreds of miles as we visit churches planted since the year 2000. In these visits we will access the progress of the churches, their pastors and the disciple-making model put in place. Denson and I will also conduct two Hub Pastor’s Conferences in the northeast region.

Much of the traveling and lodging will be in remote areas of Zambia, places that I have not been to until now.

We need and appreciate your partnership in this ministry. Without you it will not get done. God has called some to GO and others to SEND. Will you help us to continue to GO? Your prayers and financial support make this possible.

As you pray, please consider partnering with us tangibly. There are several areas of partnership.

Ø 365/20 Partners: This is the base of our support. 365 shares at $20 per month not only support us personally, but also our ministry expenses (traveling, office) and the basic support of TEN District Leaders in Zambia. We have 25% of this support. Would you consider one share ($20) or more? You can be an intimate vital part of this ministry.

Ø Hub Partners: At present we have over 30 Hub Churches and pastors. Our cost to keep them in training and supply some basic needs is $300 per month. At present we have 5 Hub Partners. Has God put you as a church or individual in a place where you could personally support the training of 40 churches and up to 10,000 fellow Christians?

Ø BIBLES FOR BELIEVERS: There is an immediate need for thousands of Bibles for pastors and individual believers in Zambia. It costs $10 for Hope Builders International and HIMAfrica to purchase and deliver a Bible in the language of the believer. You, your Sunday School Class and church can be a vital partner in providing Bibles to your brethren in Africa. Your church could have an annual Bibles for Believers Day taking up a special love offering. What a blessing this could be to a pastor without a good Bible or a Christian family who has never owned one. What a blessing it will be for you to give.

Ø Special Gift: Our trip to Zambia and the subsequent ministry that Denson and I will do will have a cost of about $10,000. This includes the two conferences (feeding, housing, study materials and travel for the brothers) and the traveling Denson and I will do over 6 weeks in Zambia. God is our provider and He always provides using His children.

God bless you for prayerfully considering your part in God’s Call to “make disciples” of the whole world. Your involvement may not be with us personally, but you can and must be involved. It is not an option, it is a command. Let’s all GO and make disciples.

In HIM and For Him,

Jeff and Lou Ann Hawkins

himafrica@yahoo.com

www.himafrica.blogspot.com

1860 J.M. Goodman Rd.

Adams, TN 37010

Christmas 2008

2008-12-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

HIMAfrica
Helping Indigenous Ministries in Africa
JEFFREY and LOU ANN HAWKINS
Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift! Looking forward to Christmas the blazing heart is drawn toward the TREE of life, Jesus Christ. How thankful we are for His purposeful obedience to the Father. His love displayed in obedience as HE, the LORD of all, humbled Himself and became one of us, and then died in our place. What Love! What Grace! What a Savior!
Thank you Father for giving us your SON.
Thank you Jesus for obeying the Father.
Thank you Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Christ in all who believe.
Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our Triune God for loving us with a love that is beyond measure. A love that reaches from an old rugged Cross around the world to save “whosoever” will.
This Christmas may we all have a blazing heart for Jesus, representing the saving Tree of Life to the world.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
The heart cry of almost every pastor/leader in Zambia is Bibles for their people and themselves

HIM Zambia has established leaders at the district level and is asking God for $300 per month each. There are 5 DL’s at present sharing $750. We desire to appoint at least 10 DL’s throughout the country. Each DL oversees and trains 10 Hub Leaders representing over 100 churches. The logistics of coordinating and providing training for over 800 churches established since 2000

Provisions to conduct multiple pastors conferences throughout the country every year.
More churches and individuals to become partners in ministry both “GOING” and “GIVING”.

Grace for Rev. Mushitala the National Director of HIM Zambia and all his leadership team.

MOST OF ALL that Jesus Christ be glorified in the saving of souls and establishment of His church.

MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITY!
This July 14—28 HIMAfrica with Hope Builders
International will be going to Livingstone, Zambia.
Here some of you will help the indigenous church
evangelize and plant churches. The rest of you will
help us to GO.

Details can be found at www.himafrica.com or
www.hope-builders.org
WE ARE LOOKING FOR 20 GOOD MEN AND
WOMEN to serve with us.
COME and HELP us! ACTS 16:6-10
Contact Jeff: 615-696-2244
HIMAfrica@yahoo.com

OUR CALLING AND VISION
is to “make disciples”. We are building
on the foundation of the thousands of
Western Missionaries that have served in
Africa these past 300 years. Our task is
to continue what they began. As we train
the indigenous pastors in Zambia we are
strengthening the church, honoring the
work previously done and obeying our
Lord’s Great Commission to make
www.hope-builders.org disciples.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW! What a year 2008 has been!
 Spoke in Churches in Illinois
 Moved from Bethanna Baptist parsonage to Calvary Campus, Letcher, KY to wait on final move to TN.
 Worked with Cumberland Area Pulpit Supply training men to study the Bible and preach (two years)
 Missions Conference at Southeastern Bible College
 Presented HIMAfrica and Bibles for Believers in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky & Tennessee in February/March
 Spent most of April in Zambia working with Harvesters International Ministries, Zambia
 May family reunion and move to Coldstream Christian Camp and the Potter’s House ministry.
 June—August built an apartment below the Potter’s House
 6 Weeks in Zambia visited pastors and churches and conducted 3 conferences, arrived home October 1
 October to present finishing up Apartment, travel to E. KY to present HIMAfrica
In all this we experienced God’s great grace in us and the lives of those we were privileged to minister to. God has provided for
us personally enabling us to present the work of HIMAfrica and Bibles for Believers. Praise His Name!

WILL YOU PRAY FOR THESE LEADERS? THANK YOU!
National Leader Denson Mushitala (directs and coordinates the ministry of HIM Zambia)
“One thing to remember is that to do ministry one must have the heart for it. That is to win souls one must love the sinner and go closer to them. Let them see the love of God in your heart and your eyes.” Denson thanks God for your love, prayers and support. The Honda has been repaired. Several new district leaders have been appointed. Thank God for Denson’s safety as he travels many miles as he leads the ministry of Harvesters International Ministry Zambia, winning souls, planting churches and training leaders.

Northeast District Leader Edward Musonda reports the churches are growing and maturing as the pastors grow in theWord of God . After the Kasama Conference they divided themselves into three groups. One evangelized Mbala and planted a new church now with twenty members. Two groups returned to the churches planted in May with Rev. Denson and rejoiced in the Lord having added new converts to the churches. They baptized 125 new believers! DL Musonda also conducted a pastors seminar for his new level one HUB churches. The 10 pastors are ready to start level two training. An outreach close to the border of Tanzania is being planned.

Lusaka District Leader Sakala Sinoya continues to teach the Harvester Bible School weekly and to evangelize the large George Compound
outside of Lusaka while pastoring a new church plant. He sends special thanks for the clothes given him making him more presentable to the church and community.

Rev. Titus Shampandes our newest District Leader in Solwezi(NW) is
sincerely thankful for the support and training received. He has been busy visiting
and encouraging HUB pastors and overseeing their training.

District Leader James Chinokole in the Nchelenga area (NE near Congo) reports that the men were very encouraged after the training conference in September. Since then the training continues and three new churches have been planted Plans for Church planting outreaches near Congo border are delayed by war.

District Leader Mumba Chinyanta oversees 32 churches and has 22 HUB pastors in training in the NW Solwezi area near Congo.

Most Pastors desperately need Bibles. Study Bibles and Bible Dictionaries will be a
tremendous aid in sermon preparation and teaching.