Church Planting in Liberia and West Africa

Hope Waterloo gathered outside their temporal worship centre
 Words are inadequate to describe and appreciate the grace of God that surpasses everything which continually overshadow us and enable us to withstand all opposition from the kingdom of darkness. He makes us stand victoriously in advancing his kingdom program on this part of the globe. The work that started about ten years ago after the destructive war in an unfinished building and under the shadows of trees, can now be counted as a growing ministry, planting churches within the country Liberia and around West Africa.

Hope Gbarnga, the central and mother church of all the growing churches, is centrally located. It is found in the heart (the middle or centre) of Liberia, making it easy to reach out to other fifteen (15) countries and to gather pastors, church workers and leaders for training without many problems.

The photo below is the current building where we worship from under the tree and in an unfinished building to where we are now. Though this building is not yet completed, but we do have service, conferences and training in it.

Hope Gbarnga Central Church (outside view).
Hope Gbarnga Central Church (interior view)
 After the visit of Ps. Brendan Kirby, who served as the connecting and strong pillar to the establishment of Hope International Ministries in this part of the globe in February 2008, I moved to Foya District, Lofa County, which is my home town and started a new church in an old structure and later constructed a temporal structure on a rented land with reefs and tarpaulin.
Hope Foya Church at the beginning about eight years.

Thereafter, I moved to Monrovia, the country’s capital city, where I met with a pastor who joined me with few of his members and few of my members from the camp. We started a church in a rented school building, where we met only on Sunday, but thank God they are now worshiping in their own building.

During Pastor Brendan’s second visit, we had a night crusade in Voinjama and we started a new church with the new converts who gave their lives during the crusade the following day.

Today, this work has expanded to Guinea with 3 churches, Sierra Leone with 3 churches, Liberia with 10 churches and Benin with 1 church. I am heading to Togo to hopefully start work by September this year.

Below are photographs of churches and their location:

Hope Guinea Church interior view during the teaching
March during Bi-Annual Conference in the City of Gbarnga
The gowning ceremony of Ps. Simon as a sign of appreciating his hard work in affecting the lives of the West African pastors and leaders of Hope West Africa

Welcoming ceremony of Ps. Simon and his wife at the Bi-Annual Conference in Gbarnga City Liberia. This ceremony is done in honour of Ps. Lai Eng first time in Liberia West Africa to celebrate our Bi-Annual Conference

Ps. Simon Eng praying for pastors at the ordination of the West African
Ps. Sonny praying for new converts at crusade in Tubugissizu Voinjama District, Lofa County

 

Ps. Simon Eng preaching at Hope Gbarnga during the Bi-Annual Conference of Hope West Africa.

  
Crusade in Freetown during Ps. Sonny mission trip in Sierra Leon to strengthen the church
and start another church.
Hope Duport Road Sara Community Monrovia – Liberia gathered outside their
temporal church building.

 

 

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Ps Brendan Kirby

Brendan and Helen Kirby are the founding pastors of Hope Church in Adelaide. Brendan became a Christian in 1984, and joined Hope Melbourne in 1991. In the 80’s Brendan trained in physics at The University Of Melbourne, and graduated with a PhD in 1989. Since then he has worked as a post doctoral fellow and research scientist for about 23 years in various government research organizations. He married Helen in 1994, and in early 1998 they moved to Adelaide plant the Hope Church together while they both were working. He resigned his job as a research scientist for the Australian Defence in 2012 to work full time as a pastor.  Brendan is passionate about building and planting churches, and oversees churches in Perth, West Africa, Central Africa and India.

Ps Lance Wolter

Ps Lance & Belle were married in 2006 while pioneering Hope Church Gold Coast. As time went on they began to also become more and more involved helping with other churches in Australia and missional work (especially in Africa). In late 2018, they both took a leap of faith and relocated to Southern Africa to help churches in that region to become more fruitful in discipleship and the multiplication of churches. They are currently serving over 180 churches in Southern and Eastern Africa as well as churches in Gold Coast, New South Wales and ACT (Australia). Lance and Belle are passionate about pioneering community empowerment and social justice projects for the poorest of the poor. The family is also blessed with two beautiful children, Michael and Hadessah.

Ps Chaiyapruck Pewruangnont

Pastor Chaiyapruck Pewruangnont came to know Jesus Christ in 1988 at Hope of Bangkok church when he was a high school student. After he graduated with a Bachelor Degree of Architechure from KMITL Bangkok, he was trained and sent out to be the pastor of Hope of Hatyai church in 1996. He then moved to be a regional pastor at Hope Nakornrachasima and oversaw the North East region of Thailand. In 2000, he moved to Hope Bangkok church to join the pastoral team and oversaw the North region of Bangkok. In 2002, he moved back to Hatyai again and oversaw the Southern and North East of Thailand. He is currently the Vice President of HIM Thailand. Pastor Chaiyapruck is married to Pastor Patcharee. They have 2 daughters.

Ps Chuchat Chaisombat

Pastor Chuchat Chaisombat grew up in Payao, Northern Thailand.  After graduating in Economics, he started to serve God as a full-time pastoral staff.  He now lives with his wife Siriphorn in Chiangmai. He graduated in Master of Ministry from Bangkok Bible Seminary (BBS). He is currently the President of HIM Thailand, and leads the HIM churches in Thailand. Chuchat enjoys pioneering churches and discipleship.  He has a deep desire to inspire and help Christ-followers to be passionate for God and to serve Him until their last breath.

Ps James Loke

James Loke graduated in economics and worked in the central bank in Singapore. He then received a sovereign call to serve God in the mission field whence he travelled widely to preach and teach the Word of God. He is based in Singapore, where he serves God with his wife Christine. He oversees HIM churches in Thailand and the Philippines.  James believes that God wants His people to know Him well and to have a close relationship with Him and with fellow believers.  James desires Christ-followers to be passionate for God, mature in Christ and live pragmatic lives honouring Him.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Ps Prakich Treetasayuth

Pastor Prakich Treetasayuth received a Bachelor’s Degree of Science, majoring in Biochemistry, from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. He was awarded a Master’s Degree of Philosophy in Theology from the Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society. After receiving Christ in Hope of Bangkok Church in 1988, he was committed to the church and its ministry in many areas including biblical studies. In 1995, he became a regional pastor and the Head of Publication, in charge of the church’s teaching materials. He was appointed as the Pastor over Student Ministry in 1999 until he relocated to Europe in 2004 in his new role as the Regional Pastor over Hope Europe. God called him back to Thailand in 2021 for an additional role as the General Secretary for Thailand Bible Society. Pastor Prakich is gifted in leadership, word of encouragement and as a shepherd and a teacher.

Ps Kwong Lie Ong

Pastor Ong Kwong Lie pioneered Hope Johor Bahru (in Malaysia) in the year 1993. With a humble beginning of 1 person, today the church consists of more than 200 members and is still growing. Besides pastoring Hope Johor Bahru, he also oversees daughter churches in the state of Johor and Malacca. God has also entrusted him to oversee churches in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and India. Pastor Kwong Lie graduated from Harvest Bible College in Melbourne with Diploma in Christian Ministry in 1991. He is married to Pastor Swee Min and they have 2 sons. Pastor Swee Min supports him in his pastoral role locally and internationally.

Ps Denis Lu

Pastor Denis Lu was one of the pioneering members of Hope Kuching with Pastor Simon, in 1992. He is currently the Senior Pastor of Hope Kuching. He oversees HIM churches in Malaysia. Denis graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1991 from University Newcastle, Australia in 1991. He returned to Kuching, lectured at Stamford College and later became the College’s principal in 1995. He moved on to be an education counselor for Taylor’s College before entering full-time ministry in September 2001. Denis is married to Pastor Chong Hai Eng, who is also the Senior Manager in the HIM Elders’ Office. They have a son.

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Ps Simon Eng

Pastor Simon Eng is a Civil Engineer by training. He has been ministering for over 30 years. His experiences include pioneering Hope Kuching, mentoring leaders and pastors, and ministering in cross-cultural Regional Conferences. Pastor Simon is married to Pastor Lai Eng and they have 3 wonderful children, who are active in their faith as well. Pastor Simon is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of Hope Kuala Lumpur and an Elder in Hope International Ministries. He loves to build God’s people and travels extensively to minister and care for God’s churches.

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Ps Wilson Lim

Wilson and Lai Ling are founding pastors of Hope Church, a thriving multi-site church with its headquarters in Brisbane. Wilson is currently serving as President of HIM and oversees Hope churches in Oceania and North America.  Wilson is known for his lively, engaging expositional preaching, theological and leadership insights as well as apostolic father’s heart.  His passion is teaching, equipping leaders and building the church.  Wilson holds a PhD in Civil Engineering (Monash University) and a MTh (The University of Manchester). He was a research scientist with CSIRO. He also formerly served as a Bible College director and is currently the chairman of Australian Care & Trauma Services.  Lai Ling complements him in ministry with her passion in the areas of prophetic, intercession, pastoral care and counselling.  Together, they minister widely around the world today and founded a ministry equipping website wilsonlailing.com.  They have three adult children and 1 daughter-in-law.