The Heart of Rebuild Africa
Rebuild Africa started in the hearts of our team with a sense of conviction and responsibility.
Heart broken by what I easily overlooked for most of my life I knew something had to change. What is the first picture that comes to mind when you think of Africa? Maybe it’s the coast, the windlands, the African wildlife, and safari drives. For most of you reading you probably pictured the poor African children living in the bush, hungry, abandoned, and naked. Depending on how long you have been around the church you likely have experienced a campaign for children in Africa or a mission trip raising money to help people around the world who live in survival with limited access to water, safety, healthcare, education, and food. I don’t share this with you so that you feel guilty for what you do have or to guilt trip you into generosity.
Our family lives in Austin, Texas where we’ve relocated and created a new home for almost 7 years. We love the United States - the freedom and opportunity to build the life you dream of is unlike many places around the world. Despite our new love for the place and people here our hearts still long to see people’s lives rebuilt in South Africa. It is our hope to partner with you, along with the generous families we’ve met here to make a real difference for someone’s today – and their eternity.
The word of God says that, “the poor will always be with you” (John 12:8) - with countless instructions on how to care for them. Jesus’ words should compel our hearts to be generous in the way we care & the way we give, “What you do unto the poor you will do unto me,” (Matthew 25:40). Even as you’re reading you might be assessing the way you’ve cared for the poor in the past or your ability to help in the future truly moved by these words. This is what happened in our hearts many years following our move to America - when our eyes were opened to their pain we refused to not look away or to be overwhelmed by the need, but to take responsibility and trust God’s word.
After years of pastoring and planting churches throughout South Africa I knew that for the sake of our family’s future we needed to leave. We didn’t want to, but felt like we had no other choice than to leave behind the place we called home for the sake of safety and opportunity for our kids. The conviction and responsibility to care for those in need in our country continues to weigh heavily on our hearts.
Isaiah 58 is a key chapter that has shaped our heart for the people in South Africa:
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
This is the fast that we choose – this is our worship to the Lord – this is our legacy.
We don’t want to spend one day, but to spend our whole lives on behalf of the hungry. We’re aligning our hearts with God’s heart for the oppressed, the hungry, the lonely, the naked, and the hopeless. Providing a place of shelter, food, clothing, education, and family.
According to the Republic of South Africa: Statistics Department there are 23 million people living in poverty in South Africa, meaning that nearly 40% of the country’s population lives below the country’s poverty-line, which is set at around R1,300 per person per month (about $70 USD). The exchange rate is R17=$1USD.
Children are among the most affected, making up over 43% of the country’s poor population. Many families continue to struggle with unemployment, food insecurity, rising living costs, and limited access to stable opportunities.
By comparison, in the United States, the national poverty rate is around 11–12% of the population. While poverty absolutely exists in America and many families still face hardship, the overall infrastructure, access to services, social programs, and economic opportunities are generally far stronger than in South Africa.
One of the biggest differences is the depth of poverty. In many South African communities, poverty can mean:
going days without consistent meals
unreliable electricity or water access
overcrowded housing or informal settlements
very limited employment opportunities
schools lacking basic resources
This is one reason Rebuild Africa focuses so heavily on restoring hope through practical support, trusted local church partnerships, and long-term community upliftment.
The need is great and can begin to feel overwhelming – through long-term partnerships with local churches we can work together to “rebuild the ruins”. We believe the church (as a people) are the hands and feet of Jesus (Romans 10:15), meant to be a city on a hill top (Matthew 5:14), light in dark places (John 1:5), and the hope of the world (Matthew 16:18).
As you partner with us our hope is that you would experience the fullness of life aligned with God’s heart. This chapter ensures a promise that as we provide for the poor, light will break forth in your life, healing will come to you quickly, righteousness will go before you, and HIs glory your rear guard, he will satisfy your needs, and strengthen your frame. How good is our God? That as we refresh those around us we too will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25).
So our heart is simple: serving communities, restoring hope, and rebuilding lives – one person at a time.