Every year, Hands at Work receives a scripture from the Lord that is our guiding scripture for the year ahead. This scripture is a promise, a challenge, an inspiration, an encouragement, and an opportunity to invite God to lead us throughout the year, expectant for what He will do in and through us…
As we near the end of 2025, we invited several Hands at Work African leaders to share testimonies of how they have seen God fulfilling this word amongst the most vulnerable communities.
Ilaje in Nigeria: Within the wider community, where three of our Community Based Organisations are located, many of the churches don’t know the truth of who Jesus is and who He can be in their lives. For years, this has limited church involvement because, as Hands at Work, we long for pastors to be speaking into the lives of our children, who know the true Jesus of the gospel! Over the last year, there has been great growth in this area, as there are three pastors who know the ‘Jesus We Know’, who are committed to supporting the work that is happening in Nigeria.
Vivian, the coordinator of the local Hands at Work team in Lagos, Nigeria shares:
“These three pastors are very committed to supporting and being a blessing to our children, Care Workers and Primary Caregivers (PCG). Every time we invite them for our programs, they are available, whether it's PCG days, youth camp, youth days and sports days - they really show their support and the love they have for our youth. They have come many times and sometimes need to travel hours to connect with the children. We really thank God for His faithfulness. This used to be a dream for us and a need that we had but we thank God for all He is doing.”
Mnelisi, the coordinator of the local Hands at Work team in Phophonyane shares,
“In one community the husband of one Care Worker passed away and she was stressed because he was the one providing. As we visited her home, she shared that since her husband passed away, she thought it was the end of her life, but God heard our prayers, and raised other people to come and support her. We praise the Lord for that. Today, she has found some odd jobs and is able to support her family. In that situation, God was able to answer our prayers and speak to other people to come and support her family. This word reminded us that there is someone on our side, who responds to the needs in our communities.”
There is a Primary Caregiver in the Goma region, who has four small boys; two of whom come to the Care Point. Sadly her 18-year-old son struggled with alcohol abuse for a long time and would mistreat his family. But recently the local Hands at Work team in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, started a Bible study and this son was involved. Bindu, the coordinator of the Goma team shares,
“By the grace of God we made peace within the family. In October, this son chose to follow Jesus and is going to be baptized. Praise God!”
For many years, the Care Point in Toyota A, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been located at a school, but as time went on, the local Hands at Work team in Likasi and the Care Workers dreamed of moving the Care Point to a new plot of land. Angel, the coordinator of the Likasi team shares:
“After having many conversations and communication around the land, my team and the Care Workers decided to go to Toyota A to see what we could do. Before we started walking in the community, looking for different people who could support us, God had already sent one woman to meet us, who said she knew a place that could be our new Care Point. It ended up being the right place and the land was purchased. As I’m sharing this testimony, the Care Point in Toyota A has shifted to this new land and the children now have their own place. When the Care Workers and our team were still talking about the land and what to do, God had already answered in showing us the right direction.
Luwis, the coordinator of the local Hands at Work team in Kabwe, Zambia shares:
“In 2024, we had a very bad rainfall and it was a big thing that traumatized families in our communities. So, entering 2025, it was a 50/50 thing. Some people were saying, we don't know how this rain would be and we don't know about our harvest because even when we had good rains there was a point where we had strong winds. It was a very tough situation and people were paralyzed in fear. They were thinking, how is it going to be again? Are we going to survive?
But we thank God because during the harvest, God put a smile in our families and in the communities at the end of the season. While people were simply thinking about praying and praying for harvest like never before because of the trauma, God answered their prayers. God came through for them. People were saying that our harvest is looking good, I can’t complain. God has blessed us. Whether they planted and harvested a big or small portion, they were saying God has been faithful. God has answered us.”
Audette, a member of the Regional Support Team supporting the work in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe shares about the Watchword coming alive in Mozambique:
“The Watchword was eye-opening because it helped us to see the things that God is doing in our lives and the things that we thought we were just talking about it but then we see God in action. It has made us to be very conscious of the Lord's answers and to be very conscious about the Lord speaking and moving in our lives.
One of our Care Workers in Mozambique had a son who had gone to a faraway town. She had been talking, not even praying, you know when my son comes or if he comes, I’m going to do certain things because I miss him. It has been years since he has visited me. The following day, she went to a field to prepare for planting. Then when she went back home, the son was at her house. It was a surprise for her, but it was God answering her prayers before she could even pray about it.”
Ritha, a member of the Regional Support Team supporting the work in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe shares about the Watchword coming alive in Malawi:
“This Watchword has given us reassurance on how God answers the prayers. Even before we call on Him, He hears us and He goes ahead of us. This word has been a huge encouragement to our Care Workers and our Primary Caregivers (PCG) in the communities, and whenever we shared this word, the Care Workers felt greatly encouraged and had hope, knowing that despite the situation that they can be going through, God knows.
When we had the Maranatha Workshop for the PCGs, we shared about Jesus and as we connected it to the Watchword, we saw how many PCGs wanted to receive the Jesus that we know. This was a huge testimony and we've seen how these PCGs have stood and committed themselves to meeting and continuing to pray and to trust in God because they know that there's nothing they can do without Him.”
““One Primary Caregiver had been deeply burdened for her daughter, who had wandered away from home for many years. This year, after much prayer, her daughter returned home safely. It has been a beautiful reminder that God still restores relationships and answers even long-held prayers.”
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John, a member of the local Hands at Work team in Mutare, Zimbabwe shares:
“Since we started the Masasi B Community Based Organisation, it was located at a local church, but the place was not all that conducive and the space was small for our Life Center activities. But this year, we were provided with land that we can build our own Care Point on and there is a pre-existing water source, which is an advantage to us as water can be a huge challenge. Also, our Primary Caregivers in our communities have grown spiritually. They can now stand up and even share the word of God without any shame.”