Concord Times (Freetown)
Ben Samuel Turay
24 October 2008
A non-profit Christian organization based in Oklahoma city in USA, His Healing Helping Hands International Ministries (4 H.I.M.) devoted to facilitating and mobilizing ministry teams and the essential resources required to bring relief to those who are in need, yesterday visited President Koroma.
Speaking at State House 4 H.I.M President/CEO Steve Hollingsworth said the purpose of the visit was to make a courtesy call on the President and to strengthen a good relationship between his organization and the government of Sierra Leone.
"We started working in Sierra Leone since 2005 and we want President Koroma to know that 4 H.I.M is operating in his country and to also discuss developmental issues," Hollingsworth said, adding that they have been helping different communities in the country.
He said he has an associate degree in Theology and has led or travelled with teams to over 30 nations on short-term mission trips. Steve and his wife Nancy have been married since 1978 and reside in Edmond, Oklahoma.
"We don't give money but provide training for people so that they will become successful people in society," he said.
"4 H.I.M., in our efforts to fight poverty, we unite sponsors with children around the world, bringing different nations and cultures together."
In Sierra Leone, 4 H.I.M. operates many different projects such as helping amputees, giving community women microfinance, digging water wells for various schools and helping farmers. They also have a free school at Rokel for children of amputees.
President Koroma acclaimed the work of 4 H.I.M. saying "not everyone who is blessed will think of giving back to others."
He said although the country has improved since the civil war, it still needs help in the recovery process. He also said he would visit 4 H.I.M.'s projects and support them to bring meaningful progress to Sierra Leone.
4 H.I.M. created an orphanage sponsorship program called the Basileia Project, which provides food, clothing, school supplies, medical resources and technical training to resident children. In addition to Sierra Leone, 4 H.I.M. also has programs in Togo, Chennai, India and Titanyan, Haiti.
Through its programs, 4 H.I.M. works to proclaim the good news of Christ through preaching the word, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, ministering to the sick, meeting the needs of the whole person and giving a hand-up, not a hand-out through a culturally appropriate process of community development.
Hollingsworth was accompanied by Brandon Coon, one of the main supporters of 4 H.I.M, who was in the country to see what was being done by the project.
"I am very happy with what the project has done in the country," Coon said, adding that he promised to donate more.
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