Mission Direct - Volunteers helping the world's poor

In 1997 Nigel Hyde, one of the founders of Mission Direct stood outside a large church at Mokattam Mountain, Cairo and watched a lady rummaging in a rubbish dump looking for something to sell or eat. On that day Nigel sensed God calling him to focus his life and ministry in helping the poor in practical ways as well as sharing the Gospel with them.

The vision for Mission Direct took shape as Nigel reflected on James 2:14-17 where James says ‘faith without good deeds is dead.’ When Nigel shared his vision with some friends and people in his church he discovered that there were others who felt the same way. They wanted to roll up their sleeves and help the poor directly by building homes, hospitals, schools or churches. By taking medical and other vital supplies to those that were suffering. By spending time with those who felt forgotten or neglected, sharing the gospel with them and praying for them

In 2001, Nigel began to manage self-funded volunteer teams from a large UK charity working on small indigenous projects in some of the world’s poorest countries. He learnt a great deal about managing and encouraging volunteers on the ground and about developing partnerships with local churches and community organisations.

A few years later in January 2005 Nigel together with Tim Martindale and Ronnie Flemming went on to established Mission Direct.

Since 2005 Mission Direct has sent over 1,000 self-funded volunteers to eight poor countries and has coordinated development projects undertaken by these volunteers in partnership with local churches and community groups.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised so far and spent to build schools, homes, to provide educational supplies and to transform the lives of thousands of poor children, adults and families.

What’s more thousands of poor and marginalized people have had opportunities to hear the Christian message by watching the Jesus film in their language and have been invited to respond to the invitation to accept Christ into their lives.