Meet the Hands on Africa team
Dr. Andre DelportPresident and Founder
Location: Chicago, IL
In 1989 Andre started studying by correspondence through the University of South Africa for a B.Commerce degree. It was during this time in 1990 that the Lord called Andre into fulltime ministry as an evangelist. he started his theological studies through the Baptist Theological College in Johannesburg in 1991. Andre completed his final studies through the Baptist Theological College in Cape Town, graduating in 1996. As recognition for Andre's zeal and passion for people, Jacksonville Baptist Theological Seminary, Florida U.S.A. in 2003 conferred on him a honorary Doctorate of Divinity. He is a Professor at Jacksonville Baptist Theological Seminary in charge of the African theological seminary extension.
Pastor Bob PowersVice President
Location: Chicago, IL
Pastor Bob has been pastoring for over 25 years. He first started as an intern working with youth. He served as Director of Christian Education, Director of Evangelism, and then an associate pastor. He led an inner city church as campus pastor where he led the work as the campus senior pastor. After ten years being an associate, Pastor Bob felt the calling to start a church. He started a church in the home of a friend and grew the church to a high day of 545. He pastored the church for sixteen years before becoming an active part of Hands On Africa.
Marius de VilliersDirector and Lecturer
Location: Chicago, IL
Marius de Villiers is an ordained minister of the Baptist Union of South Africa. He comes from a marketing and business background but has felt called to Christian ministry in 2004. He graduated from the seminary 2009 with a B.Min. He also graduated in 2013 with an MBA at the University of Stellenbosch and completed his Masters in Practical Theology at the University of Pretoria in 2015. His research interest includes Practical Theology subjects, Leadership, Financial Counselling and Marginal Religious Movements. Marius has been teaching part-time at the Cape Town Baptist Seminary (CTBS) since 2010.
Rina DelportDirector of Women's Ministries
Location: Chicago, IL
Rina is the wife of Andre who is the founder of HOA. She has been supportive of his mission endeavours and joined him on her first mission trip to Malawi in 1998. She has since then been on many trips and especially have a passion and burden for the women of Africa as well as leading them in Expressive Worship. She leads the Women conferences as well as the local Worship team in Kenya.
Natasha DelportDirector of Education
Location: Chicago, IL
Natasha has worked as a volunteer with the Hands on Africa team for many years and joined the full time team in 2018.
Michelle KoortsMissions Director and Secretary
Location: Chicago, IL
Michelle has been involved in Hands on Africa since 1999 after her first mission trip to Malawi in 1998. Michelle has a passion for the spiritual and humanitarian needs of Africa and coordinates all our religious activities, various projects, cultural preparation and fundraising efforts. The well being of African children, especially the orphans of Africa, is of high concern to her and oversees our Orphan projects. She is dedicated to the causes of HOA and has committed her life to the well being and future of the ministry.
Tom WillsonDirector of Baseball
Location: Chicago, IL
"The FATHER of baseball in Kenya" had a dream 2 years ago about God using him to bring baseball to children in Africa. In 2010 Tom joined Hands on Africa and now after 3 trips to Africa Tom can already look back and see how God fulfilled his dream
Esao and Dorine Jobando (Kenya)Overseer of the Project in Kenya
Location: Kenya
Esao and Dorine are born Kenyans and started the work in Migori Kenya in 1997 with Andre. They are the overseers of the Kenya project and well respected by everyone. Esao serves as Bishop overseeing the many churches we are responsible for in Kenya and also work as administrator of the Health Center, he is Andre's right hand man and a key part of HOA in Kenya. Jobando graduated with his Masters Degree in Theology in 2012. Dorine is in charge of the Carol's Orphanage as well as the Expressive Worship Team. She completed her Certificate in Pastoral Care in 2010.
Lyson and Evelyn Daud (Malawi)Overseer of the Project in Malawi
Location: Malawi
Lyson and Evelyn are Malawians who have worked with us since the year2000 and Lyson is currently the Grace Farm manager. He also acts as local coordinator for our Bible Seminary and is currently in his final year towards graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Theology. Evelyn is in charge of the Grace Orphanage and Expressive Worship Team in Malawi.
Location: Middelburg E.C. South Africa
Marnene served in the South African Military Medical Services for 21 years, Lt. Col. Manager of Emergency Services. She joined Hands on Africa on voluntary mission trips but in 2014 she felt God’s leading to join Hands on Africa as a full-time volunteer missionary. In the beginning of 2016 she relocated to Middelburg, E.C. and started setting up the City of Refuge facility.
Marnene also did a Bachelors degree in Counselling and an Honours in Ministry at Team Impact Christian University and also completed her Ordination year.
Mannah KamaraOverseer of the project in Sierra Leone
Location: Sierra Leone
He is a qualified teacher and currently busy with his Bachelors degree in Theology. Mannah has a calling to work with children and as our Housefather of the orphanage he is living out his passion.
Jan KoekemoerLife Abundantly
Jan Koekemoer met the Lord when he was 7 years old and although the least of His servants, have followed and served Him in many capacities for 63 years. His main desire is to hear the Word of the Lord daily and do His will, whatever it takes and regardless where it takes him. The Lord seems to use him optimally to mentor leaders and practically implement the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God which includes evangelism, sound teaching, practically replacing hopelessness, darkness and despair with Hope & the Abundant Life Jesus promised and ministering the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as and where He enables. Born in Boksburg, SA. Studied at University of Pretoria and ICI Brussels. Married for 47 years with 4 children and 3 grand children.
