Our Stories

Our Stories

Against all odds tales of transformation and hope!

Our Founders

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). As founders of One Hope, these words have been a constant theme flowing through the past 10 years of our lives. That “new thing” is a God-given passion and drive to share HOPE with the broken, the forgotten, and the unwanted. But that “new thing” was painfully birthed out of our own wilderness.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done…” These are the words of Joseph at the end of Genesis…the end of a long story of betrayal, heartache, trial, loss, and imprisonment, which God used to pave the way to Joseph’s redemption story. While the circumstances of our journey are different, Genesis 50:20 has become a life verse to us.

Numerous circumstances over several years led us to an overwhelming financial crisis. In the midst of a failing business, our personal lives were falling apart—shame, alcohol, dangerous coping mechanisms, hopelessness and unhealthy behaviors were leading us on a path towards destruction. Through it all, we ignored God’s loving advances and continued to walk in our own darkness.

We desperately and fruitlessly toiled at changing our circumstances. It took an unexpected arrest warrant and finding ourselves alone in separate jail cells for the Light to finally break through. Alone, desperate, broken, and terrified, God whispered in the depths of our souls, “Be still and let Me work. I will change your lives and restore your marriage. Relinquish control, and let Me lead.”

We surrendered to the process and said ‘yes’ to that year of exile. In jail, what semblance of a life we’d had remaining on the outside disintegrated. All was lost. In the midst of it all, God was teaching us that He remained. He was faithful. He was the only One worthy of and able to fulfill our utter confidence and trust.
Like Paul’s encounter on the Damascus road, this traumatic event completely changed the trajectory of our lives. It led the way out of the darkness to spiritual freedom. We are living the testimony found in Psalm 66:10-12 (NIV), “For You, God, tested us; You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance.”

Our God makes the impossible possible!

Birthed from that forced sabbatical, God called each of us to a life of full-time international service to Him. We walked out of that jail sentence penniless and homeless. But God “made a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Our God makes the impossible possible! He provided everything we needed to place us in Bethlehem within months after that exile ended. We have been wholeheartedly living out His call on our lives ever since.

After two years living amongst the people of Bethlehem, during the COVID pandemic God planted a vision revealing a historic moment in time. People fleeing in droves from countries historically closed to the Gospel— Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Iran—who had never been exposed to the love of Jesus Christ were on the doorstep of the West! They were war-torn, weary, and hopeless. God wanted us to share this redemption story that HE had created from our lives with those who had never heard.

In September 2021, we moved to Samos, Greece and founded a refugee center called Hope House. What started as a meager storefront with the two of us serving and teaching 20 Afghans grew to a 6,000 square foot property with an industrial kitchen, large meeting spaces, huge outside courtyard and space to house up to 30 volunteers at a time serving 300-500 refugees every week from all over the Middle East and Africa. Over the course of 3 years in Samos, Hope House touched over 20,000 refugees and asylum seekers with the love of Jesus and many gave their lives to Him. That mission carries on to this day!

During a sabbatical in the latter half of 2024, God made it clear to us it was time to expand His vision for us to Cyprus, where we now reside. Our mission remains simply to demonstrate the Gospel in real and tangible ways so refugees will know they are seen, heard, and loved by God, leading them to the ONE HOPE found in Jesus.

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (1 Chronicles 16:24)

Their Stories

It started with a hot meal

I am from Afghanistan. I met [Mom and Dad] in Greece when I began attending a Bible study. At first I was coming because they offered us hot home-cooked meals. The more I came, the more I felt loved. I never learned to read so I would listen intently as they read the stories. One day, Dad noticed something on my face that seemed different; he said I seemed to be glowing. At the end of the Bible study, he pulled me aside and said, “Ali, I notice you seem different today. I can see it in your face. Are you ready to accept Jesus?” At that moment, my life changed and I said yes to Jesus.

A dream led me to Jesus

I am from Sierra Leone. I grew up Muslim. I left my country because my life was in danger every day. There was no hope for me there. After I arrived in Greece, I started having dreams. In one dream, a man kept shouting the name of Jesus at me over and over. In another dream, I saw a man lying in the street, almost dead. I laid my hands on him and spoke the name of Jesus, and he was healed. The first time I met [Dad], he shared with me about the power of the name of Jesus. He and [Mom] showed me love, and I came to know Jesus Christ. Now I am happy every day. I want to give back to others what has been given to me.

I feel like part of a family

I am from Cameroon. At 20 years old I found myself in a refugee camp in Greece. One year ago, I fled after my home was attacked with fire. I couldn’t save my parents, but I have burn scars on my arms as a memory of trying and failing. I never got to say goodbye. My friend invited me to a Bible study in the city where I met [Mama M]. I shared my story with her and we cried together. That day, I looked down the table of Afghans, Arabs, and other Africans as they were laughing and talking and finishing their meal and said, "Today, for the first time since my parents were killed, I feel like I am part of a family again."

I couldn't say no to Jesus

I grew up in a Muslim family in Sierra Leone. My family sent me to a Catholic school for my education. By the time I fled my country, I had lost faith in both Christians and Muslims. I saw nothing good from either of them. Before arriving in Greece, I received the kindest treatment from an atheist that barely knew me. So I gave up on religion until my friend from the refugee camp invited me to a meal at a Christian center. I began to understand what Christianity really should look like when I met [Mom and Dad] their friends. I began to read the Bible on my own. God's Word came to life for me for the first time, and I decided to become a follower of Jesus. When I really saw the truth, I couldn't say no.