You Carry More Hope than You Realize

You Carry More Hope Than You Realize

Greetings from Zimbabwe, Africa! 

Last week, behind the stage at a stadium in Bulawayo, Janine and I began praying for the musicians and choir members preparing to lead worship. One came, then another. Soon people were quietly asking, “Will you pray for me as well?”

Many wept as we prayed for them to encounter the kindness and tenderness of God.

These were people who loved Jesus and were faithfully serving Him. Yet in those moments, they were receiving something they needed personally: encouragement, refreshing, and a deeper experience of His love.

It reminded us how much can happen when we simply stop, notice someone, and make ourselves available to God.

You carry more hope than you realize.

Strengthening the People Already Saying Yes

At Heaven in Business, we help people partner with God, build better business, and multiply kingdom impact. Through our nonprofit, the Hope Directive, we extend that training, connection, and encouragement into places where access to resources is limited, primarily by economic circumstances.

Our approach starts with relationship. We look for a person of peace - someone already serving their community - and walk alongside them over time. We bring what we have to strengthen and multiply what God is doing through them.

Here in Zimbabwe, that means supporting our friends Tommy and Rachel and the leaders around them. This visit has included encouraging pastors, serving local churches, connecting with business leaders, and participating in a remarkable gathering in Bulawayo.

Around 7,000 people came together to worship Jesus. The organizers deliberately kept the focus off individual names and church affiliations – “No brands, no logos, no intros… only One Name: Jesus.” Pastors who had never sat together were praying and worshipping together.

We got to witness local leaders building relationships that could continue long after the stadium emptied. Our privilege was to encourage the people carrying that work.

What Does This Have to Do With Your Business?

More than you might think.

At a pastors and leaders gathering, one message stood out: your surname is not a spiritual gift. Sharing the founder’s name does not automatically make someone the right successor.

Another speaker challenged leaders to pass responsibility on while they still have strength in their hands (i.e. Set up succession now, while you are in your prime, not after you have lost all momentum and are on your death bed!).

Those lessons belong in the marketplace too. Are you developing the people around you? Have you affirmed their gifts? Are you releasing them to go beyond what you have accomplished?

Multiplying kingdom impact includes helping someone else become everything God has called them to be.

We also met a couple working with small-scale farmers, connecting them through cooperative networks to training, resources, and markets. Their work reaches into livelihoods, families, and food production.

After spending time together, the husband told us how much his wife appreciated being around people who loved the Lord and spoke with hope as a natural part of everyday life.

Think about that. In the middle of significant work and demanding responsibilities, a conversation over a meal brought incredible refreshing.

You can do that too.

Hope in the Middle of Real Difficulty

This trip has included power cuts, water interruptions, a frightening electrical problem, and a vehicle breakdown that stretched our return journey to nine hours.

We have also met people whose resilience, hospitality, and faith have deeply encouraged us.

Their example has prompted us to examine our own lives. Where have we become passive? Where have repeated disappointments persuaded us to expect less? Where have we focused so much on what is missing that we have stopped using what God has already entrusted to us?

Ephesians 5:18 calls us to be filled with the Spirit. His presence refreshes us and gives us courage to respond to the person in front of us.

You do not need a perfect speech. Listen. Encourage. Ask whether you can pray. Share what you see God doing.

Three Ways to Catalyze Hope

1. Help Multiply Hope. 

Give to the Hope Directive to help extend practical training, books, resources, and encouragement to leaders serving their communities. Your financial partnership helps us walk alongside people whose influence reaches far beyond our visit. Make a gift and help strengthen the people carrying hope on the ground. Hopedirective.com/give

2. Apply to Join an Upcoming Trip. 

Bring your experience, skills, and willingness to serve. If you would like to travel with us, apply to explore an upcoming opportunity. We consider each applicant carefully so the team fits the needs of our local partners. Heaveninbusiness.com/events

3. Catalyze Hope Wherever You Are. 

This week, choose one person to encourage intentionally. Thank an employee. Invite a couple for a meal. Affirm a developing leader. Ask a customer whether you can pray for them. Tell someone what you appreciate about them.

Ask God: “Who can I strengthen today?” Then take the next step.