Brother Joost "Jose" Dixon-Hogenboom
Brother Joost was born on April 16, 1973 in a small yet loving family in a rural town in The Netherlands. Growing up his parents taught him how to love and respect others and to take care of those in need. His educational path started off in a struggle; however he managed to get his degree within the time limits. Taking care of his clients he was once again inspired to take care of other people.
His divorce in 2007 made him look at his life and reconsider the choices he had made. It was in 2008 that he found the new direction in his life; inspired by the movie "Dead Man Walking" he took up pen and paper and started to write with Allen Bridgers, and inmate on Texas' Death Row. Through his contact with Allen (and his visits to him) he was introduced to the world of prisons and inmates. Joost discovered that often friends and family of inmates were ashamed and broke off all contact with the incarcerated, leaving the inmates with no mental, moral and/or financial support.
In 2009 Joost came in contact with an inmate in the Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison in Zambia and when he got the opportunity to visit this inmate he contacted Pastor Kwacha Mvula; whom he found via an article on the internet.
Their first meeting, in the lobby of a luxurious hotel in the city center of Lusaka, was familiar and the cooperation between Pastor Kwacha (and Hope In Christ Zambia) and Joost was a fact. In both 2010 and 2011 Joost was able to visit Zambia once again and he became more involved with Hope In Christ Zambia and in 2011 the connection between his work and Hope In Christ Zambia was made official by the launch of www.hopeinchristzambia.com website.
The work of Hope In Christ Zambia is really important, even though the Zambian government is doing its best to get all inmates their primary needs; it is of the utmost importance to get the inmates spiritual, mental, social, monetary and other assistance. What impressed Joost, at first, was that Hope In Christ Zambia (by the work of Pastor Kwacha Mvula) makes it possible for family members of incarcerated to be in touch with their loved ones by picking up parcels, letters and money and bring it to all prisons throughout Zambia, while family members are not able to do this. All inmates Joost spoke to over the years tell him that Pastor Kwacha (and therefore Hope In Christ Zambia) is the most reliable person in the country.
From his own experience Joost noticed that this statement is certainly true! Whenever he sends parcels, money or letters over to Pastor Kwacha, he always gets email confirmations that the issue was handled according to his wishes.
Joost says "I don't know what the future hold for me, but I hope that we can expand the work of Hope In Christ Zambia" and "There is still much work to be done and we should never forget about those in prison..... read Matthew 25:35-37"
His divorce in 2007 made him look at his life and reconsider the choices he had made. It was in 2008 that he found the new direction in his life; inspired by the movie "Dead Man Walking" he took up pen and paper and started to write with Allen Bridgers, and inmate on Texas' Death Row. Through his contact with Allen (and his visits to him) he was introduced to the world of prisons and inmates. Joost discovered that often friends and family of inmates were ashamed and broke off all contact with the incarcerated, leaving the inmates with no mental, moral and/or financial support.
In 2009 Joost came in contact with an inmate in the Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison in Zambia and when he got the opportunity to visit this inmate he contacted Pastor Kwacha Mvula; whom he found via an article on the internet.
Their first meeting, in the lobby of a luxurious hotel in the city center of Lusaka, was familiar and the cooperation between Pastor Kwacha (and Hope In Christ Zambia) and Joost was a fact. In both 2010 and 2011 Joost was able to visit Zambia once again and he became more involved with Hope In Christ Zambia and in 2011 the connection between his work and Hope In Christ Zambia was made official by the launch of www.hopeinchristzambia.com website.
The work of Hope In Christ Zambia is really important, even though the Zambian government is doing its best to get all inmates their primary needs; it is of the utmost importance to get the inmates spiritual, mental, social, monetary and other assistance. What impressed Joost, at first, was that Hope In Christ Zambia (by the work of Pastor Kwacha Mvula) makes it possible for family members of incarcerated to be in touch with their loved ones by picking up parcels, letters and money and bring it to all prisons throughout Zambia, while family members are not able to do this. All inmates Joost spoke to over the years tell him that Pastor Kwacha (and therefore Hope In Christ Zambia) is the most reliable person in the country.
From his own experience Joost noticed that this statement is certainly true! Whenever he sends parcels, money or letters over to Pastor Kwacha, he always gets email confirmations that the issue was handled according to his wishes.
Joost says "I don't know what the future hold for me, but I hope that we can expand the work of Hope In Christ Zambia" and "There is still much work to be done and we should never forget about those in prison..... read Matthew 25:35-37"
