About the founder

Pastor Jean Nshimiyimana Ntibagerinda was born in April 12, 1976 in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He grew up in the rural area spread by rebels, so he faced hardship caused by various armed groups who used to commit all kinds of war crimes in his neighborhoods. He participated in the mourning events of many war-victim people and escaped death many times and thanks to such pursuits, his parents displaced to Goma town where he studied high school and got his high school Diploma. He went to University and got a Bachelor Degree in English in 2006. He got married to Emma Uwizeyimana Izabiriza and they have 6 children (2 daughters and 4 sons, the last one being a boy whose mother went to be with the Lord short time after her surgery on birthday).

He taught English and French at various high schools and worked in different international organizations, such as SOS Children’s Villages,… The language proficiency and leadership experience allowed the Pastor to be recruited at the UN Mission in DR Congo as a translator in 2013. He reached remote and critical villages of the DR Congo, where children have been forced to join armed groups, war orphaned children living on streets, young girls forcibly becoming wives of the militia commanders, women being raped and many hopeless families being forced to live in camps or host families. This touched Pastor Jean and reminded him of his former life situations and this moved him together with his wife to start Hope Building Center in 2015.

When he stopped his UN job, he went to Goma Bible School in cooperation with Two Witness Ministries (USA) where he got his Diploma in theology in 2016 and he was ordained a pastor in Shalom Church and Ministries in Africa and Executive Secretary of the church board. The pastor believes that the world can be changed for the better if each individual sacrifices their means for the welfare of others. His dream is to see war victims of the Democratic Republic of the Congo building hope, becoming leaders for peace and breaking the chains of poverty. Pastor Jean is changing children’s life through the Gospel and deeds and wants to do more in partnership with other God’s servants and compassionate people. He is building an orphanage in order to provide full child sponsorship to the vulnerable orphans under his care and continue the partial sponsorship of the kids who live in Christian host families. His target is to reach 100 sponsored kids in this school year of 2022-2023 and increase the number in the future.
Just donate here or contact us at: info@hopebuildingcenter.org for more details on how you can contribute.