RAMSBURY Nevis, April 18th 2011 - When Pastor Allinson Da Costa made his maiden visit in Zimbabwe in 1998, one of the things that made an indelible impression upon him was the large number of orphans in that country.
“My heart is really burdened over their condition,” Da Costa who is the Pastor of Nevis based Calvary Baptist Church said in an interview. It is estimated that there are 1.6 million orphans in Zimbabwe and one million of them are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS according to a UNICEF report. The risks for these children are very real particularly for young girls, who are three times likely to become infected with HIV and are more susceptible to abuse and forced marriages than those whose parents are alive.
In June 2011, Pastor Da Costa will travel for the seventh time to Zimbabwe but this time round he will stay for four months and work closely with a local board to establish “House of Hope.” A local board has identified a property that is adequate. The establishment of the children’s Home is estimated to cost US$200,000.00. He has already registered a charity locally, House of Hope Foundation through which donations can be channeled through.
Aware that this amount may not be raised immediately, well wishers have donated some money that will enable him to rent a building and purchase a passenger mini-bus that will be used to fund raise for the Home. He also plans to establish a garden where the employees at the Home can grow food. He says this way, the project will be sustainable.
Every month, it will cost him US$4,000 to sustain the Home that will open with 14 orphans.
UNICEF estimated that US$108,700,000 was needed to fund its humanitarian work in Zimbabwe according to the mid-2010 revised request. As of October 2010, a total of US$19,819,156 had been received or 18 per cent of the 2010 request.
Pastor Da Costa who has made six mission trips to Zimbabwe says life is becoming extremely difficult for the orphans and their grandmothers. In certain cases, the orphans are left to fend for themselves. “Most of these grandparents live below the poverty line and are unable to provide the children with food, school uniforms and school fees. The orphans do not enjoy the luxury of free education like the children here in Nevis.”
The visionary Pastor has a dream to establish a sustainable orphan Home through House of Hope Foundation, a charity registered on the island of Nevis. “During my sixth visit to Zimbabwe in July 2008, I became completely convinced that now is the time to help these precious children who are suffering by building a home for them.
“Our sincere desire is to bring hope, help and healing to these dear children who are really hurting. The Bible says that one of the marks of pure religion is to take care for the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James 1:27).”
He is appealing to well wishers to enlist to reach out to children in difficult circumstances in Zimbabwe, “We are kindly asking you to stand behind us now and support us financially as we strive to save the lives of these orphans. Your contribution to “House of Hope” would be deeply appreciated.”
Pastor Da Costa was born and raised in Nevis. He is married to Gloria Floretta and they have five children, four sons and a daughter He attended the Boys School and later pursued his secondary school studies in Charlestown Secondary School (CSS).
He became a Christian at the age of 19 through the Ministry of a pioneer Baptist missionary, Pastor Bob Faile from South Carolina. Faile started the First Baptist Church in Bricklin. In September 1968, he enrolled in Bluewaters Bible College. In his senior year, he was elected by the students as their president for student functions. Upon graduation, the faculty chose him to receive the Dean’s Award. This award is given on the basis of exemplary conduct, humble attitude, cooperative spirit, active Christian service, faithfulness in duty, and consistent studies. He received Bachelors in Religious Education.
Prior to establishing the Calvary Baptist Church on the island of Nevis, Pastor Da Costa had established Good News Baptist Church in St. Maarten and Bible Baptist church in Statia.
A Pastor from Barbados who had visited Zimbabwe told him about the country. This awakened Da Costa’s long time interest and quest to connect with the motherland. While a student, he had great interest in the geography and history of Africa. He said a good grasp of geographical and historical facts helped him to have a positive perception of Africa different from the one depicted sometimes by media.
“The media has its own agenda about Africa,” says Pastor Da Costa. Every country in Africa is made up of two beautiful worlds, rural and urban.. This is what he found out during his first visit.
During this first visit, Pastor Da Costa had been invited by a Zimbabwean Pastor, Gideon Njovo to preach at revival meetings. He describes his first visit as an “awesome experience.” He visited schools and distributed bibles. Unlike Nevis, he says, not everybody can afford a bible. He also visited a children’s Home, Mindland Children’s home in the Province of Mindland.
Nevis based Calvary Church where he pastors, has planted a church in Marondera, Zimbabwe. Pastor Da Costa holds the conviction that the Caribbean is overevangelised and it is time that Caribbean churches reached out to those that are unreached in other parts of the world. He was hopeful that Christian radio and TV stations in the Caribbean would also heed to the Great Commission and reach the unreached.
“I love to see new work started. It is part of the Great Commission (Go ye into all the world and preach the good news to all creation Mark 16:15).
Pastor Allinson DaCosta can be contacted at cell phone number 1-869-765-7755 or landline1 869- 469-5680. House of Hope Foundation Account Number is at RBBT#2604000000003318 or Email: dacosta_allison@hotmail.com
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