A Strategic FAMILY Sanctuary
Jeremy and Bridgette Hilliard are the founders of Hope Africa and the leaders of our upcoming trip to Cape Town. They’re also the family carrying the vision for the part we will play in whatever Jesus has planned in South Africa this next year.
Right now, life for their family (and our entire team of 20) looks like a mountain of preparation and paperwork—schools for the kids, vehicles, housing, packing, visas, timing, and the lingering question: how in the world do we survive in South Africa on volunteer visas that don’t allow us to earn income?
Some days feel full of miracles. Other days, the weight of logistics hits like a wall.
The Visa Roadblock
One of the key requirements for a South African visa is an in-person interview at a consulate. At first it seemed straightforward: book an appointment online, spend 60 days gathering documents, and show up on your interview day. But then came an administrative change at the Los Angeles consulate—fewer hours, fewer appointments, and suddenly three months of interview slots vanished overnight.
The only opening the Hilliards could find was in Washington, D.C.—clear across the country. Jeremy booked flights for his entire family with no stress in his voice, just gratitude for finding a good deal. He even laughed about the irony of flying coast to coast just to have a two-hour appointment.
Then came the miracle. Out of nowhere, an appointment opened in Los Angeles. Flights were rescheduled, housing plans adjusted, and what had looked like a costly whirlwind became an opportunity to connect with us here in California as we prepare for our own move.
The Setback
On the very morning they were set to head south, one of their teenage boys had an accident—their car rolled down the driveway and crashed into the downstairs Airbnb they were renting. In an instant, they lost not only the money they had planned to make selling the car, but also a portion of the passive income they were counting on to sustain their mission in Cape Town.
And yet, Jeremy still had a smile. He wasn’t shaken. He simply used the moment as an invitation to go deeper in trusting God’s provision.
Rally Point’s Role
That’s when Whit and I felt the nudge again. Rally Point had its first chance to be strategic. We were able to cover housing for the Hilliard family near the Los Angeles consulate, taking at least one burden off their plate.
The difference it made was remarkable. What could have been a frantic fly-in, fly-out errand turned into a family road trip. They attended their visa appointment, then spent the afternoon enjoying the beach in Santa Monica before driving home to face repairs with renewed joy.
Lessons in the Kingdom
Two things marked my heart from this experience.
First, this wasn’t just about providing a bed to sleep in. This is a family with young boys leaving behind friends, schools, and sports teams because they’re all saying yes to Jesus. Having a sanctuary meant more than rest—it meant moments of fun, laughter, and family connection that reminded them: His yoke is easy, His burden is light. Sustainability in ministry comes when joy walks alongside obedience.
Second, Whit and I learned what it looks like to trust God’s goodness in real time. When we offered to help, Jeremy didn’t brush it off or resist out of pride. His response was simple: “That would be amazing.”
He modeled the Kingdom truth that sometimes you give, sometimes you receive—and both are equally holy. In the Kingdom, there is no hierarchy between givers and receivers. It isn’t about poverty or pride; it’s about participating in the divine flow of abundance together.
A Resurrection Reminder
It struck me that when Jesus presented Himself to the disciples after His resurrection, it was in the midst of abundance—a net so full of fish they could hardly carry it—that they recognized Him.
At Rally Point Network, that’s what we want to provide. Not just shelter. Not just logistics. But sanctuaries where abundance makes Jesus recognizable. Where dependence on Him is real, but destitution has no place.
This is the heartbeat of Rally Point. And in this moment, it looked like one family road trip, one visa appointment, and one beach day that carried eternal significance.
