Hope Restoration Ministries
| Hope Restoration Ministries (HRM) | |
|---|---|
| File:Hope Restoration Ministries logo.jpg | |
| Location | Gauteng Province |
| Country | South Africa |
| Denomination | Contemporary Christian Church |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Reverend Siphiwe Christopher Mathebula Pastor Phindile Mathebula |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Reverend Siphiwe Christopher Mathebula (Rev SC Mathebula) |
Hope Restoration Ministries (HRM) is a Christian church based in Gauteng, South Africa. Founded in 2001, it is a multi-campus evangelical/charismatic congregation with several branches around the Johannesburg and Pretoria regions.[1][2] Its vision is to restore hope to individuals and communities, regardless of background.
History
Hope Restoration Ministries was founded in 2001 in Chloorkop, Kempton Park by Rev. Siphiwe Christopher Mathebula and Pastor Phindile Mathebula.[3] Rev. Siphiwe Mathebula reportedly received the vision for the church in 1995 while he was still a student pastor at the Cape College of Theology.[4] After serving as an assistant pastor for 5 years and being a member of Baptist Community Church for 13 years, he and Phindile officially launched HRM. HRM gradually expanded to multiple campuses in the Gauteng province including Tembisa (launched April 2012)[5], Roodepoort (December 2015), Midrand (April 2017), Ebony Park/ Ivory Park, Springs (2018), and Tshwane (September 2021).[citation needed]
Beliefs
The church bases its teachings on the Bible, holding to the view that the Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) are inspired by the Holy Spirit, inerrant (in the original manuscripts), and the final authority for faith and practice. Its mission statement is to “empower every believer to become a disciple” and its vision: “Restoring Hope to Our World.” HRM claims to be non-discriminatory, welcoming people of all ages, races, backgrounds, and religious inclinations to fellowship.
Structure, leadership, and campuses
| Campus | Location | Launch / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kempton Park (Head Office) | Chloorkop, Kempton Park | Founded in 2001. Main campus. |
| Tembisa | Motsu, Tembisa | April 2012; led by resident Pastors Nkosenye & Thandazile Mtetwa. |
| Roodepoort | Georginia, Roodepoort | December 2015; resident Pastors Percy & Ayanda Mongwai. |
| Springs | Modder East, Springs | September 2018; serves Springs, Boksburg, Benoni, Brakpan, Daveyton etc. |
| Midrand / Ebony Park | Ivory Park, Midrand | Ivory Park campus birthed April 2018. |
| Tshwane | Menlyn, Pretoria East | September 2021. |
The lead pastor and visionary is Pastor Chris (S. C.) Mathebula, with founding pastors being Rev. Siphiwe Christopher Mathebula and Pastor Phindile Mathebula.
Services
HRM Sunday services last for one hour and a half. The different branches have different slots for services. The main campus and the Tshwane campus have 3 services starting at 08:00am-12:00pm and other branches (Thembisa, Roodepoort and the others) have services starting at 07:30am-11:30am.
- Children’s Church (“Seeds of Hope”): Runs during all Sunday services, for kids aged 3-12 years. Includes praise & worship, games, crafts, and teachings appropriate for children.
- Champions Club: For children / youth with special needs (ages 4-17), meeting during Sunday services to support spiritual, emotional & physical development.[6]
- Baby Dedication: Offered during some Sunday services; parents can dedicate their children in front of the congregation and pastors.
Media coverage
During Level 3 lockdown in South Africa (2020), HRM (with six campuses) chose not to reopen for in-person services immediately, even after regulations permitted worship with a limited number of people. Rev. Chris Mathebula said the church prioritized “the lives of God’s people”.[7][8] They continued with online/virtual services and virtual programmes which were “well received.”[9]
Rev Chris Mathebula has taken on roles beyond just church leadership: he was a mayoral candidate for the Independent Citizens Movement (ICM) in Ekurhuleni. He gave interviews where he said the church is taking up what he calls its “rightful civic role.”[10] Also, the mayor of Ekurhuleni, Clr Mzwandile Masina, visited HRM in Chloorkop in March 2018. There was discussion about government‐church partnerships, social cohesion, and the church’s role in community.[11]
Membership, size, and influence
As of a 2023 document, HRM has seven campuses serving a congregation estimated around 20,000 members across Gauteng.[12] Pastor Chris Mathebula has further influence via media and leadership: he hosts/appears on television programmes (“Hope Alive”) broadcast on Faith TV, One Gospel, Trace Gospel, and others; is author of several books; is involved in humanitarian work via the People Matter to God Foundation and the Devoted Citizen Movement.[12]
Ministries and community outreach
- Hands of Restoration: A social-empowerment programme aimed at alleviating poverty in communities through skills development, responding to illiteracy, unemployment, street children, orphans and other social challenges.[13]
- Devoted Citizen Cleaning Campaign: Members of the church go to specific places and clean.
- Cell Groups / Home Fellowship: The church meets not only in large weekly Celebration services but also in smaller cell groups in homes, schools, cafés, and workplaces.[14]
- Seeds of Hope Camp: A school-holiday children’s camp (for ages approx. 8-12) designed to shape faith and build community.[15]
- Men of Hope Wild Camp: A retreat/adventure-type gathering for men.[15]
- One-stop Community Care Event: Providing free medical screenings, legal advice, wellness counselling, citizen education, prayer and spiritual support in select townships.[16]
Legal cases
In 2015, Hope Restoration Ministries was the defendant in Corporate Finance Solutions (Pty) Ltd v Hope Restoration Ministries (2009/8872). The case concerned a “master rental agreement” for a property leased by HRM; the claim was that HRM failed to make payments under the agreement, and the plaintiff cancelled the agreement accordingly.[17]
See also
References
This article "Hope Restoration Ministries" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Hope Restoration Ministries. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "Hope Restoration Ministries Kempton Park, Sandton, South Africa - Reviews, Ratings, Tips and Why You Should Go". Wanderlog. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ "The 3 Best Churches in Kempton Park, GT - RentUncle". www.rentuncle.co.za. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ News, JOY! (2023-07-09). "Changing the narrative around the role of women through faith". JOY! News. Retrieved 2025-10-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Our History". Hope Restoration. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ "TEMBISA". Hope Restoration. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Content, Print (2025-06-29). "Champions Club: Hope Restoration Ministries' new space for children with special needs". Kempton Express. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Wire, News24 (2020-05-29). "Another church group chooses to put 'lives of God's people first' and keep doors closed". The Citizen. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Simpson, Mike (2020-05-30). "Religious organisations remain cautious about reopening 'too soon'". The South African. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ "Coronavirus in SA: Church services now streamed online - News365.co.za". news365.co.za. 2020-04-05. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Viljoen, Andre (2021-09-29). "Church has had 'wake-up call', says mayoral candidate Rev Chris Mathebula". gatewaynews.co.za. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Content, Print (2018-03-14). "Mayor visits Hope Restoration Church". Kempton Express. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://www.globalleadership.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GLS23_Process-Tools_Chris-Mathebula-English.pdf/
- ↑ "Kgatle". verbumetecclesia.org.za. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ "Hope Restoration Ministries". hrmsa.yolasite.com. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Hope Restoration Ministries". hrm.churchcenter.com. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Mkhulisi, Mfundekelwa. "Good news for kasi people". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ https://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZAGPJHC/2015/150.html?
