History of Mission Direct

The inspiration behind Mission Direct took root in 1997.  Nigel Hyde, one of its founders was on holiday in Cairo. He watched as a destitute old woman rummaged in a rubbish dump. It was then that Nigel sensed that God was calling him to devote his life to helping the poor in practical ways.

After leading overseas volunteer teams for a major UK charity, he became convinced of the need for an organisation offering shorter term mission trips for ‘ordinary people’. Most of those moved by the plight of the poor were still considered by many charities as ‘walking cheque books’; there to bankroll projects and little else. He sensed that many people wanted to experience serving the poor without putting their lives on ‘hold’ for a year or more.

With this vision, Nigel founded Mission Direct in 2005 with colleague Lawrence Jones along with Tim Martindale and Ronnie Fleming, both of whom had received a similar calling to serve the world’s poorest.

Since then Mission Direct has sent over 1,000 self-funded volunteers to ten countries. The volunteers work with local churches and community groups on building projects, which provide homes, classrooms and clinics for some of the neediest communities in the World. Although the initial trips are as short as two weeks, many people have been inspired to work overseas for longer periods of time following this.

As well as the lasting practical help offered, thousands of poor and marginalised people have had heard the Christian message for the first time by watching the Jesus film, which is regularly shown during projects.

Having seen the lives of both volunteers and recipients transformed by their experiences, Mission Direct aims to have taken 50,000 people on a two-week mission trip by 2020.