The Many Hands For Abaco Story
The Mission
Transforming together, to be love in action, in a broken world.
Our Vision
Many Hands envisions a world where people transform together, through the presence of Jesus Christ, to be called people, living with purpose, unleashing God-given talents and resources to bring Good News in a broken world.
Our Values
We are image-bearers of God.
We believe that all have a God-given identity and all have a purpose in God’s plan. All are called to serve their purpose, not have the purpose serve them. In relationships, we will help people understand their true calling and stand by them as they unleash their God-given talents to bring the Good News within their circles of influence.
We are the sent people of God.
Just as God sent his son Jesus and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, we are to be the sent people of God, bringing the Good News to people wherever we are called. Jesus is waiting for us when we get outside of ourselves in faith and will meet us to help us fulfill our purpose.
We believe in saved wholes, not just saved souls.
Jesus didn’t come to be an insurance policy after one dies. He came to bring life and life to the full. We are called to fulfill Jesus’s mission in Luke 4:18-19 to proclaim the Good News, to physically restore that which is broken, and to release people from oppression spiritually, relationally, and economically from that which binds.
We are better together.
As it states in Romans 12:3, we are all broken and in need of a savior, we are just broken in different ways. As we enter into each other’s poverty with our riches, we are all transformed. Through this process, our image of God gets bigger, as it should, as God has a global heart for His people.
We go an inch wide, mile deep.
We believe in focused impact, not random activity. Breaking the chains of generational poverty, both physical and spiritual, is incredibly complicated. To work in this environment, we break it down into focused building blocks that stack on each other, moving towards a common goal. One person, one family, one community, one region, one country, one world.
We work in integrity to create sustainability.
We seek systematic God-sustaining change to fulfill Jesus Christ’s kingdom purposes. We strive to honor God in a fiscally responsible way, making every effort to create transparency in our organization’s doings. We acknowledge and live in the tension of short-term giving while seeking long-term God-sustaining change. God is one of abundance and we will honor His generosity in the resources given to us.
Our Journey to Abaco
Forming Many Hands for Abaco
In 2005, Tim Brand began exploring ways to improve missions, which eventually led to the formation of Many Hands. In 2007, he shared his vision with ten local churches, giving birth to Many Hands. Initially focused on Haiti, the Love in Action initiative launched in 2016. After more than a decade of growth, programs and initiatives were reaching 25,000 people in Haiti. Recognizing the potential for growth beyond Haiti, the team remained open to God’s calling. Missionary Flights International approached Many Hands, inquiring about bringing their operations to Abaco. While initially interested, they were not yet prepared to expand.
However, in 2020, after Hurricane Dorian hit Abaco in the Bahamas, Many Hands reconsidered and plans were made for an evaluation. Unfortunately, the evaluation was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through further events and confirmations, it wasn’t until 2022 that the door opened for Many Hands. After an evaluation trip and a board-led meeting with the Bahamian government, Many Hands made plans to expand into Abaco.
Finding a home base at Camp Abaco, Many Hands began hosting Impact Trips, bringing over 150 volunteers to work and support communities on the island. Many Hands for Abaco officially launched in January 2023.
Working to establish their community-focused programs in Abaco, the Many Hands team continues to work tirelessly to bring life transformation to the people of the Caribbean and the United States.
Our Founder:
Tim Brand
Through a series of unique life events, Tim discovered God’s plans for him and founded Many Hands for Haiti, an organization dedicated to transforming lives and making a positive impact on thousands of individuals. In 1998, fresh out of Pella High School in Iowa, Tim joined a church group on a mission trip to build a school in Haiti. This experience not only changed his perspective on God’s global heart but also altered the course of his life. Tim felt a calling to return to Haiti, and this was confirmed when he received an email inviting him to be a college mentor on another trip. Making a covenant with God, Tim committed to being involved in Haiti for the rest of his life.
While pursuing a master’s degree in business, Tim realized he could utilize his skills for nonprofit work. He united Iowa churches already serving Haiti under an association, fostering collaboration and efficient use of resources. Tim focused on establishing best practices, organizing transformative short-term mission trips, and enhancing financial stewardship. In 2008, after a decade since his first trip, Tim officially founded Many Hands for Haiti, which became a registered 501(c)(3) organization in 2009. The organization attracted numerous generous individuals who joined forces to bring love in action to a broken world.
As the mission expanded into multiple branches, the organization transitioned to simply Many Hands in 2022. Tim continues to dedicate himself tirelessly to bringing life transformation to the people of Haiti, the Caribbean, and the United States
Many hands abaco Affiliations
Other Branches of Many Hands
Many Hands Thrift Market
As a part of Many Hands, the proceeds from the Many Hands Thrift Market go to support local and global missions. We understand that not everyone can go to Abaco or is in a place to give financially. Many Hands Thrift Market provides an opportunity for people fin the U.S. to get involved and make a difference, without making the trip to Abaco.
Many Hands for Haiti
As part of our Generously, Growing, Impact strategy, Many Hands for Haiti is growing community in Haiti. Through intentional programming to meet the needs of Haitians, we are rebuilding the foundation, restoring the family, and renewing the community. These goals are achieved with education, agriculture, medical assistance, safe homes, and leadership development programs.
Many Hands Impact
Through Impact Trips, we invite people into the communities we serve for week-long stay. On these trips, we ask people to reflect on their journey to identify the passion already residing within them, look to the future with expectancy for how God can use them, connect with others in love and encouragement, and commit to being love in action in their daily lives. By living an intentional life, they will take the next step up the mountain in obedience to the One that created them, to live a life of impact.
