WHO WE ARE

OUR VISION

Every child being educated and experiencing Jesus.

OUR MISSION

The mission of The Holdfast Initiative is to plant schools in developing nations that offer effective education and cultivate relationships with Jesus. We are currently developing a school in Bogota, Colombia for this purpose. We believe that the gospel is essential in our schools. The schools we will establish are focused on equipping students for secondary school so that they can rise out of poverty. 

OUR STORY

In 2012, Cooper Lewis surrendered his life to the Lordship of Jesus at a youth retreat with Eleven22 in Jacksonville, Florida. Just as mentors had poured out their lives to share the love of the gospel with Cooper, the Lord was calling him to do the same in ministry.

During Cooper's junior year of high-school, the Lord began to clarify what His vision for Cooper’s vocational life would be. In his English class, he watched the documentary Waiting for Superman, which details the current state of the American public school system. Cooper began to wonder, "If America is failing its students like this, how much worse is it for children in developing nations?" The Lord grew Cooper’s heart for the nations, and planted the idea of developing a quality school for those who couldn't afford it in developing nations. It wasn't until Cooper traveled to Uganda that the Lord began pressing for this ministry to be built now rather than later.

After coming home, Cooper began praying for the Lord to open up the doors necessary to begin the non-profit. In the beginning, he did not know where God was calling him to plant the first school and he began praying daily asking, "What continent do you want us in?” Six months later, the Lord responded with, “You're asking the wrong question.” Cooper then asked, "What country do you want us in?” The Lord again responded saying “You're asking the wrong question.” Finally, Cooper asked, “Lord, what city do you want us in?", and the Lord promptly responded “Bogota”.

The Lord has continued to be faithful to his answer. On trips in 2018, 2019, and 2023, Cooper and Anna have met many friends, families, and community leaders. All of these trips have culminated into the plan to plant a kindergarten through 2nd grade school in Bogota in 2026. This school will be designed to help Colombian children connect with Jesus and give them a fighting chance to rise from poverty. Long term, we would like to expand this school to 3rd grade and beyond. We think that our ministry will not stop in Bogota but, by the grace of God, it will continue to many other countries in the future.