About Us

How We Started

At this time the combined effects of a fast declining economy and the HIV/AIDS pandemic meant that there were great difficulties for the urban poor in Bulawayo.

These ministries began at Bulawayo Baptist Church, with support and assistance given to many people who were homeless, living in squatter camps, elderly, the sick and orphaned children.

In 2004 we became aware of 26 babies, most of whom had been abandoned by their families, and were currently staying in a single ward at a local government hospital. This was to be the start of God revealing His vision for us to start a halfway home for abandoned and orphaned babies. This vision has led to our growing assistance to disadvantaged children in this community.

Many people have enabled and continue to enable these Ministries to be all that they are. We give God the glory for all He has done.

Our Purpose

To transform lives through God’s love, by serving in vulnerable communities with compassion, integrity and hope, shaping futures and strengthening a nation.

Our Vision

To be an integrated, sustainable and renowned organisation, raising previously vulnerable men and women to a place of significance and influence, within the Zimbabwe community.

The Journey of Our Neighbours Ministry

FROM SYDNEY TO BULAWAYO’S HEART

Our Neighbours Ministry began with a simple but powerful calling. In 2003, Martin Barrow left his home in Australia and moved to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - compelled to respond to the overwhelming need he saw around him. Children without families, communities without support, and lives marked by hardship.

What started as an act of faith became a place of refuge. A place where abandoned babies are held, where vulnerable children are cared for, and where hope is restored day by day.

Years later, in 2010, Murray Parr and his wife Angela visited Zimbabwe and encountered this work firsthand. What they saw stayed with them - not just the need, but the transformation. Lives being changed through love in action.

Murray’s involvement deepened over time, moving from supporter to board member, and now Director. Today, he carries the vision forward - building on the foundation that was laid, and continuing the mission to love, serve, and restore hope to those who need it most.

Our Core Values

Jesus & the Kingdom of God

Our Neighbours Ministry is a faith-based ministry, seeking to serve God and follow Jesus. We believe it was started in response to His leading and love. We actively seek His will, are guided by values of the Kingdom of God, and seek to give God the glory for ONM.
Focus on the most vulnerable

Our focus is on loving and assisting the poorest of the poor, the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the orphans, and the widows. God’s passionate love for the poor leads us, His compassion towards their vulnerability and narrow choice range inspires us. We seek to be empathetic.
Body Ministry & Relationships

We are thankful for all of the people, churches and organisations that are a part of Our Neighbours Ministry, through active involvement, relationship and partnership. These enable Our Neighbours Ministry.
We really value all of these, each with their different roles.
Faithfulness and love

We will measure success by our faithfulness of service to God and love of people. Whilst considering needs, we will guard against success being measured in terms of numbers.
Valuing people

We are dedicated to valuing all people as equals (those that we are reaching out to and interact with), recognising that all of us are made in God’s image. We will work against an ‘us and them’ culture that so often exists in society in its various forms, recognising everyone as having strengths and assets, and weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
We will be respectful in our communication about people and situations.
Showing God’s love

We aim to show God’s love to everyone that we come in contact with, those we aim to serve, staff, partners and the community.
Accountability

We will be accountable and transparent in our use of finances and other resources. We will demonstrate integrity in everything we do and steward resources diligently.
Doing our Best

We seek to do our best, working hard, as unto the Lord. In doing this, we will seek to operate professionally and efficiently, whilst not losing the priority of people and relationships.
Hope

We specifically recognise God’s redeeming and transformational power for all people, and we desire to bring hope to those that are feeling hopeless.
Mercy

We greatly value graciousness, in response to that which we have been shown by Jesus.

Our Partners

We deeply value our partnerships with individuals, churches, organisations, and businesses. Their support has been crucial to the success of Our Neighbours Ministry, enabling us to continue our mission. We acknowledge and appreciate their contributions. Click on the logos to visit their websites and learn more about our partners.

Our Partners

We deeply value our partnerships with individuals, churches, organizations, and businesses. Their support has been crucial to the success of Our Neighbours Ministry, enabling us to continue our mission. We acknowledge and appreciate their contributions. Click on the logos to visit their websites and learn more about our partners.