CURRENT MISSION
Paul wrote the following thought. “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, &; those who have not heard will understand. Romans 15:20 – 21 You never have to fear your future when you put Christ in your life knowing that someday you will be living with Him in the kingdom of heaven that he has prepared for you.

ABOUT ME

My name is Christopher Hankins and I am a native of Buchanan, Michigan. The following is my biographical history. My dad was born 22 August 1929 and died in the Philippines 13 September 1999. My mom was born in a farm out side of Buchanan, Michigan on 10 August 1932. She is not living in Buchanan, Michigan & worked full - part time in home care helper till the spring of 2007. Finally my mom sold the house and moved out Friday August 24th, 2007. By September she moved into an apartment in New Baltimore, Michigan near my brother’s apartment. She was in & out of the hospital with medical problems. Finally, Tracy had to put her in Church Of Christ Nursing Home on Wednesday January 30th, 2008. When I saw her February 16, 2008 (Saturday) she could not communicate or put a full sentence together that could be understood. Finally my brother called me from Kentucky on March 19th (Wednesday) and told me he got news that our mom might die. I went over to the nursing home & I saw that she was in the process of dying. At that time I told mom that her work was done on earth & she could go see her dad, mom, 3 brothers & Jesus. After watching her for about 10 to 15 min in a coma, with a fever of 101, she took her last breath. Two Nurses & one hospice aid, confirmed her death at 2:35 P.M. My dad married my mom on 15 October 1955. I was born when my dad was 29 years old and my mom was only 25 years old. They were divorced in 1968. I was born in Niles, Michigan on May 27, 1958 at Pawating Hospital. Most of my younger years were spent in the country at Clear Lake Woods along with my brother Tracy, 29 June 1961 and sister Valerie 22 May 1964. We stayed in the country till 1968 and that is the year we moved to Buchanan. I was glad because we did not have to ride the bus to school any more. Throughout my child hood I, as my brother and sister, attended the Buchanan Church of Christ. We also attended the weekly youth group meeting and Sunday school classes. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and was baptized on March 25, 1967 by Joe Johnson. We had to go to Niles because our new Church building was being built. During high school years, I worked at Laughing Place Riding Academy and Racing Stables for 3 and ½ years. It was a large horse farm that had 32 to 40 + horses.

PHILOSOPHY

Jesus Christ Is Lord Of All.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

No Experience as of 7-28-08 I want to focus on China, India, Africa, Canada, Palawan, Philippines

Interests

In addition to my academic and administrative background skills, I have experience in preaching, youth sponsorship, Vacation Bible school work, Church camps, and other administrative duties that related to ministries. Some of my ministries include congregations in Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, Hawaii and the Philippines. The following is just some of my ministry work.
2000- 2001- Pines Church of Christ, Baguio City, Philippines
Bangued Church of Christ, Bangued, Abra and other mountain areas
KM 6 Church of Christ, Baguio City, Philippines
Marivelis Church of Christ and Cab Cabin Church of Christ, Bataan
Other Philippine Churches of Christ I have ministered to include:
Church of Christ in Sisiman, Fairview, B- Balic, Pacita, Abas, Liliw, Laguna, Magcarian, Guadalupe, Migrant Christian Church, Baclaran, Economia, Talon, Cavite, Bombongan, Tui Daguman Church of Christ in Abra, Davao Church of Christ, and San Benito Surigao Del Norte Church of Christ. This is just a few churches and does not tell the rest of the history. 1989 -1992
1997 - Waipahu Church of Christ, Hawaii

• horses
• arts
• culture
• singing
• illustrations
• concerts
• cooking
• modeling
• news
• cars
• magic
• track and field
• golf
• history
• nursing
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I am a people-action oriented individual who likes to meet goals and objectives. Specifically, one can expect exceptional initiative, self-confidence, constructive ambition, effective decision-making skills, and a talent for leadership. I can accept either a leader’s role or that of a follower. I adapt well to most social situations, but prefer not to engage in direct personal competition or confrontation with others. Some of my other characteristics can be described as conscientious, cooperative, creative and independent in seeing things in new ways.

During my younger years I served over 10,000 hours as an Emergency Medical Technician on a volunteer ambulance service. I was involved in church youth group activities, Boy Scouts, and 4-H horse leadership. Currently, I like camping, some running, swimming at the beach and traveling to other countries. Christian music, country, miled rock, batman Herry Potter and other fun films

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

NARRATIVE - Things I did in Cuba while in the Army

- Served as the principal NCO for Villages Echo, Foxtrot, and Golf. Responsible for the leadership, care, and development of two enlisted Army soldiers. He focused on their responsible actions, which contributed to the overall success of the "Ministry Teams" in all Cuban Villages.

- Improved the quality of life by first learning from the Cubans, and letting them know they were important. By being perceived as a learner by the Cuban nationals, it greatly influenced how they treated and were willing to learn from the" Ministry Teams" work throughout Sergeant Christopher Hankins ninety day tour.

- Cuban learning climaxed by Sergeant Hankins' planned and executed four-week cross-cultural seminar. His skilled was given three separate times in Villages Echo and Golf. The nine lessons ensured 35 to 40 Cubans, in each class, newly recog¬nized skills and knowledge needed for successful problem solving and entrance into the United States.

- Completed a four page detailed news letter, with pictures, on the Cuban-American cross-cultural experience. This was put together because Sergeant Hankins allowed the Cuban nationals to share their life and future dreams. It developed a trust and two way learning between Sergeant Hankins, Ministry Team and the Cubans.

- Contributed to the success of the Cuban Population down sizing in Guantanamo Bay by helping the Village Golf commander to properly in process over 1300 Cubans for the immigration lottery to America program.

- Used Biblical illustration with Gospel magic in connection with an enjoyable recreation cross-cultural game. The game required class participation, by every one, which contributed to the success of an increased understanding of culture shock and reverse culture shock.

- Coordinated transportation, and provided personnel accoun¬tability for thirty-two (32) Cubans from village Mike to two villages in Bulkeley. One Cuban group went to a joint Jehovah's Witness service in Village Alpha; the second Cuban group went to a joint Pentecostal service in Village Echo.

- Supported three special programs to include the "Gathering of Friends" at McCalla, "Joint Christian Singing Concert" near Village Charlie at Bulkeley and showed two "Billy Graham Crusade" videos in Village Mike.

- Additionally was responsible for the following personnel areas to include supporting nineteen (19) Protestant worship services, other weekly programs, 14 Catholic Masses, Planning of Religious Activities, administration and duty driver activities, follow up with Cubans and their individual needs, and briefing the Chaplains for accountability of executing cross cultural classes.

PROPOSED CITATION

For exceptionally meritorious achievement as Chaplain Assistant, Joint Task Group Bulkeley, Joint Task Force One Six Zero, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 13 June to 12 September 1995. Sergeant Hankins, as Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge of Villages Echo, Foxtrot and Golf, provided outstanding ministry support to more than 5,500 Cuban Migrants in support of Operation Sea Signal. His exemplary service in administration, and pastoral assistance made a tremendous impact, in the accomplishment of the mission of the Chaplain staff. He served his Chaplains with integrity contributing to a model ministry team. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Hankins reflect credit upon himself, the United States Army and the Department of Defense.

Teach, Learn, Share

In 1976 I started on SMCAS (South Western Michigan Community Ambulance Service), which was a volunteer Ambulance Position. I saw a lot of things on that Ambulance that I never want to see again. Some of the things I saw were not beautiful. But that experience taught me a lot and it kept me out of trouble: sex, drugs and alcohol. The building had a shower room, 5 beds for the night shift, cooking area, and bay area for 3 Ambulance vehicles. My brother and sister also spent time working on the Ambulance after I opened the door way for their contributions. I also did magic shows, horse 4-H and Boy Scouts during those high school years. Finally, I graduated on June 6th 1978. However, I did not attend my High School graduation because I went on an exchange program to Austria (Europe) with the Future Farmers of America. I had to be in Washington DC FFA Center the weekend before graduation for an over seas orientation. My first two weeks I lived in Germany taking a German class for two weeks. It was on a hill and had a beautiful view. The first morning I woke it I found myself out side in beautiful sunshine. However, to my surprise it was 5 AM and I returned to my room and went back to sleep. After my two week in Germany I took a train to Austria where I lived and worked on a horse, sheep and timber farm in Trofiach, Austria and on another farm for a total time of 6 months. About Mid Way through my experience the FFA gave us a tour, which covered German, Sweden and Denmark. Our bus driver got a speeding ticket and then the next day he got another ticket for being drunk while driving a bus. We had to stay in the Hotel while the tour company sent another bus driver by air to Denmark. The man lost his job after working with the company for many years. After my 6-month stay in Europe, I came back to the states and worked on the ambulance as the EMT in charge my first day in the USA. Later on I got a job in 1979 at Pawating Hospital as an Emergency Room Technician of which stayed for 1 and ½ year while attending a South Western Michigan college. Finally, I decided that I did not want to be a nurse so I left my part time job and went to Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln Illinois, in the fall of 1981.

After 5 years of college, I earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Lincoln Christian College: World Missions/Church Growth and Christian Ministries/Preaching. I attended that college from 1981 to my graduation date on Saturday - 10 May 1986. I also served in the United States Army as a Chaplain Assistant. I enlisted in the U.S Army on 7 August 1992, completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on 8 October 1992; and completed Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and the fast track program for Chaplain Assistants, at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey on 14 December 1992. In addition to my military duties, I served as a volunteer youth leader, for the Unit Ministry team, at TIC Chapel, Fort Benning, GA from 1 January 1993 to 1 June1995. To help out with youth out reach programs and retreats; I took a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation class on 15 May 1993; and a 40-hour military bus driving course of which I graduated on 11 June 1993. I took the youth all over the state of Georgia for retreats and conventions. I have a deep compassion for under-privileged youth and for youth with problems. I found my work with the youth to be both rewarding and fun. But one might ask what Chaplain Assistants do in the Army.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I just paid for my membership on couchsurfing. I am so glad to help people and have people help me through out the world.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Central African Republic, China, Denmark, England, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Macao, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Central African Republic, England, Germany