Alexander Harvey

Some people step into missions work with a formal title or a long resume.  Others step in with a simple yes.  For Alex Harvey, that yes began with a handshake, some rusty high school French, and a family newly arrived from Nyarugusu refugee camp.

Today, Alexander is the Executive Director and Cofounder of Equipping Hope International and one of its steady, strategic leaders.  But before there was a nonprofit, there was a friendship — and a deep conviction that we are called not just to respond to need, but to walk alongside people with love and hope.

From South Carolina to the Story of Nyarugusu

Alexander met Augustine Mutabesha and his family in South Carolina in 2018 as part of World Relief’s Good Neighbor Team.  Alex and his family had only recently started attending Hope Point Church.  He and his wife decided to jump in to getting involved by vounteering for a Good Neighbor Team sponsored by Hope Point.  Assigned by his church to help with a family of five’s resettlement, Alexander stepped in to help navigate appointments, paperwork, school enrollment, and the long list of everyday challenges that come with life in a new country.  And a new language.

But the relationship quickly moved beyond logistics.  Alexander and Augustine shared conversations about life in the camp, the obstacles refugees face, and the burdens of those left behind.  They began to dream together about a way to support refugees, not only with food or temporary aid, but with education, training, and spiritual hope.

Out of that vision, Equipping Hope International was born.

A Servant Leader and Strategic Builder

With a background in nonprofit development, entrepreneurship, and ministry leadership, Alexander brings a unique combination of vision and operational strength.  He handles much of the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that allows Equipping Hope’s programs to thrive from fundraising and strategy to communication and organizational growth.

But his greatest strength may be his posture.  Alexander leads with humility, always seeking to elevate local voices and honor the experience of those the organization serves. 

He’s not trying to build an empire. He’s trying to follow Jesus.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10

Alexander sees his role as a steward of resources, relationships, and the mission God placed in front of him.

Family and Faith

Alexander lives in South Carolina with his wife, Elise, and their six children. Their family life is marked by homeschooling, intentional community, and a shared love for missions.

Elise has also been instrumental in shaping Equipping Hope’s culture — offering wisdom, encouragement, and a background in marketing.  Together, the Harvey family models what it means to live out the Gospel through faithful, everyday presence.

Alexander also continues to serve in his local church and is passionate about helping Christians engage more deeply in long-term, relational missions,  especially in contexts like refugee care that often get reduced to statistics or crises.

A Vision for Empowerment

Under Alexander’s leadership, Equipping Hope has grown from a single conversation into a multifaceted ministry that includes:

Throughout each program, Alexander remains focused on the organization’s original heartbeat: equipping people with tools, not just relief.

He often says, “Our job isn’t to solve every problem. It’s to serve faithfully in the place God has given us.”

Why It Matters

Refugee work is hard.  It’s slow.  It’s full of complexities and limitations.  But Alexander believes deeply that faithfulness in hard places matters, not because it’s efficient, but because it’s right.  And he is passionate about figuring how all the pieces of the challenges, callings, donors, and refugees fit together to form an effective system of teaching a man to fish.

He’s never forgotten the first conversation that sparked this mission.  And five years later, that vision is still growing.

With deep gratitude,


The Equipping Hope Team