Through the lens of hope: faith and transformation in focus

4. How do you prepare to respectfully document the hardship communities face?

Prayer, research and respect guide my approach. Grounding every visit in prayer helps me see people through God’s eyes and gives me strength to carry the calling. Research ensures I understand the culture and avoid causing offence. I am naturally curious, which helps when visiting new places, but this curiosity is always balanced with deep respect for the people and communities I meet.

5. What role does photography play in telling stories of justice and hope?

A powerful image connects us deeply with people and communities before we even read a single word about them. Studies show people process images up to 60,000 times faster than words. Images offer an immediacy to a story that words don’t. In today’s world, filled with vast swathes of information, a strong image compels people to read and learn more. This is vital for entering into the stories of others and being moved to respond in some way.

6. Can you share one photo that speaks volumes to you – and why?

One of my favourite photos is of Venentia, a woman I met in Rwanda. She and Claude came from the same village – in the genocide, Claude was part of a mob that killed Venentia’s husband and took her cattle. After serving time in jail, Claude returned seeking forgiveness. Venentia not only forgave him but cared for him, providing food and support. Today, they share a strong relationship and continue to help each other. This photo speaks of grace, healing and the power of reconciliation.

7. What have you learned about God or justice through the people you’ve photographed?

My work in international development photography has deeply shaped my understanding of God. The world can feel overwhelmingly negative at times, but I’m constantly reminded of God’s incredible power to transform lives and situations. Witnessing the depth of reconciliation between people in Rwanda has blown my mind and made me reflect on the depth of my own relationship with God and how that plays out with others.

That said, it’s a continual struggle to remember that my calling isn’t to make sense of everything happening around me, but to listen carefully to those on the ground and help share their stories. Often, I return home feeling guilty about my privilege. And sometimes it feels like people aren’t hearing or responding to the stories I share, but God reminds me that it isn’t my job to make people listen or respond. My calling is to meet people, pray with them, and help them tell their stories of transformation and God’s work in their lives.

8. What gives you hope right now?

Hope grows in me through my faith in God and the incredible people I meet in my work. Alongside freelance photography for Christian organisations, I serve as Creative Manager for Comfort International. This July, I visited partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including North Kivu near Goma, where Tearfund also works.

The people there have endured decades of conflict and hardship, yet I have never seen deeper faith or more passionate worship. Despite living with food shortages, insecurity and instability, local partners risk their own safety to rescue child soldiers, support survivors of sexual violence, provide medical care, and look after orphans.

People such as Bedadi, Dieudonné, Joseph and Neema – and so many others I’ve met across the world – fill me with hope. I’m privileged to serve God in this way and to witness lives transformed through the work of Christian organisations and their church partners. How can I not have hope? It is clear that even in the darkest places, God is moving.

9. What would you want people to do after seeing your photos?

The one thing I’d like people to do is to respond – through prayer, volunteering, financial giving or all three! I love Tearfund’s slogan, ‘Poverty is not God’s plan. You are.’ These aren’t stories where the right response is just, ‘It’s nice that someone is doing something about that.’ The right response is to rise up and get involved.

One of my favourite Bible verses is Micah 6:8 (it’s tattooed on my right arm, visible whenever I hold my camera):

‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’

There is nothing passive about what God calls us into.

Discover more and get involved

Chris Hoskins’ powerful images and reflections offer a window into the resilience, faith and transformation happening in communities around the world. To explore more inspiring stories, visit Tearfund’s Stories pages.

If Chris’s work moves you, there are many ways to respond across this website – whether through prayer, volunteering or financial support – to help bring lasting change to those affected by poverty and injustice.

If you'd like to see more of Chris's work, you can find his own website here.

Together, through faith and action, we can be part of the story of hope God is writing across the world.