Ronnie and Meela Heerah

Ronnie and Meela Heerah were both born in Trinidad, Ronnie in Port of Spain and Meela in Sangre Grande on the east coast. Married in 1988, they served two years at Sangre Grande Evangelical Church before sensing God's call in 1990 to full-time training, moving to Florida Bible College in 1991 and graduating in 1995 with degrees in pastoral studies and church education.

They returned to Trinidad in 1995 and pastored Sangre Grande Evangelical Church from 1996 to 2001. In 1998 they suffered the loss of their first child, Ilissa Joy, while on furlough in the United States, a tragedy they continue to carry with God's sustaining grace and the support of family and friends. They have three more children: Justin, Joseph, and Charissa.

From 2002 to 2008 they served at Westside Community Church in Port of Spain, Ronnie first as teaching pastor and then senior pastor, Meela as children's ministry director. In 2008 they returned to Sangre Grande, where Ronnie and Meela each began ministries for men and women, iMen and iWomen, that have touched dozens of lives. Since 2006 they sensed a call to plant a church for the unchurched, and in 2009 a small group began meeting in their home. That group grew into Hope Community Church, launched November 14, 2010, and now includes a discipleship school, men's and women's groups, youth ministry, and children's ministry, with a vision to plant a small group in every major village in Sangre Grande.