Rob Hooks

Rob is originally from America and grew up in a non-Christian home, which brought its own challenges. Since coming to Christ, Rob has been working as an LCM missionary serving those who are homeless and in prison for over 36 years.

Rob says, “Coming from a broken home and having a chaotic upbringing has given me insight into the lives of those who are marginalised. Most of those I meet suffer greatly from addiction and mental health issues, but the gospel is good news for them - their lives can be changed!”

Rob works as a missionary at our Webber Street Day Centre, seeking to help people take steps out of homelessness and provide relief from life on the streets. They regularly serve breakfast, run Bible studies, arts groups, and a weekly 1-1 support drop-in. The team also seeks to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of guests as they work alongside local churches. Together, they host community meals to help guests connect with a church family and build lasting friendships, while volunteers are trained and equipped to share the life-changing news of Jesus.

Every day at Webber Street, Rob meets people who are struggling with homelessness, poverty, and addiction. The average life expectancy for a rough sleeper is in the mid-40s, with 15% of deaths being from suicide. Rob continues, “I want the ministry at Webber Street to show love and care to those who are marginalised in our community. We can’t underestimate the power of what we do for people and what we say to them.”

In addition to his work at Webber Street, Rob also works with the Prison team in Brixton, helping secure support for prisoners once they are released. Emotional, spiritual, and practical help are all vital as a person integrates back into the community.

Rob fondly recalls, “At our weekly Bible study in Brixton Prison, we were looking at a passage from John 1: 1-5. The men attending come from all backgrounds; most have never really read the Bible. We are eager for them to understand the passage themselves with some promptings from the leaders to help but not give the answers. It was exciting to see one such prisoner slowly begin to understand the meaning of the passage as he kept reading it over and over. At one point, he understood and said, ‘So God, who made the world, became one of us!’ It was a moment that the Holy Spirit was tangibly present in the room, bringing revelation of God’s word.”

Rob is married to Sandy, and they have three sons, two lovely daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. He is a keen hiker and just completed his fourth Camino de Santiago in Spain.