The Story Of Christ's Hope International

In a small Namibian, Africa town, Jos and Sylvia Holtzhausen faced a burdening dilemma. Should they continue confidently serving Youth for Christ Namibia, reaching hundreds of west African youth at the large center they had established; or confront the troubling reality of HIV and AIDS they were witnessing first hand and the children left behind in its wake?

Sylvia was reading the book, “Get Out of the Boat”, about the parable of Peter stepping out of the boat by faith to walk on the water toward Jesus. They had many years of effective service and were comfortable and fruitful with Youth for Christ, yet they felt the call to get out of the boat they knew, to launch a ministry that focused on HIV and AIDS affected children and families. In answer to that call they established Christ’s Hope International in 2003.

Since 2003, Christ’s Hope has grown from serving in one country, to seven. Today we serve over 1,800 AIDS affected orphaned and vulnerable children. Helping these children remain in families through our Ministry CarePoint model, which provides support physically, academically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.

The International Board has appointed David Kase as International Director and Glenn Vantieghem as Africa Team Leader.

Mission Statement

Empowering orphaned and vulnerable children to break the cycles of extreme poverty, AIDS, and spiritual brokenness through family-based care and discipleship in Jesus Christ.

Our Vision

Transforming the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in extreme poverty.

Our Focus

Caring for the AIDS affected child.

Our Hallmark

Uncompromisingly Biblical, Unashamedly Christian

Core Values

Passion for God

Our passion is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, and strength, striving to do His will and glorify Him by being His hands, feet, mouth and ears, as ambassadors of the living Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Holiness

We believe that holiness for the Christian is not an option, it is a command. It is only through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that believers are empowered to lead holy lives, set apart by obedience and sincere love, having been born again through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:15)

Compassion

We believe that we should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Compassion is this: That we reach out in care and love to those who are harassed and helpless, stricken and rejected, the orphans and widows. (Colossians 3:12)

Grace

We believe that we have been saved by grace and grace alone. We live in the humility of that grace and strive to extend the same grace to those we care for, those we serve with, and those who support us. (Ephesians 1:4-5)

Faith

We desire to not only know what God can do, but have the confident expectation of knowing what God will do. (Hebrews 11:1)

Unity

We believe the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:12)

Evangelism

We believe evangelism is the ultimate expression of compassion. Evangelism means caring for physical, medical, and emotional needs as a starting point for offering the living water of salvation. (John 4:14)

Discipling

We emphasize the importance of relationships that prompt vital, active service, and submission to Christ. Our aim is not to make disciples for ourselves, but disciples of the Living Lord. (Matthew 28:19)

Sexual Purity

We believe that God’s plan for His people is sexual purity before and during marriage. (Genesis 2:24, Hebrews 13:4)

Marriage

We believe the institution of marriage is intended by God to be a permanent, lifelong commitment between one man and one woman enduring by the power of the Holy Spirit regardless of trials, sickness, financial challenges or emotional stresses that may ensue. Strong marriages depend on sexual purity before marriage and faithfulness in marriage. (Hebrews 13:4)

Family

We believe the family is the God-designed, basic building block of society. We work toward strengthening existing families, nurturing broken families and providing vision for future families. (Psalm 68:5-6)

What We Believe

The Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:4-6)

In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ born of a virgin, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His future personal return in power and glory. (Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:14, 4:15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:11, 2:22-24; John 1:1-4; Matthew 1:4)

That repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit and that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 4:12; John 14:6)

In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit whose indwelling enables the Christian to live a godly life. (Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:9)

In the resurrection of both the saved – and the lost – unto the resurrection of eternal life, for the saved, and the lost unto eternal separation from God (Revelation 20:11-15; I Corinthians 15:51-57).

In the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and that all believers are members of His body, the Church (Ephesians 1:22-23; I Corinthians 12:12, 27).