Part 1
Part 2
It is a powerful story (in 2 separate programs) with small “mustard seed” beginnings! In the late 1990’s mortgage brokers Bob and Judi Bertels agreed to host overnight two or three Zambian children, members of a Zambian (Africa) Children’s Choir in concert singing at their Maryville, Illinois, church (1/2-hour NE of the St. Louis Arch).
When the choir sponsors later abandoning the choir in Dallas (with the children being housed overnight in the Dallas jail), the next Easter evening the Bertels get a call from one of the children they had housed, seeking help.
That was the unlikely beginning of what grew into a great ministry, African Vision of Hope www.africanvisionofhope.org). A Zambian Christian seminary student then told the Bertels he was led to start a school for Zambian children, many of them orphans. Would the Bertels help?
With that small start, the Bertels “jumped in” to help. Now they oversee and raise money for five different schools under the AVH sponsorship, and (before the virus) were caring for more than 3,100 children! They help all they can during the virus, but adjustments have obviously been required.
Haward Swaza, who as a boy at 6 or 7 years of age, began living by himself in a Zambian jungle for six years in order that his mother and siblings would have enough to eat! Passionate to get an education, he learned of the AVH free school. When there was as opening, he was admitted.
Now Haward is on the AVH staff, and has received Jesus as his Savior, who he now serves through the school.
AVH hosts terrific “GALA’s” at least once a year in support of this great work. Joan and I were blessed to be a part of the one in 2019 at “Windows over Washington” in St. Louis. The next one (or the last one, depending on when you are reading this) is (or was) on Thursday, October 1, 2020. For more info, visit www.africanvisionofhope.org.
Related Radio Links from the recent past …
To hear … “BOB & JUDI BERTELS OF STL AREA FOUNDED “AFRICAN VISION OF HOPE,” CARING DAILY FOR 3,140 PRECIOUS ZAMBIAN CHILDREN! BOB AND ZAMBIAN “HAWARD OF THE JUNGLE” TELL A REMARKABLE STORY of his living alone in the jungle, INVITE US TO AVH’S “GALA!” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/10/24/bob-judi-bertels-of-stl-area-founded-african-vision-of-hope-caring-daily-for-3140-precious-zambian-children-bob-and-zambian-haward-of-the-jungle-tell-a-remark/;
To hear … “JUDI BERTELS, CO-FOUNDER OF “AFRICAN VISION OF HOPE,” PROVIDES MORE INSPIRATION AND INSIGHTS INTO THE GREAT MINISTRY THAT CARES FOR, PROTECTS, AND EDUCATES 3,140 ZAMBIAN CHILDREN IN ZAMBIA, AFRICA” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/11/01/judi-bertels-co-founder-of-african-vision-of-hope-provides-more-inspiration-and-insights-into-the-great-ministry-that-cares-for-protects-and-educates-3140-zambian-children-in-za/;
To hear … “AVH PASTOR KENNEDY HAKOBWA AND BOB BERTELS CARING, PROTECTING, FEEDING 3,000 ZAMBIAN CHILDREN DAILY” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/01/02/avh-pastor-kennedy-hakobwa-and-bob-bertels-caring-protecting-feeding-3000-zambian-children-daily/;
To hear … “A 5-MINUTE VIDEO — HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/AFUBY11DXHY — WITH PASTOR FRED WINTERS, IN 2009 MURDERED IN HIS PULPIT ON A SUNDAY MORNING. EARLIER HE ‘LIT THE FUSE’ FOR beginning ‘AFRICAN VISION OF HOPE,’ IN 2019 CARING FOR 3,140 PRECIOUS ZAMBIAN KIDS” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/11/07/a-5-minute-video-https-youtu-be-afuby11dxhy-with-pastor-fred-winters-in-2009-murdered-in-his-pulpit-he-lit-the-fuse-for-african-vision-of-hope-in-2019-c/;
(NOTE: SINCE Joan and I named our ministry website www.haroldhendrick.com, to upload or post anything on it, they automatically place my name all over it.)