About Us

Christ’s Hope International was started in 2003 by Jos and Sylvia Holtzhausen as a response to the AIDS crisis in Africa. As former leaders of Youth for Christ, they witnessed first hand the devastating consequences that the AIDS epidemic had on children. Through their work, they encountered an overwhelming number of children who were either orphaned or vulnerable, and they felt called to respond.

The answer was the creation of Christ’s Hope International. In the beginning, caring for children within orphanages was the direction that was taken to alleviate the immediate needs that many children had. Over time we discovered that the children that we were helping had extended family members in the community, but they were unable to care for them financially.

This disconnect continued for a time until eventually, it became increasingly clear to Christ’s Hope that institutionalized care was not a biblical or productive way to approach the problem. Christ’s Hope discovered that the biblical approach is for children to remain in a family unit. 

These findings lead us to create our Ministry CarePoint model, and eventually child sponsorship. We have since closed all of our orphanages, and now our sole focus is to go into areas with a high rate of AIDS-affected, orphaned, and vulnerable children. We intervene and help children who would be institutionalized, abandoned, or trafficked stay in a family unit. We also equip them with the skills they need to break the cycle of AIDS and poverty in their community. The results have been phenomenal.

Today we are in seven countries in Africa, and we have cared for over 1,300 children at 28 Ministry CarePoints. Our mission is to expand our reach in the coming years, as we continue to bring the life-saving message of Jesus Christ to children and their communities.

Bringing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to children and families infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS through discipling and care giving, presenting them perfect in Christ Jesus.

Working toward an AIDS-free world.

Caring for the AIDS affected child.

Uncompromisingly Biblical, Unashamedly Christian

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)