There is a specific category of people in the world who are hurting because they are victimized by oppression and injustice. There is also a clear biblical mandate for us to go and care for these people.
For the family held in slavery, for the girl who is kidnapped and forced into prostitution, for the widow kicked off her land, loving these neighbors means doing what it takes to bring them rescue.
Thank you for having the courage to look closely at the problems of injustice and ask, “Jesus, what do you want us to do about it?”
Mission
To Make the Gospel real and practical.
Vision
Support Evangelism and social justice ministries in the area of health, Christian education, and economic empowerment.
Purpose
Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus in Africa.
- We use short term mission trips as a way to create awareness, develop long term relationships, and provide practical support to existing ministries and projects in Africa.
- We raise funds for medical facilities and create strategic partnerships with medical personnel, teaching hospitals, and foundations in conjunction with short term medical mission trips to serve Africans needing medical care and treatment especially in underserved areas.
- Create strategic partnerships with churches and donors in the USA to support faculty endowments, student scholarships, and programs that encourage the integration of faith and learning.
- Create strategic partnerships with Christian colleges and universities in the USA for faculty exchange, program development, and student exchange programs.
- To develop and maintain strong links to the local, regional, and international communities though focused service and short term mission team projects.
- To equip Christ-centered leaders with relevant theological, business, management, leadership and IT skills that can be easily transferred on the job whether in ministry, government, or the marketplace.
- Promote “Jesus style leadership” helping believers shape and sharpen their talents and spiritual gifts for serving God
- Develop sustainable projects to serve as a bridge for the university in engaging community in a holistic way.
Board Members
Dan Ameli
Dan Ameli is a freelance I.T. Consultant who provides technology services to small business and organizations. With a clientele that consists mainly of non-profit organizations, Dan is familiar with technology resources available to those organizations.
Before starting his own company, Ameli Business Systems, Dan worked 19 years as a programmer/I.T. Analyst at Columbia Gas, a natural gas pipeline company where he designed their first local area network (LAN) and assisted in designing the company’s wide area network (WAN) between offices. Afterwards, he worked for Computer Services, Inc., a nationwide company that writes and supports banking and teller software, where he supported 31 banks throughout the state of West Virginia.
Dan holds an Associate of Science degree in accounting, a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Management and Data Processing, a Master of Business Administration degree and is a Microsoft Certified Professional.
His interest in electronics and technology began at an early age while growing up helping in his father’s TV and appliance store and repair shop. Dan enjoys golfing, camping, swimming, biking and spending time with family.
Ed Fischer (Founder and Executive Director)
Ed currently serves as the owner of the North Fork Mountain Inn and the Executive Director for Visions of Hope for Africa. He spent 21 years in the telephony and technology sectors working for GTE, VERIZON, and QWEST Communications. He has served in the non-profit sector for 7 years with Christian Leaders for Africa and has been leading short term mission teams to Africa for over 12 years. Ed serves his local church, Maysville Bible Brethren as leader of the missionary care team.
Academically Ed holds a BS in Finance and Business Administration from the University of Illinois. Ed continues to travel extensively throughout the world as an educational and hospitality consultant. He has been involved academically and administratively with schools in Kenya, Liberia, and the United States.
Married to the love of his life, Carol, for 18 years and counting, they have two adult children: Danielle and Joel. Two hobbies consume his leftover energy: food and wine appreciation and travel.
Jeffrey Fischer
Jeffrey is a Professional Engineer and a minister for the Apostolic Christian Church. As an engineer, he has served as an engineering educator for a large engineering and construction company in the power generation and delivery markets. In this role he initiated learning programs that supported leadership organizational development strategies. He also has taught at Pittsburg State and University of South Florida, where he received his Bachelors and Master degrees in Civil Engineering. Jeff enjoys developing and building projects, but states that this experience pales in comparison to developing and building people. He enjoys serving his church, his family and his community.
Richard Gitau
Apostle and the general overseer of Kings Tabernacle Worship Centre. He is the CEO of Iconic Brand Media, an IBM company. This multifaceted company deals with production, procurement, publication, and events management. He formerly worked with Information Processing Systems (IPS) as a Marketing Technical Developer. He graduated from Kenya Polytechnic Nairobi with a diploma in Electronics Engineering. Richard graduated from the Gary Whetstone School of Biblical Studies and was later ordained by Calvary Mission Oklahoma USA as a minister.
Helen Markwell
God is wonderful. His plans for each of us are so mysterious and complicated. As I look back on my early adult years and scan them quickly towards today, I see plainly that everything God put in my past was there for a purpose so that I could use them, both the good and the bad, for his service today. This is really what I’m about – using the last full years of my life in service for my Savior.
I grew up in Ohio with a church going family, who felt it was important to attend church and Sunday school every Sunday. I publically confirmed my baptism in 8th grade. God let me have leadership experiences leading our youth group in high school and teaching bible school in the summers. He also let me work outdoors, which I love. My summers were filled teaching swimming and lifeguarding and working with young campfire girls at a camp for three years. I worked during high school and college as a swimming teacher for the YMCA during the winters. I attended the small, southern Baptist College for two years and then transferred home to attend a community college and major in Elementary Education and Primary Curriculum. In the interim, I fell in love with my husband of forty-nine years. We were married our senior year in college and came to Pendleton County to teach.
My husband started a rock climbing business in 1970 at Seneca Rocks. I happily continued to teach for 39 years. God definitely gave me the skills to teach. I’m still doing that every year when I go over to Living Hope High School in Kenya with the mission team. I’ve come full circle and continue to teach bible school every year. It seems I’m destined to always be teaching something.
I’ve been blessed with a good, honest, loving husband and two children who have each married Christian partners. God’s given me home, family, and health. Could I be blessed more? I say “Not hardly.”
DAVIS MUGUIMI
Davis Muguimi is a successful Corporate Communications and Partnership Development professional with vast experience in Partnership Development, Strategic Planning, PR and Communication. He has over 10 years’ experience in PR work in NGOs (Local and International), Universities and Business enterprises and also skilled in supporting organizations in resources development, fundraising strategies and organizational development for capacity building and sustainability.
Davis’ leadership responsibilities have included Re-established the Corporate Affairs and Resource Mobilization Department at Pan Africa Christian University. He has led the growth and institutionalization process of Transformational Leadership in Africa and Dignified Children International as a board member and consultant. He served in the National Council of the Fellowship of Christian Unions – Kenya ( FOCUS-Kenya) as Chairperson of National Students Council. Additionally, Davis held various leadership roles at Moi University; in the Christian Union; Students Associations and Clubs; he pioneered and successfully directed several projects at the University and High School while serving as a student leader.
Dr Joash Wambua Mutua
Dr. Joash Mutua was born and raised in Kenya and teaches at Africa International University. He is currently the Coordinator for the Education Masters and PhD Programs. Joash is a Church planter. He is the Founder of Lighthouse International Churches. While in the USA, he attended the University of Alabama and earned his Masters and PhD degrees. He also planted a church in Birmingham, Alabama. In Kenya, he has planted 9 churches. He serves as the Missions Director of CITAM Karen church and the International Director of Touch Kenya Mission International. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Kenya Christian Fellowship in America.
Joash finds it quite a great privilege and honor to join this great organization. He is married to Dr. Catherine and they have three grown children
Josleen Rutere-Solta
She is currently the University Librarian at Pan Africa Christian University and an adjunct faculty member at Kenyatta University. She is a graduate of Kenyatta University with a Bachelors degree in Education, a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science and currently pursuing a PHD in Library and Information Science. Her thesis addresses the issue of Succession planning in higher education.
She has over fifteen years’ experience in higher education research, library leadership in areas such as designing new library spaces to support collaborative learning, library management including mentorship and coaching and knowledge management. Her passion is in library fundraising and she has been able to win grants that have been used to set up various library projects at Pan Africa Christian University. As part of her fundraising efforts, the Library in 2018, received a grant though that is being used to establish Library Commons at Pan Africa Christian University.
She is a scholar and has published and presented papers in local and international conferences. She has written a book chapter in a leadership resource book.
Josleen is married to Willy Soita and they have been blessed with two children: Michelle and Adrian.
Advisory Board Members
Gloria Fischer
Gloria is a Board Certified Family Physician graduating from the University of Florida and completing her residency in West Suburban, near Chicago. She practiced primary care as a solo practitioner for her first 4 years and co-founded a group practice serving another 10 years in Bradenton, FL. She spent 7 years at home educating her and Jeffrey’s 4 children. Gloria currently serves the Veterans as a physician in a community based outpatient clinic in western Missouri.
Steven Meier
Financial Planner and Investment Advisor, Indianapolis, IN, formerly served with MAP International, and has led many short term mission teams around the world. Received his theological degree from Wheaton.
Joe Williamson
Financial Planner with Wells Fargo and founder of TSOAR Ministries.
Joshpat Yego
Founder of Developmentia and retired Professor of Education at Eastern University. He has served as dean of studies at Kenyatta University and served on the governing council of NEGST when it began 30 years ago.