1993 | AVC IN SIBERIA


To reach Siberia's labor camps in rough terrain, the prison administration provides helicopters to transport our outreach team and literature.
To reach Siberia's labor camps in rough terrain, the prison administration provides helicopters to transport our outreach team and literature.

AVC's history

On the move with God for the persecuted and needy

The impetus for founding AVC was a demonstration for Romanian pastors. Those were in prison, because after heavy flooding in 1970, they had accepted besides relief supplies also Bibles from a group of German pastors - a major crime committed by Romanian Christians behind what was then the Iron Curtain and punishable by imprisonment.

To stand up for those arrested, the Bible-carriers from Germany, including Gerhard Heinzmann, Ludwig Eisenlöffel, Hans Ollesch and Waldemar Sardaczuk, organized a rally in Cologne. AVC was set up as the organizer of the demonstration. Surprisingly, the court acquitted the Romanian pastors. AVC continued to work to further publicize the cause of the persecuted Christians and to mobilize support.

Growing international AVC family

In the meantime, the work has grown internationally and become a big family. Today, AVC includes independent organizations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria as well as the "Nehemia Christliches Hilfswerk e.V.". Together we are active in around 60 countries worldwide.
Sardaczuk_Testimonial
»I read the book 'Tortured for Christ' by Richard Wurmbrand. Meeting him and others who endured decades of imprisonment and torture made a deep impression on me. On a 'Bible smuggling trip' to Russia, I was arrested and interrogated - a tiny taste of what persecuted Christians suffer.«
Waldemar Sardaczuk, Co-founder AVC
Hofer_Testimonial
"The encounters with persecuted people in various Eastern Bloc countries motivated me to take on the hardships and dangers of Bible smuggling. In 1987, I gave up my job as a construction manager to devote myself full-time to building up AVC Switzerland."
Daniel Hofer, AVC Switzerland
AVC Gründer Testimonial
"As students in Erzhausen in the 1980s, my wife Ingeborg and I were invited to work at AVC in the clothing warehouse and learned about the suffering of Christians in the East. That moved us to later help found AVC Austria."
Edwin Jung, AVC Austria
1972_Kundgebung-Berlin
Feb, 1972
AVC Germany is born

Gerhard Heinzmann, Ludwig Eisenlöffel, Hans Ollesch, Waldemar Sardaczuk and others found AVC under the name »Action Committee for Persecuted Christians«.
21st of Feb. 1972
First rally for persecuted Christians

AVC's first action is a demonstration in Cologne for imprisoned Romanian pastors. Their »crime«: accepting Bibles as part of aid shipments from Germany.
1972_Gruendung-DE
1972_Unterstützung-Eiserner-Vorhang
1972
Support behind the Iron Curtain

AVC visits the persecuted and families of imprisoned Christians in the territory of the former USSR - an important support and encouragement for those affected.
1973
Bible smuggling

Bibles have been smuggled into hermetically sealed countries by bold means and often at great risk. A precious treasure for the receivers!
1973_Bibelschmuggel
Laufend_Sensibilisierungsarbeit
Ongoing
Creating awareness

AVC repeatedly raises awareness in the “Western” world about the situation of the persecuted and organizes rallies against the imprisonment of Christians..
1978
Latin America | Brazil

AVC's involvement in Latin America begins with support for soup kitchens in Brazil.
1978-Lateinamerika
1980-Uganda
1980
Africa | Uganda

The road to state independence was painful for Uganda. AVC sends several containers with relief supplies, and courageous pastors from Germany visit the crisis area..
1982
Middle East | Lebanon

The first aid transport to the Middle East goes to Lebanon where civil wars were already alternating with cruel massacres and ceasefires.
1982-Hilfstransport-Naher-Osten
1987-Gruendung-Schweiz
1987
AVC Switzerland is born

Since May 1st, 1987, AVC has officially been active from Switzerland. In 1988, through the commitment of Daniel Hofer, an independent association is founded. Under the name ACP, AVC works in the French-speaking part of Western Switzerland and in France near the border.
1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall

On November 9, 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of an era. A new era dawned for persecuted Christians, and new opportunities opened for AVC to support them.
1989-Mauerfall
1990-Gruendung-Nehemia
1990
Nehemia Christliches Hilfswerk e.V. is founded

For a better implementation of the humanitarian work, AVC Germany founds Nehemia Christliches Hilfswerk e.V.
1991
Asia | Russia

A first Russian plane carrying relief supplies from AVC is flying to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia; a second in September to the Urals and a third to Bratsk.
1991-Hilfsgueter-Russland
1992
Nehemiah Czech Republic is founded

For many years AVC supported persecuted Christians in the Czech Republic. Now a new AVC ministry, Nehemiah Czech Republic, emerges to support projects outside the Czech Republic. In 2013, Nehemiah Czech Republic becomes a partner organization of AVC International.
1995
AVC Austria is founded

Thanks to the commitment of Edwin and Ingeborg Jung, AVC has been active in Austria since 1995. The official foundation of the association takes place in 2010.
2015
AVC Italy is founded

In 2015, the association ACP Italia for Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland is formed. 2017, it becomes official partner organization of AVC.
1972_Kundgebung-Berlin
Feb, 1972
AVC Germany is founded

Gerhard Heinzmann, Ludwig Eisenlöffel, Hans Ollesch, Waldemar Sardaczuk and others found AVC under the name "Action Committee for Persecuted Christians".
1972_Unterstützung-Eiserner-Vorhang
1972
Behind the Iron Curtain

AVC visits the persecuted and families of imprisoned Christians in the territory of the former USSR - an important support and encouragement for those affected.
Laufend_Sensibilisierungsarbeit
Ongoing
Creating awareness

AVC repeatedly raises awareness in the “Western” world about the situation of the persecuted and organizes rallies against the imprisonment of Christians.
1980-Uganda
1980
Africa | Uganda

The road to state independence was painful for Uganda. AVC sends several containers with relief supplies, and courageous pastors from Germany visit the crisis area.
1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall

On November 9, 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of an era. A new era dawned for persecuted Christians, and new opportunities opened for AVC to support them.
1989-Mauerfall
1990-Gruendung-Nehemia
1990
Nehemia Christliches Hilfswerk e.V. is founded

For a better implementation of the humanitarian work, AVC Germany founds Nehemia Christliches Hilfswerk e.V.
1995
AVC Austria is founded

Thanks to the commitment of Edwin and Ingeborg Jung, AVC has been active in Austria since 1995. The official foundation of the association takes place in 2010.
21st of Feb. 1972
First rally for persecuted Christians

AVC's first action is a demonstration in Cologne for imprisoned Romanian pastors. Their »crime«: accepting Bibles as part of aid shipments from Germany.
1972_Gruendung-DE
1973
Bible smuggling

Bibles have been smuggled into hermetically sealed countries by bold means and often at great risk. A precious treasure for the receivers!
1973_Bibelschmuggel
1978
Latin America | Brazil

AVC's involvement in Latin America begins with support for soup kitchens in Brazil.
1978-Lateinamerika
1982
Middle East | Lebanon

The first aid transport to the Middle East goes to Lebanon where civil wars were already alternating with cruel massacres and ceasefires.
1982-Hilfstransport-Naher-Osten
1987-Gruendung-Schweiz
1987
AVC Switzerland is born

Since May 1st, 1987, AVC has officially been active from Switzerland. In 1988, through the commitment of Daniel Hofer, an independent association is founded. Under the name ACP, AVC works in the French-speaking part of Western Switzerland and in France near the border.
1991
Asia | Russia

A first Russian plane carrying relief supplies from AVC is flying to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia; a second in September to the Urals and a third to Bratsk.
1991-Hilfsgueter-Russland
1992
Nehemiah Czech Republic is founded

For many years AVC supported persecuted Christians in the Czech Republic. Now a new AVC ministry, Nehemiah Czech Republic, emerges to support projects outside the Czech Republic. In 2013, Nehemiah Czech Republic becomes a partner organization of AVC International.
2015
AVC Italy is founded

In 2015, the association ACP Italia for Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland is formed. 2017, it becomes official partner organization of AVC.
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