Our history / How it all started

On the road with God for the persecuted and the needy

The impetus for the founding of AVC was a demonstration for Romanian pastors. These pastors were in prison because they had accepted Bibles from a group of German pastors in addition to relief supplies after heavy flooding in 1970 - a major crime committed by Romanian Christians behind the Iron Curtain at that time, which was punished with imprisonment.

To stand up for those arrested, 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 persecuted Christians and mobilize support.

Growing international AVC family

In the meantime, the ministry has grown internationally and become a large 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 about 60 countries worldwide.

AVC Germany
AVC Austria
ACP Italy
Nehemia Czech Republic

»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

»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

»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
First rally for persecuted Christians

The impetus for the founding of AVC was a demonstration in Cologne for imprisoned Romanian pastors. Their "crime": accepting Bibles as part of an aid shipment from Germany.

Feb 21, 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
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!

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.

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.

1987
AVC Switzerland is founded

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.

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.

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
First rally for persecuted Christians

The impetus for the founding of AVC was a demonstration in Cologne for imprisoned Romanian pastors. Their "crime": accepting Bibles as part of an aid shipment from Germany.

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.

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
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.