About Us

Paul + Cathy Scholten

Paul and Cathy Scholten have invested their “second half” for the vulnerable kids and families of South Africa.  Beginning with their first trip to South Africa for Christ Memorial Church in 2001, they helped create two organizations, SAHAC Courage Youth and Setshabelo Family and Child Services, along with encompassKids.  Both retired from respective careers in aerospace and hospital administration.  They are parents, grandparents, and great grandparents to a growing clan of 26 – along with many South Africans.  They currently serve on the encompassKids Board of Directors and are active in many of its day-to-day operations.

Zeke Swift

Zeke Swift's first trip to South Africa in 2004 with Darrow Miller, author of Discipling Nations, put a face on AIDS for him and created an enduring connection with the country and people of South Africa. Later that year, a delegation of 13, about half from the United States and half from South Africa, talked to over 60 people in 40 organizations in six South Africa cities and drafted a strategy that launched the Southern Africa HIV-AIDS Collaboration (SAHAC for short), now doing business as the Courage Youth Movement. Zeke has served as chair since SAHAC was incorporated as a South African public benefit organization in 2007. Zeke joined the encompassKids board in 2020.    

Mary T. DeVries

Mary believes giving back and volunteering is essential and an important part of who we are. She has a passion for helping others. The staff at encompassKids Ministries holds a special place in her heart and she truly believes they are the hands and feet of God within the South Africa communities, the children, and the families they serve. Mary's first experience with the encompassKids Ministries and the South Africa environment came in 2012, when she and her husband, Charles, joined Paul and Cathy Scholten for a fall mission trip. Since that time Mary has been volunteering and eventually joined the encompassKids Board of Directors.

Ty Tanis

Ty Tanis is a West Michigan native and graduated from Hope College. He is married to Michelle, and they have three children. Ty is the Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland and has a passion for serving and investing in others. Ty & Michelle volunteered and supported the encompassKids missions in South Africa in 2015.

Herk Vanden Bosch

As chairperson of the Deacons of Christ Memorial Church in 2014, Herk was tasked with the doing a deeper dive into the missions in which CMC was invested. He spent time at the Courage Clubs in several schools and at the Setshabelo Family and Child Services (SFCS). Understanding the impact on the participants, he decided to invest more and joined the board of encompassKids. He was chair for several years and now works on the board as an ambassador for the organization. Herk and his wife, Linda, are the proud parents of three married children and grandparents to seven. In his spare time, Herk likes a good game of golf and boating on Lake Michigan. 

Rich Avink

In 2010, upon retiring from a career in teaching, Rich took the opportunity to travel to South Africa on a mission trip with Paul & Cathy Scholten. That was the first of several visits he made. He found that he had so much to learn about the culture of South Africa, especially the lives and needs of the children and families. Some of what he learned he admired and enjoyed, and some he saw as an opportunity to give support and encouragement. Thesepeople and this mission found a special place in his heart.Over the last several years as a Board Member he has provided support to encompassKids in the role as treasurer. Rich stands amazed at how God has graciously blessed this mission. All glory to Him!