Who We Are – Our Story

Guatemala, 1979. From left to right: Paul Rapp (Kathie's brother), Tom, and Kathie Griner.

The ministry of Father’s Heart International was officially established in 2005, but the heart and story behind it began many years before. For Tom Griner, founder and director of Father’s Heart, the story began more than 30 years ago. Together with his wife, Kathie, they served as church planters in the USA and as missionaries to several countries such as Russia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil, and Jamaica  It was during this time that the Lord also put a dream and vision in their hearts for Africa.

It wasn't long until the vision became reality as Tom was boarding a flight headed for Lusaka, Zambia, on a trip that would be the beginning of many connections and opportunities in Africa. Over the years relationships were built and key partnerships were formed, with great men and women coming alongside the vision. From these relationships came a church planting movement, as a group of ousted pastor organized themselves into an association of churches, calling themselves the Bible Gospel Church in Africa – or BIGOCA for short. It was from the great need of this movement that the first pastor sponsorships began, as Tom rallied support from his friends and family in the United States to help sponsor these disenfranchised  pastors and their families. This would also be the beginning of a partnership expressing itself as Father’s Heart Africa, an organization that would educate and feed  hungry children, and sponsor new pastors in a quest to start new churches across Africa.

Over the years the Lord also continued to build a team by which the work could expand, adding to us wonderful men and women, like California locals Josef Rousek and his wife, Anne, without whom we would not be who we are today.

This is but a nutshell and only a glimpse as to how the story unfolded. It would be nearly impossible to do justice the telling of a story that took many years to unfold, and try to put it onto one page! It cannot fully tell of the awesomeness of God’s infinite wisdom and grace, and provides only a glimpse into the heart of how it grew. This is only a peak.

In 2005 Tom published the book Wounded Continent, putting down in detail the life adventures that became the organization that Father’s Heart Africa is today. This story is one that is truly both remarkable and inspiring.