About Us

Paul Scholten - Chairman

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 - now Courage Youth South Africa - 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.

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Rich Avink - Treasurer

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!

Tonya Tolsma - Secretary

Tonya is passionate about ensuring that families have access to safe, affordable homes that promote both physical and mental well-being. This commitment led her and her husband, Art, to become foster and eventually adoptive parents, as well as active volunteers and supporters of organizations dedicated to helping families in various ways.

In 2013, Tonya, Art, and their two oldest children traveled to South Africa with Paul and Cathy Scholten and have had a heart for the people of South Africa since that trip. The impact of the work that God has done through encompassKids to support, encourage, and strengthen families in South Africa has been truly inspiring. Tonya joined the encompassKids board in 2024 to further contribute to this important mission.

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.

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Richard Poppe

Rich's interest in missions heightened after going on a Christ Memorial Church mission trip in 2015 to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  Seeing the needs and offering help remained in his mind and heart.

After becoming a deacon in 2022, Rich connected with encompassKids and has enjoyed learning about the culture and the mission for children and families in South Africa. He's encouraged by the impact encompassKids has made and the dedication of the staff. 

Since retiring from Johnson Controls, Rich volunteers at Love Your Neighbor in Hudsonville, MI, and participates in bike trips ranging from 50 miles to multi-day trips of 500+ miles.

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 called Courage Youth South Africa. 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.    

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.

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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.