Louis and Amber O’Tool moved their family to Welkom, South Africa in March 2008. Their daughter Meredith was 2 when they moved, and their sons, Drake and Travis were born in South Africa (2008 and 2015).
Louis is originally from Iowa and was called into missions while still in high school. While attending Faith Baptist Bible College, Louis and Amber met and were married in 2002. In 2003 Louis received a degree in Pastoral Theology. After graduation he began working for a local financial institution while serving in their local church.
Amber grew up in Colorado and became a Christian at a young age. She graduated with degrees in Secretarial and Elementary Education. Amber worked for the college after graduation until their daughter was born in 2005.
The O’Tools had been planning to go into “home missions”, exploring church planting opportunities in the States. Meanwhile, God had other plans.
Through some friends at church, Brian & Lois Niehoff, Louis and Amber learned of The Pines Christian Care Centre for Children. The Pines was the vision of a missionary couple, David & Sally Seefried. They had received approval from a mining company in Welkom, South Africa to build an orphanage in one of their old mine offices. The Niehoffs were already committed to joining the work to establish The Pines.
After a few months of prayerful consideration, Louis and Amber committed to God to pursue the path of ministry in South Africa until God closed the door. After about 18 months of pursuing that path, the O’Tools arrived in South Africa to help establish The Pines.
In 2009, after 18 months working to get The Pines running, Louis and Amber, along with the Niehoffs, began work to build a second children’s home in Welkom to care for orphaned and abandoned children. Initial funds were raised in about 8 months, and in June 2010 construction began on Restoring Hope Village.
As God began to bring children of various ages and backgrounds to the care of The Village, the ministry began to grow. The passion of Louis and Amber to make disciples of Jesus led to a partnership with a local church. As a ministry to the teenagers at Restoring Hope Village and at the church, a youth group developed. From this group God raised up several young people whose thirst for Jesus began to change their lives.
In 2014 God led the O’Tools to transition from full-time children’s home ministry to discipleship work with young people in the community at large.
In partnership with Pastor Joshua Bolaji (of British/Nigerian background) and the Heffners (from Ohio), Louis and Amber began focusing on reaching and discipling youth from all over the city of Welkom by establishing Unashamed Youth Ministries and Thirst Discipleship.
The long-term objective is to plant churches and impact the culture in obedience to the Great Commission: Make Disciples.
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