Nicola Hill
On the streets of Russia, during a 2001 Charis Bible College teaching trip, Nicola Appelbe, (from North Carolina) was struck by the emptiness in the eyes of the people. She had been praying about the next step after her graduation in 2002, and during that trip, God called her to Russia. After a brief argument with Him (being accustomed to the western style of life) she gave in, arriving the following January. She joined the teaching team of Charis Bible Training Center, St. Petersburg, Russia, fell in love with the Russian people, learned the language on the streets and loved mentoring the students.
Nicola soon became aware of dozens of orphanages in the St. Petersburg region. At a baby orphanage, little ones with runny noses in hand-knit sweaters and tights, were desperate for her attention. She began visiting orphanages with a friend, sharing God’s love with the children. At the same time another group caught her attention: every day she saw elderly women collecting beer cans from public trash cans to supplement their meager pensions. She started building relationships with elderly neighbours that last to this day.
While reading James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble.” God led Nicola to start Hope for Tomorrow, a ministry that reaches out to the orphans and elderly in various facilities in Central Asia with humanitarian aid, teaching, demonstrating to them the love of God, who is their hope for tomorrow.
Drew Hill
Drew grew up in the United Methodist Church, sitting in the front row under his father’s preaching. At age 8 his family moved to Guyana, South America on a mission. “Dad had 10 churches and 12 schools that he headed up, which kept him pretty busy!” Drew’s experience in Guyana, was an eye-opener, “I suddenly realized that the whole world wasn’t just like Central New York State!” That revelation forever changed Drew’s worldview, not to mention that his best friend’s family couldn’t afford windows, a door, or more than a dirt floor for their one-room house. Back in the U.S., listening to his father preach one Sunday, Drew was born again at age 11.
Fast forwarding to adult life, Drew had an encounter with God’s love during a sequestered men’s retreat. Holy Spirit ministered His love to him in a tangible, overwhelming, and life-changing way. This personal revival lead Drew to serve in his local churches, and the Walk to Emmaus movement, as well as many years in maximum and medium security State prisons, sharing the Gospel.
In Central Asia — Drew and kids from the old orphanage enjoying some “white shish kabob.”
Drew unexpectedly became a widower after 30 years of marriage to a great Christian lady. In the following days as he grieved, he found time alone to offer the Lord a sacrifice of praise. “As I worshipped Jesus, I remember simply telling Him that I needed Him to be my Comforter. Immediately, God poured His tangible love over and through me—bringing deep healing to me. My grief soon changed into celebration of the great Gift that God had given me in my wife.”
Some months later, Drew asked the Lord if he was supposed to be married or single. God’s answer was clear, “You know the power of the covenant of Holy matrimony and I want you to bring that to the one I have for you.” Eventually, God miraculously brought Nicola and Drew together and they were married 2 years later. Their marriage has been a journey of intentionally growing closer in unity. After attending Bible college together and Nicola extending her Bible college education in the Film and Production program, they are answering God’s call to return to Central Asia as a married couple to start their own orphanage.