{"id":91,"date":"2025-10-03T10:18:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T10:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/cimpact\/?page_id=91"},"modified":"2026-05-25T07:01:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T07:01:34","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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OUR STORY<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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OUR STORY<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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1980s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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1980s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Celebrate Impact was born in 1984, when Pastor Tom and Bonnie Deuschle responded to the deep needs created by the Mozambican refugee crisis. In those first years, more than 144,000 refugees were reached with food, clothing, and hope. This launched us into full ministry; not only for refugees, but for anyone in need. In the midst of retrenchments, inflation, and national uncertainity, the ministry\u2014then known as Compassion Ministries\u2014went into the streets to feed the hungry, clothe the forgotten, and shelter the vulnerable.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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144,000 refugees were
reached through our
grassroots efforts in the 80s<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1990s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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By the 1990s, as refugees resettled and new communities were established, our work shifted from emegerncy response to long-term development. We launched clothing and food drives, built the first shelter at Ivordale Orphanage, and worked with displaced populations such as Mari Mari. These years also marked the start of the church planting and medical outreach teams to rural communities, providing both spiritual and practical relief.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2000s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 2000s brought some of Zimbabwe's most turbulent years. Hyperinflation reached 500 billion percent, shortages of food, fuel, and water became chronic, and a devastating cholera epidemic swept the nation, claiming 98,000 lives. In this season, we launched Operation Outstreched Hand, a key initiative in helping the nation combat the cholera crisis. We founded Champions for Life to bring hope and dignity to children living with HIV\/AIDS as well.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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4,500 prison inmates have
been baptized since 2010<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2010s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the 2010s, our ministry expanded again through a powerful prison ministry relaunch. We baptized 2,000 inmates, trained 30 in sustainable farming methods, and saw lives transformed. We carried out our first cleft lip repairs and cataract surgeries. At the same time, we launched Soccer for Souls and evangelism intiatives that use the universal language of sport to connect with those in at-risk communities.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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More than $3,000,000 worth
of medical supplies brought
into the country over the years<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Today<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Today, under the banner of Celebrate Impact, we continue to grow as a multi-faced organization meeting the need of communities in Zimbabwe and beyond. From agriculture and micro-finance to medical outreach, education, and family-based care, our vision remians the same: restoring dignity and building lasting hope.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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SEE LIVES
TRANSFORMED<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Celebrate Impact was born in 1984, when Pastor Tom and Bonnie Deuschle responded to the deep needs created by the Mozambican refugee crisis. In those first years, more than 144,000 refugees were reached with food, clothing, and hope. This launched us into full ministry; not only for refugees, but for anyone in need. In the midst of retrenchments, inflation, and national uncertainity, the ministry\u2014then known as Compassion Ministries\u2014went into the streets to feed the hungry, clothe the forgotten, and shelter the vulnerable.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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______________________<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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144,000 refugees were
reached through our
grassroots efforts in the 80s<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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___________________<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1990s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t

By the 1990s, as refugees resettled and new communities were established, our work shifted from emegerncy response to long-term development. We launched clothing and food drives, built the first shelter at Ivordale Orphanage, and worked with displaced populations such as Mari Mari. These years also marked the start of the church planting and medical outreach teams to rural communities, providing both spiritual and practical relief.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

2000s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The 2000s brought some of Zimbabwe's most turbulent years. Hyperinflation reached 500 billion percent, shortages of food, fuel, and water became chronic, and a devastating cholera epidemic swept the nation, claiming 98,000 lives. In this season, we launched Operation Outstreched Hand, a key initiative in helping the nation combat the cholera crisis. We founded Champions for Life to bring hope and dignity to children living with HIV\/AIDS as well.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

4,500 prison inmates have
been baptized since 2010<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2010s<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

In the 2010s, our ministry expanded again through a powerful prison ministry relaunch. We baptized 2,000 inmates, trained 30 in sustainable farming methods, and saw lives transformed. We carried out our first cleft lip repairs and cataract surgeries. At the same time, we launched Soccer for Souls and evangelism intiatives that use the universal language of sport to connect with those in at-risk communities.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

More than $3,000,000 worth
of medical supplies brought
into the country over the years<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Today<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Today, under the banner of Celebrate Impact, we continue to grow as a multi-faced organization meeting the need of communities in Zimbabwe and beyond. From agriculture and micro-finance to medical outreach, education, and family-based care, our vision remians the same: restoring dignity and building lasting hope.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

SEE LIVES
TRANSFORMED<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OUR STORY OUR STORY 1980s 1980s Celebrate Impact was born in 1984, when Pastor Tom and Bonnie Deuschle responded to the deep needs created by the Mozambican refugee crisis. In those first years, more than 144,000 refugees were reached with food, clothing, and hope. This launched us into full ministry; not only for refugees, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-91","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":160,"href":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1833,"href":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions\/1833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.celebrate.org\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}