About Us | Our History
Our History
New Hope International (NHI) was birthed out of Christian Community Schools Ltd (CCSL) in Australia and continues to grow under Christian Schools Global Connect, a division of Christian Schools Australia, assisting Christian schools in Australia and overseas.
NHI is pleased to partner with Global Development Group, a humanitarian development organisation providing quality project oversight and support, as well as tax deductibility for Australian, UK, US and NZ donors.
In late 2001, John Frisken, the eldest son of the late Rev Bob and Maryanne Frisken, suggested to the Council of CCSL the idea of forming an organisation that could create global networks between Christian schools. Bob had been the President for ten years before CCSL was closed to allow for the formation of Christian Schools Australia (CSA).
In 2001, NHI was formed with the aim of helping schools, particularly those in developing countries, through resourcing and teacher training. At the end of 2001, Maryanne resigned from her primary teaching position to work alongside Bob to develop NHI.
In 2005, Bob visited the Solomon Islands where the Christian schools were crying out for teachers to be trained to be effective Christian educators. Bob and Maryanne then wrote training material which has now become ‘The Effective Teaching and Learning Series’ (ETLS) a unique training series based on a discipleship methodology. God has used this to raise up Christian teachers throughout developing countries who can train their colleagues to embrace excellence in Biblical vision and practice in their schools.
The vision that the Lord gave John, Bob and Maryanne has grown into a ministry that has enriched Christian teachers, schools, and their wider communities both overseas and in Australia far beyond what was ever envisaged. NHI is now working in almost every continent where it has been invited to serve the local Christian Church to support and teach the ETLS to their schools, and to partner with them in developing their local communities to become self-sufficient and sustainable.
In 2016 Bob stepped down as CEO of NHI, remaining NHI President, and Christian schools pioneer, Sue Skuthorpe, led the ministry until December 2022 when Christian Schools Australia (CSA), through Christian Schools Global Connect, assumed leadership.
Rev Bob Frisken AM sadly passed away peacefully on 4 March 2024 at the age of 90 years. He is greatly missed, but the vital work in Christian education he pioneered both in Australia and around the world, continues.
