A Short History of RVICS

The year was 1976… Henry and Margaret Schaeffer retired and their dreams of leisure and travel in their motorhome were taking shape, but something was missing…PURPOSE!

Previous trips to visit Henry's brother, a physician at Redbird Mission in Kentucky, had made them aware of the tremendous need for skilled volunteer workers to provide facility repair and maintenance in Christian ministries throughout the country. Henry knew the Lord was speaking to his heart.

And so, using God's Word as their guide, a new retirement dream was born: Roving Volunteers in Christ's Service (RVICS). Henry chose the following Scripture as a mission statement for this new ministry: "...be doers of the Word, and not hearers only..." - James 1:22.

The ministry began in February 1977, with Henry and Margaret Schaeffer and two other couples serving at Phoenix Gospel Mission in Phoenix, Arizona. Since then, RVICS has seen much growth and has project teams that serve year-round at needy Christian camps, schools and missions all over the United States and Canada. Since its conception, RVICS teams have completed well over 2,400 projects. To God be the glory!

In the early years, Henry Schaeffer, founder and Director, handled all the business aspects of the organization himself. He coordinated projects, arranged itineraries, carried on all oral and written communications, and designed promotion and publicity. By 1981, he realized that the organization had outgrown his 5th-wheel office. By February 1982, the Lord provided an office at Edgewood Children’s Ranch in Orlando, FL which was then used as RVICS Headquarters and staffed by RVICS officers and volunteers.

A Board of Directors was elected by RVICS membership in 1982 and they held the first Annual Board Meeting at RVICS Headquarters in January 1983 to draft the Constitution and By-laws. The next step was to incorporate and apply for IRS non-profit tax exemption status, which was granted in 1984.

In January 1989, a completely new dimension was added to the ministry when RVICS Village in Smithville, TX was established. Any present or former RVICS member could purchase a membership, be assigned a village lot with full utility hookups and know they have a place to call home between projects and when they really do retire! The Village has an all-purpose building known as “Schaeffer Hall” as well as a building containing a woodworking shop and an automotive shop.

By 1995, RVICS Village was well under way, and the RVICS International Headquarters moved to the Village in Smithville, Texas where it continues to operate today.

This brief history cannot possibly "tell it all": the prayer that was, and is, the backbone of RVICS; the obstacles overcome; the sacrificial time and money contributed by the Schaeffers, headquarters staff, team leaders, team members, and faithful supporters outside of the organization; lives transformed within the ministry and as a result of the missions we serve. Whatever has been given, whatever has been accomplished, whatever is of lasting value in the Kingdom is lovingly dedicated to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.