Origin
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A Swiss soldier by the name of J.R. Gschwend fell into the hands of German forces in the 1st World War, was accused of espionage, and sentenced to death. In his death-cell he experienced an extraordinary spiritual awakening, and found God in a remarkable way. When the German forces |
| His son Manasseh and eventually his grandson Eugene, both qualified ministers of religion, continued the work, resulting in today’s world-wide Gospel Literature Mission of 90 years standing, growth and experience. |
| Eugene Gschwend is the current Head of Mission of ANGP, Pretoria South Africa. |
Heart Book and other Literature
Over the years, many scripts developed in numerous languages.
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The centerpiece, along with other tracts, is the so-called 'Heart Book'. Our literature and products are kept fundamentally simple and easy to understand. The 'Heart Book' as a Video. |
Objectives
Since its foundation, the aim of this organisation has been to translate the gospel message into the languages of the unreached and isolated tribal communities of the world, print it and distribute it free of charge. At present, there is still no printed part of the Bible in about 1,200 languages. Over 6,400 communities have not yet been truly reached by the Good News; at least 1,600 million people are considered unreached by the Gospel today!
Through the worldwide distribution of this literature in many regions, including 114 developing countries, and in about 700 languages (including electronic literature), more than 13,000 people are guided to a new, organised life in Jesus Christ, as confirmed by the numerous responses received.
Activities and Areas of Impact
| ANGP finalises 6 to 8 new translations of gospel writings for unreached and isolated tribes every year. Approximately 8 million scriptures are printed annually in print shops in Germany, South Africa and other countries. On average, over 400 parcels of free literature leave our mission every month. |
What's next ? A Message from the Head of Mission, June 2026
Significant Changes, beginning in the Year 2020
THE DETERIORATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POST OFFICE
Unfortunately the post office in South Africa deteriorated to the point where in 2020 they were unable to send our free Gospel literature out by printed matter parcel post surface mail to other countries. The result was we had to move the printing of our literature for use in over 100 developing countries, to Germany, where this literature is now being successfully printed, sorted, packed and posted by surface mail to these mission countries. In South Africa we are therefore now printing mainly for our own local usage.
THE FUTURE OF OUR MISSION PRESS ?
Under those circumstances it simply was not viable for us anymore to maintain our printing machines with operators and all the overhead costs, when the amount of literature that we are still printing in South Africa for our local needs, is now only about 10% of the amount we used to print for all the countries of the world before 2020. Having calculated all the costs, we found that it would be far cheaper for us to sell our machines, and have our local literature printed for us by a commercial printer, who himself carries all the overhead costs. So after five years in which there had been no indication that our post office would be able to recover sufficiently to satisfy our needs, we finally decided to sell all our machines, and started this process in 2025. By God’s grace all our machines were sold by February 2026.
MOVING TO NEW PREMISES ?
Under those circumstances we did not need the 3 properties anymore where we had our printing press, our sorting and packing offices, and our admin offices for almost 80 years. These properties with old buildings and gardens were costly to maintain, and would not be able to serve their purpose anymore. All that we needed now was a cost-effective admin building with offices for 12 of our 14 full-time co-workers, as well as storerooms for the literature we would still have printed for us in South Africa for our local needs, and a bookroom for sales of Bible’s, hymn books and other Christian literature that people who visit our mission offices are also interested in.
Apart from those considerations, the suburb of Pretoria we have been in for the past 80 years, has deteriorated into a derelict and dangerous part of town. So as we started in October 2025 to look for an admin building elsewhere, the Lord led us within days to precisely the building we needed, in a very peaceful and quiet residential security estate in Pretoria, richly endowed with trees ! By God’s grace the sale of our three properties would finance the purchase of this new property, which would be very much cheaper to maintain than before, much safer, and would suit our current needs more perfectly. And so by God’s grace our ANGP offices will be at the new property from July 2026 to continue more effectively with our work in South Africa, as well as in Germany.
A SUCCESSOR FOR OUR CURRENT MISSIONS DIRECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA ?
In these same months from October 2025 to February 2026, the Lord also provided us with a new co-worker, Franco Bouwer, a very talented and dedicated servant of the Lord aged 49, who also experienced God’s call to the work of ANGP, and would be able with God’s help to continue leading this work of ANGP, which has been running now for 91 years by God’s grace, led by three generations of the Gschwend family. Being 76 years of age now, I will be helping Franco to gain the necessary experience, so that as time goes on, Franco can take over the responsibilities of leading this work into the next generation, while I can continue to help in the background for as long as the Lord has planned.
IN ONLY 5 MONTHS !
We have been amazed to experience how these major changes to the work increased with rapidity, especially from October 2025 to February 2026, during which 5 months all our machines were sold, we found a wonderful new building for the future of ANGP in South Africa, and a new co-worker in the person of Franco who has the talent and calling to continue leading the ANGP work in the coming years !
In this all we have experienced the truth of what God says in Jeremiah 29 verse 11 where we read,
“ I alone know the plans I have for you.
Plans to prosper you, not to harm you,
Plans to bring about the future that you hope for. ”
To God be the glory for what he has done, and for the way he has planned for the future of All Nations Gospel Publishers !
Rev. Eugene R. Gschwend
Head of Mission