Rev. Delbert Hooge, a missionary child since 1948, the son of the late Rev. Frank and Mrs. Elsie Hooge.
His early years in the Philippines soon after the ravages of WWII exposed him to third-world living affecting his tender heart. Heeding the call of God, he then surrendered to be a missionary like his parents in 1954 and in 1964, he married his childhood friend – Lora Lee Woosley, daughter of Rev. Loral and Mrs. Mava Woosley, also missionaries in the Philippines.
Rev. and Mrs. Delbert Hooge eventually became involved with Christian Education.
God opened opportunities for the couple to propagate the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum, now known as the School of Tomorrow system. Their involvement with Christian Education required them to travel in different rural and urban locations around the Philippines to minister to pastors/administrators and learning center staff of schools using the system.
It was during one of these trips that God placed a very heavy burden in Rev. Hooge’s heart. He was consumed by so much passion to help the poor children and give them access to the educational system he has been promoting nationwide.
After 5 years of praying and seeking God’s direction, Rev. Hooge commissioned an academic team in 2003 to brain storm and develop the first prototype of the “synthesized” curriculum required by the former President of Accelerated Christian Education (ACE).
In a short span of two weeks, the Academic Team successfully produced the first prototype of the synthesized curriculum and sent them to Rev. Hooge who, at that time, was in Lynchburg, Virginia to attend the International Student Convention.
Rev. Hooge presented the prototypes to the ACE Team and BLESS was born.
To date, over 2600 poor children and families have benefited from this program. Through BLESS, poor kids who could never afford even a public school education (not without charges in most 3rd world countries) now have access to a world class, highly successful, and proven Reading Program that has taught thousands of children how to read in 18-20 weeks.