About VSI
One calling, heard on both coasts.
VillageServer Initiative began when two men on opposite sides of the United States felt the same call from the Lord: to use today's technology to reach people who have never heard the Gospel.
In Florida, Larry Paap felt called to spread the Gospel by satellite. In California, Eric Johnson was being led toward the technology to do it. Dean Braxton, who had ministered with both men, introduced them.
Eric took on the hardware while Larry, Ashish and Terri built VillageServers.org and the outreach. Together the team learned to repurpose abandoned satellite dishes to receive free Christian channels, load microSD cards with content in each local language, program small Raspberry Pi computers to serve it, and run it all on solar suitcases built by students.
Field tests in the Peruvian Amazon, Kenya and Zambia showed what works and what needs a rebuild. They also showed how much the children matter: reach them first, and their parents take notice.
In 2026 VSI became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so gifts are now tax-deductible.
Braxton
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Our mission
Sharing the Gospel with the help of today’s existing technology.
We help ministries carry their Bibles, films and teaching to the 42% who have never heard, and every file keeps that ministry's name, credit and control.
Dean Braxton connects Larry and Eric
Larry's satellite outreach meets Eric's field technology.
Dishes, microSD cards and Raspberry Pi servers
Free Christian satellite channels, microSD cards in local languages, projectors and student-built solar power.
Peruvian Amazon, Kenya, Zambia
Hard lessons about what survives the field, and why children's content opens doors.
BibleTransfer123 launches
A website where missionaries load language libraries before a trip, then share them phone to phone. Phones take the place of card readers.
501(c)(3) status
Gifts become tax-deductible.
The BibleTransfer123 mobile app
Our next build: an iOS and Android app that loads Gospel libraries in your language onto a phone and shares them offline, phone to phone, with partner libraries inside.
Leadership
Board and team
Partners
It takes a village.
The Lord has brought together ministries, translators, engineers and field workers on four continents. These are the partners we carry the Gospel with.
Accountability
Stewarding every gift
Registered 501(c)(3)
Gifts are tax-deductible in the U.S. as allowed by law. EIN on request. Determination letter available on request.
Restricted campaigns
A gift to a campaign funds that campaign. If a campaign raises more than it needs, we report it and tell donors before the extra is used elsewhere.
Open books
VSI keeps its finances in a dedicated bank account. Annual reports and our Form 990 will be posted here.