About Us

Vision Statement

To unite the followers of Jesus Christ to fulfill the Great Commandment of "Loving Our Neighbor as Ourselves."

Mission Statement

Beyond Tears Worldwide, seeks to work with any organization who desires to provide humanitarian aid and development programs in a selfless way to overcome the immediate and long-term results of war; to alleviate the pain and despair of victims of natural disasters; and to bring hope to those who live in poverty stricken communities around the world. We are committed to providing long-term solutions for "our neighbors", which will improve their social, educational and economic needs, wherever they are found.

Purpose Statement

To show the world, in tangible ways, that true love is neither self-seeking nor does it keep any records of  rather true love is unconditional and that it always trusts, always perseveres and most important that true love never fails.

Core Values

• Reliance upon God
• Good Stewardship
• Unconditional Love
• Justice for All
• Committed Long Term
• Team Focused
  

History of Beyond Tears Worldwide

Beyond Tears was established because caring people were deeply moved by the tragedy experienced by the thousands of war victims ravaged by the terrors of the Bosnian conflict.

In 1991, Lou Felo (vice president of Beyond Tears Worldwide (BTW)) was part of the administrative team of the Black Forest Academy, Kandern, Germany. He was invited by the United Nations High Commission for Refuges (UNHCR) to work in Bosnia as a result of his successful effort in mobilizing numerous teams to rebuild an orphanage and destroyed homes in Lipik, Croatia. He traveled in and out of Bosnia during the entire conflict bringing thousands of pairs of new shoes, clothing and food to refugee camps in Zencia, Mostar, Tuzla and the war-ravaged capitol city of Sarajevo. Often at risk of his own life, he began to mobilize others to bring help to the hurting peoples of the the former Yugoslavian republic; especially ethic Muslims. After the war, teams began to focus on rebuilding Gorazde, Bosnia. During a special project in the winter of 1996, the team helped families survive the freezing winter temperatures by winterizing one room in their bombed out homes, supplying wood for heat, and by distribution of socks, shoes and clothing. That year, hundreds survived the winter and as a result this humanitarian outreach established a long term relationship with the areas displaced peoples (DPs) and the local government officials of the Gorazde region.

In 2002, Rob Muir, George Selix, Jay Comfort and others joined with Lou Felo in a vision to develop a Christian humanitarian organization that would be based on Christian principles especially on God 's commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself”. In 2002, Beyond Tears Worldwide was registered in the state of New Jersey, as a non-governmental organization and as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States.

BTW has been working in Bosnia since 2002.   KLAS and LAS have been doing humanitarian projects into Gorazde, Bosnia since 1998.

During its short history, Beyond Tears has mobilized hundreds of students “to serve and stand with hurting people” not only in Bosnia.

In 2003, BTW began a new humanitarian work in Afghanistan which included clothing, new shoes and family-care products distribution to the most needy in the Mazar-i-Sharif region. They also constructed a literacy school for women and paid teacher and staff salaries to educate just some of the millions of Afghan women who cannot read or write their own language. In 2004, BTW began to offer assistance to the Helping Hands Orphanage in downtown Mazar which involved supplying the center with school materials, new shoes for the children, repair and renovation of the of the dilapidated facilities, and provision of heaters for the orphanage for the brutal winters.

BTW is in the process of raising funds to build a new school in the Mazar region for 1,000 children who now study in tent classrooms under extreme desert heat conditions. It is hoped that work will begin on the school in the summer of 2005.

BTW’s Targeted area in Nepal

In 2003, Beyond Tears entered Nepal with water projects, medical clinics; distribution of clothing and blankets, construction and development of a women’s sewing school and other projects which are meeting deep needs of the people. BTW is now involved in the development of an HIV/AIDS clinic always with the goal of targeting needs of hurting people.

It is the desire of the organization to continue its work in other countries and to expand into needy regions of the world such as the Caucasus’ and central Asia. Beyond Tears Worldwide’s commitment is to “help hurting people one compassionate act at a time” wherever we can with whatever resources that are available to us.

Robert Muir is Co-Founder of Beyond Tears Worldwide.  Since the early 1980's, Robert has gone on many different humanitarian aid trips, including five consecutive summers in Gorazde, Bosnia from 2000 to 2004.  Robert's deepest desire is to see Beyond Tears Worldwide unite the disciples of Jesus Christ into fulfilling the Great Commandment of "Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself" and showing that true love does no harm to its neighbors. Professionally, Robert has been working as a Trust & Estate attorney in New Jersey since 1993, as well as serving on several non-profit boards.  Prior to going to law school, Robert worked as an Accountant for three years. Robert holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting, a Juris Doctor from Widener University and an LLM in Estate Planning from the University of Miami Schoolof Law.  Robert has been married since 1991, and lives with his wife, Wendy, and their five sons in Stanhope, New Jersey.

Vice President of Beyond Tears Worldwide

Mr. Lou Felo has been a long time resident in Europe, first arriving with his family in 1976. He has a Masters in Family Counseling and is a member of the National Association of Nouthetic Counseling. Originally from New Jersey, Mr. Felo has worked in different parts of the world promoting the notion of service based on his philosophy that we must train the next generation to make meaningful impact on those who choose to hurt others through oppression or war. Mr. Felo believes in the importance of working with those who suffer, by standing in their plight. He has been a pioneer in establishing charitable organizations whose hallmark characteristics include the notion of serving from the heart and living and working within a troubled area in order to properly understand the dilemma. Mr. Felo and his organization, Beyond Tears are currently developing a literary center for women in Afghanistan and are in the process of building the Friendship School. Mr. Felo has worked on the Administrative team at Black Forest Academy and has directed housing construction and orphanage work in Afghanistan, Nepal, Bosnia, and Kosovo. He has also served others in the war zone that was Croatia from 1991-93. Since arriving in Switzerland in 1997, he has mobilized many schools and their students to be involved in the aftermath of war in both Afghanistan and Bosnia.

Mrs. Elsie Hunter, shown here with her husband Lewis, who was deceased in December 2004, is the bookkeeper for Beyond Tears Worldwide. Elsie grew up in southern Ohio. She and Lewis served together in the pastorate in the United States in several churches in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They also served as missionaries in South Africa for 20 years. Elsie is excited about her opportunity to be a part of the work with Beyond Tears Worldwide. She is presently residing near Scranton, PA.

In 1996, Jay Comfort was transferred to Kumon Leysin Academy of Switzerland (KLAS) from the Kumon Kokusai Junior/Senior High School in Kanagawa, Japan. Prior to his transfer to the Kumon Gakuen Group he was employed by Kumon Institute of Education from 1991 – 1993 and was involved in the startup project-teams of KLAS and the Kumon Kokusai Gakuen. In 1989, he entered a Kumon-related organization call Educational Future Institute for new school startups because of his extensive background in cross-cultural training and understanding. These innovative educational programs are part of Kumon Institute of Education’s effort to prepare Japanese youth as leaders for Japan in the 21st century. In 1987, Comfort moved to Japan and taught for two years at the Sakura Prefectural High School in Chiba, Prefecture as part of Japan’s Exchange and Teaching (JET) program(me) and lived in Japan until his 1996 transfer to Switzerland. Prior to moving to Japan in 1987, Comfort worked at the Washington International Center (WIC) of Meridian House International in Washington, DC as a program coordinator. WIC is one of the most respected non-profit organizations in the world in cross-cultural training, and one of a handful of cross cultural training and understanding centers which provides cross-cultural orientation for the Agency of International Development (AID) contracts to thousands of AID-sponsored representatives from developing countries around the world. Comfort holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia (1983). He attended Wesley Theological Seminary and completed his coursework in 1990. Other education includes three years of study at Elim Bible Institute (biblical studies) in Lima, New York (1974 – 77) and a year at Guilford College (psychology) in Greensboro, North Carolina (1978 – 79). In addition, he holds a Master Trainer’s Certificate in Cross-cultural training methodology (1986). He is married to Nazuna Konishi of Minoo, Osaka, Japan and lives with his wife and two children, Marina and Aria, in Leysin, Switzerland.

Education:

-1967 Diploma in farm management – University of Guelph, Ontario Canada
-1970 Diploma in Biblical studies – Ontario Bible College

Employment:

• 1971 to present – The Evangelical Alliance Mission of Canada
  
  • 2005 to present - Administration in Nepal
  • 1999 – 2002 business manager – The American School of Lyon, France
  • 1981 – 1999 manager family conference center at Chamrousse – French alps
  • 1977 – 1981 church construction & maintenance in Paris area – France
  •  1973 – 1977 hospital construction & administration – Chad Africa
  • 1971 – 1973 language learning in France

• 1967 – 1971 farm management

Present Projects
Past Projects in Afghanistan
Past Projects in Bosnia