Telling about Jesus

Most of the time when people figure out I am not from Belgium or the Netherlands - they often cannot hear it in my speech - the first question they have is what we are doing here. My answer is always the same: we came here to tell people about Jesus. I am an evangelist, a spreader of the good news. Interestingly, many people are not at all surprised that this is something that needs to be done. In past years one might have thought: “Doesn’t everyone know about Jesus?” Not anymore. 

Telling people about Jesus and his wonderful love for us doesn’t always mean that people are willing or wanting to listen. Plenty of people say simply, “That’s nice for you.” But we keep talking about Jesus, because we simply cannot stop. He is amazing and we know that what He gives us makes everyone’s life better. So we want to share. 

This is something that all of us in the congregation are learning to do as well. Recently several members talked about the conversations they are having. Our brother who is a postman has a colleague who recently purchased a Bible and wanted to know how to read it, where he should start. Our sister who is a police officer (detective now) has a colleague who was asking about her faith and wanting to know how to approach God. 

God wants to use us as His body to reach all of those who are seeking. Sometimes we do not even know who is seeking until they come to us. The two sisters who came to us during the Covid years had been searching on their own for years. It is exciting to see how this growth comes because of what God is doing and because we keep trying to be faithful. 

My recent regular conversation with an atheist acquaintance brought this up. He mentioned that I had been talking with some people for many years (he and I have been talking for more than 10 years). He joked that I must not be very good if neither of these people have come to faith in God. I reminded him that my task is to faithfully speak. It is the Spirit who is convicting hearts and people who must make their own decisions. 

Interestingly, he mentioned that his granddaughter told him that she knew everything about Jesus - because he had taught her! He also regularly berated his colleagues who called themselves Christians, telling them that he, an atheist, read the Bible more than they did. I wonder how many people will in the end give their hearts to God because of an atheist - who by chance talked regularly to a Christian. God can use all circumstances to reach people. 

We pray that you are thinking about Jesus and the abundant blessings He brings and can bring to your life. And we pray that you are also faithfully speaking of this good news to whoever you meet. Don’t worry about what the “results” are, but remain faithful in proclaiming His love and truth. Thank you for your prayers for us as we try to do the same. 

(Photo of an outing with the team of the local neighborhood newspaper Scott works with)

The body of Christ

When we first came to work in Maastricht we were so thankful for the people that God put in our lives, for how He was able to use normal couples to do mighty things in His power. Through the years many of those couples left. One sister passed away from cancer and her husband married another wonderful sister. They became an amazing couple in another city. Some couples became families and moved to other cities to be used by God there as they grew their families. It always felt a bit double - we were so sad to lose them to another place, but we were so thankful that God was using them in this other place. 

In the past year or so we have become the recipients. We welcomed a family back to the family here in Maastricht who had been here four years ago. We welcomed another family from one of the congregations in the North. Some sisters from other congregations moved to our area and have strengthened the congregation here. New people, coming from congregations elsewhere in the world, are now part of the family here. 

Each time we know that God is blessing us - either by moving a couple/family to another place away from us, but in His hands, or moving them to Maastricht and still in His hands. We know that if we are willing to listen to God and follow His lead, He will be able to use us mightily wherever we are. 

This past Sunday we welcomed Mark and Oneta Tornij back in Maastricht for a day. Oneta is the middle daughter of our sister Geesie. Mark and Oneta married here in Maastricht before moving first to Amsterdam and Haarlem, then to Germany, the Czech Republic and now Connecticut (Mark works in NYC). 

God is not in one country, He is everywhere. God is not restricted to using you and blessing you in one place. As a child of God, you can be useful wherever you are. The important thing is trusting in Him for your daily walk, wherever you are in this world. 

How has God used you in the places you have been? How is He using you now? 

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.  Psalm 139:1-3