I am thrilled to share the incredible success of our recent Men’s Day event, held on January 11 at Christ Church, Heiloo. This truly uplifting day brought together 34 men – including two guests who were not believers – for a time of fellowship, worship, and personal growth.
Our featured speaker, Brad Smith, guided us through the inspiring Men of Valor material (see https://www.menofvalor.org/), challenging and equipping us to embrace our identity in Christ. Brad encouraged the group to reject the often-negative messages of secular culture and social media, instead believing the truth of Scripture about how God sees us. His heartfelt teaching reminded us that we are called to live as men of courage, integrity, and faith.
A Day of Worship and Fellowship
The day began with a hearty breakfast, setting the tone for an atmosphere of camaraderie and openness. Following this, we experienced a historic moment for Christ Church: our first-ever live worship team led us in heartfelt praise and worship,  albeit with a few hiccups. The sound of voices lifted together in song was both powerful and humbling, uniting us in spirit and purpose. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx4TvGRn2cs)
Brad’s message also called us to action. Each participant was encouraged to build intentional friendships with other men, creating a network of mutual support and encouragement to deepen our walk with Christ. These connections are the foundation of the vibrant and devout community we strive to cultivate. The event concluded with a delicious hotdog lunch, providing more time for conversation and reflection.
Looking Ahead to April 5 with Phil Knox
This Men’s Day was our most impactful event yet, and we’re excited to build on this momentum! Our next gathering will take place on April 5, featuring Phil Knox from the Evangelical Alliance (see https://www.eauk.org/author/phil-knox). Known for his passion for storytelling, evangelism, and friendship building Phil will inspire us to grow in faith and share the hope of Christ with those around us.
Also Looking Ahead to May 17 with Jo Frost
We are all looking forward to this year’s Women’s Retreat with Jo Frost, also from the Evangelical Alliance (see https://www.eauk.org/author/jo-frost). Jo is married to Andy Frost who was our Men’s Day speaker last year. Last year we had over 100 women sign up (many of whom were seekers) for this day of encouragement and enjoyment…who knows what our Lord will do this year!
Thank You for Your Support
We are so grateful to everyone who made this day possible – our volunteers, worship team, and, of course, our supporters. Your prayers, encouragement, and financial gifts are vital to events like these. All our outreach events are free to all participants to encourage maximum attendance and so we simply cannot do this without you!
As we plan future Men’s Days, Women’s Retreats, Outreaches to Children, our regular services, and other ministry initiatives, we humbly ask for your continued support. If you feel led to partner with us, whether through prayer, time, or resources, please reach out to us! You can find us here on the SAMS-USA website under the "Meet our Missionaries" button:
https://give.samsusa.org/missionary/johann-and-louise-vanderbijl
And please visit Christ Church, Heiloo’s new website: https://christchurchheiloo.nl/
Let’s continue to encourage one another and grow in faith as we walk together as followers of the one who makes us men and women of valor.
Blessings, love, and hugs
Johann and Louise |
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