Johann and Louise: Training Disciples to Make Disciples

I believe I speak for everyone when I say that the pandemic has made us stop and re-evaluate.

We take so many things for granted and tend not to be aware of the brevity of life and time. But being cut off from others, especially our beloved children and grandchildren, knowing that they were all facing this unseen threat called Covid-19, knowing that we were missing so many important milestones in their growing years, really caused us to take a long hard look at our lives.

While we certainly do not wish to be placed on any kind of shelf, we have had to acknowledge that we aren’t quite as young as we used to be and that we are also no longer able to do the things we used to do or to go to the places we used to go. Our health has taken a bit of a knock these past few years as well and created all sorts of other problems. But our deepest heart’s desire is to still serve our Lord in some mission situation somewhere in his world!

After much praying and consultation with our wise and ever-so patient leaders at SAMS-USA who helped us sift through various possible choices and placements, we believe that our Lord is directing us to go to an area that is less taxing on our bodies, and yet still desperately needs the Gospel. There is a small ex-pat Anglican Chaplaincy in Heiloo, Holland, that needs a part-time priest.

As the church is only able to provide a small stipend, part of which is a very comfortable home, we will need to continue to raise our own support in order to live and work there. But as it is a part-time position, we will be able to continue our disciple making ministry and I will be able to continue researching and writing books for Langham Preaching Resources. I believe the latter to be my true calling and ministry.

According to Operation World, Christianity in the Netherlands appears to have reached an all-time low. “It’s glorious history as a Christian nation includes ministry to refugees and Jews, and a long record of service in foreign missions. But secular society today turns its back on its Christian past. Less than 10% of the population now attend church weekly. The Netherlands leads the world in promotion of secular and New Age views or values. Few restrictions exist for drug use, deviant lifestyles, prostitution, euthanasia, and abortion. Half the nation’s church buildings are now either destroyed or converted for other uses such as bars and mosques.”

In many ways, Holland is going to be the greatest challenge we have faced to date in our Christians walk. Most of the countries we have worked in in the past have some concept of the divine, especially in Africa. Everyone acknowledges that there is a god of some sort. But in a secular society like the Netherlands, we do not have that foundation to build on or appeal to.

But the biggest plus for this relocation is that we will be a lot closer to our children and grandchildren…well, at least in the same hemisphere. For our youngest it is a mere train ride or short flight from Stockholm, whereas for our oldest it will involve am eight hour flight from Boston, but at least it will be one direct flight without multiple transfers. Anyone who has had to change planes at different foreign airports with young children will understand why this is such a positive thing!

We realise that there may be some of our supporters who specifically supported our ministry in Africa and that we may be saying a sad farewell to them, but I do hope that everyone will realise that my books (basically our disciple making training in narrative form) will still reach many in the majority world through the Langham Preaching Training Programs that are taught across the globe. So, in a very real sense, our ministry is expanding, not contracting!

Of course, living expenses are much higher in Holland than in Africa, so we ask that you join us in prayer for more monthly supporters. We simply cannot do the work we do without our supporters, and we are truly grateful for each and every one.

So, it is aufwiedersehen to Africa, but not farewell. We still have many family members and friends here whom we hope to see from time to time.

Thank you for your love, support, but most of all for your prayers.

Love, cyber-hugs, and blessings
Johann and Louise

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Johann and Louise spent two years helping to develop the St. Frumentius Seminary in Gambella, Ethiopia. At present, they are mostly working in Southern Africa where they are serving in seven southern African countries, although they continue to work with the Diocese of Egypt, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa as well as other southern and northern African countries, through engaging in a disciple making movement in order to grow the body of Christ. They are partnering with J-Life and other like-minded ministries. This ministry is massive and has the ability to reach thousands.

We are sent through the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, a missionary sending community, engaging in building relationships with the worldwide church to experience the broken restored, the wounded healed, the hungry fed, and the lost found through the love and power of Jesus Christ.

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