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People have often asked me why I write books. My answer is usually very simple. Ever since I came to know Jesus in 1980, I have sought to make him known in any and every way I can.
Up until the publishing of Breakfast on the Beach, my ministry had followed more conventional avenues…preaching, teaching evangelising, and discipling. But when the J-Life Africa leaders began to urge me to make my stories about Simon Peter’s development as a disciple more accessible in areas I could not visit, I decided to write. This was during the first lockdown so I had time to do all the research necessary and to write a story about Simon Peter using a chronological approach to the Gospels. Since then, I have received letters from places I did not know existed, telling me how the books have touched and changed lives. The rest is, as they say, history.
While the books are available for sale on several bookseller platforms, we often give them away to our parishioners and other missionaries.
This March, my third  book, but the first in a series on the life and letters of Paul, will be published once again, by Langham Publishing. This series will explore Paul’s life through what was recorded in Acts and elsewhere as well as in his letters in story form. This narrative commentary style is designed to help especially oral preference learners concretise concepts that would otherwise be too abstract. But if “Breakfast on the Beach” and “For the Life of the World” have taught me anything, it is everyone enjoys a good story.
The past few months have been very busy. Louise flew down to South Africa after her mum had a rather serious fall and seemed to be deteriorating rapidly. However, even though she is still quite frail, she has recovered enough to sit up in a chair for a while. While Louise was at her mum’s bedside, we had a death in the parish. As you can imagine, emotions were rather raw for a while.
I have made good headway with the next book on 1&2 Thessalonians. Langham has given me a June deadline, so I need to get cracking. The research that goes into these books is huge. I must read so many books and articles about customs and practices etc before I write anything. For instance, it took me a whole morning to figure out how Lydia could invite four men to stay in her home without compromising her position in the community. But thankfully, I am back in Corinth and the letter writing has begun!
Christ Church, Heiloo is doing well. We are working through the Gospel of John on Sundays. You can find my sermons here: https://missionsbloging.blogspot.com/
On New Year's Eve, we baptised three candidates, two of whom came to Church as a result of watching The Chosen. Never limit our God!
Our three women’s bible study groups and our men’s group will be studying 1&2 Thessalonians this Spring and Summer. Please pray for our several informal get-togethers where members invite their non-Christian friends and colleagues to attend, our Good Friday Stations of the Cross service, and our Children’s Easter Egg Hunt luncheon outreach (1 April).
Our annual Men’s Day (6 April) is open to believers and non-believers and the invitation is extended to other Anglican churches nearby. Attendance is free so we must raise funds for all expenses. View our invitation here: https://christchurchheiloo.wixsite.com/mens-day?fbclid=IwAR2rYxtmxN2VpYDQhHhieDzB-fImJJngQhsbxg_kCHTRBIA13bGLQ-GN2hs
We also have a small outreach to missionaries and other Christian workers either by Zoom chats or by hosting them in a small flat at the back of the church house. Most missionaries cannot afford to go on a holiday away, so we do this service free of charge.
Our monthly support goes up and down, but the Lord is faithful as are you and so we reach our goals each month. Some supporters have donated generously to our special project fund that helps to pay for all our outreaches. We are investigating new sound equipment as the current equipment is acting up – it was all second-hand to begin with – and we want to continue with our online ministry as folks watch our services from all over the world. If you sense the Lord leading you to help with this urgent need, please earmark your gifts for our special project account, but label them “For Sound Equipment” so we may use the funds correctly.
As always, we are ever so thankful for your support in this multifaceted ministry of ours. We consider you as essential workers with us. While we may have different callings, we all work together for the upbuilding of our Lord’s kingdom.
We are grateful.
Blessings
Johann and Louise |
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