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Dear Friends and Partners in the Gospel,
Grace and peace to you from Heiloo, North Holland!
We write to you with grateful hearts for your continued partnership in the ministry the Lord has entrusted to us. For nearly four years now, we have served here through SAMS-USA, seeking to make Christ known in one of the most spiritually barren regions of Europe. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity have sustained us through many seasons of joy and trial. This year, however, we find ourselves in one of the most critical seasons yet — both financially and spiritually — and we need your help.
A Year of Growth Amid Challenge
Though small, Christ Church, Heiloo remains a vibrant and faithful community. Attendance continues to average between 50 and 70 each Sunday, and we have been especially encouraged by the number of new visitors, many from Eastern Europe. Even more thrilling is the story of one recent convert, now active in one of our Bible Study Groups and growing steadily in faith.
This year we celebrated our first combined service with the local Dutch (PKN) church, which opened the door to deeper fellowship and future collaboration. I was invited to lecture there on archaeological sites in Turkey and Greece — an unexpected way to connect with Dutch believers and seekers alike.
In September we launched our long-awaited Youth Group — our first ever! — open to all local young people. This group is giving us fresh opportunities for evangelism and discipleship.
We also began a small Intercessory Prayer Group, believing that prayer must undergird everything we do. Louise continues her outreach work through a municipal service for the elderly, where she cleans homes, listens to their stories, and gently shares her faith with those who have never heard the Gospel. These conversations are precious glimpses of light breaking into lives nearing their end.
Seeds of Hope in a Spiritual Wilderness
North Holland remains a challenging field — often referred to as “the black hole of the Netherlands” for its spiritual dryness. But we are seeing signs of new life. Our fellowship is learning to reach out with quiet courage, and the relationships being built through small groups, retreats, and outreach events are planting seeds that we believe will one day bear fruit.
This coming year we hope to hold our Men’s Day, Women’s Retreat, and children’s outreach events again, though at the moment our funds have run out to support such gatherings. These events have always been open to the community — and it is often here, in these simple settings, that Dutch hearts begin to open to Christ.
An Urgent Financial Need
For the first time since joining SAMS-USA in 2013, our mission agency was unable to reimburse our travel expenses to the U.S. for the New Wineskins Conference because our personal support account has dropped sharply.
A few years ago, that account held a steady $30,000 balance. Today, it stands at just $11,000. SAMS has warned us that unless our monthly support increases, our account will be depleted within one year — which would mean leaving the Netherlands and ending our ministry here.
We do not believe this is what the Lord wants. The work is not finished. Souls are being reached, lives are being changed, and the need is as great as ever. But without your help, we cannot stay.
In addition to all our regular ministry expenses, we pay €1,307 (about $1,400) per month in Dutch taxes, which was not accounted for in our earlier budgets. Our personal stipend from the church covers only utilities and housing. Everything else — from living expenses to ministry costs — depends entirely on our SAMS account.
Our Vision Going Forward
Our calling remains unchanged: to bring unbelieving Dutch men, women, and children to Jesus and to disciple them into lifelong followers of Christ. Whether they ever join Christ Church is irrelevant — what matters is that they come to know and love the Lord.
We continue to train our members to be witnesses in their workplaces and neighbourhoods, and to build bridges into Dutch society through service and friendship. We are praying about possibly hosting a local art exhibition next year as a creative outreach to the community.
Christ Church itself continues to walk through a difficult season, with divisions surrounding its future relationship with the Church of England. Our focus, therefore, has been to hold the congregation together in unity, to keep our eyes on Christ, and to faithfully shepherd all whom God has entrusted to us.
How You Can Help
Would you prayerfully consider helping us rebuild our SAMS account so that we can remain here and continue the work?
Your gift — whether one-time or monthly — goes directly into our SAMS-USA account and is fully tax-deductible. It will sustain our livelihood, fund ministry activities, and keep a Gospel witness alive in a part of Europe where the light is dim but burning still.
You can give securely through https://give.samsusa.org/missionary/johann-and-louise-vanderbijl and designate your support for Johann & Louise van der Bijl.
Please Pray With Us
For renewed financial provision through SAMS-USA so that we may remain on the field.
For stability within Christ Church, Heiloo during this difficult time.
For growth in our new Youth Group and continued openness among local Dutch seekers.
For Louise’s ministry among the elderly — that her words would bring hope to those nearing eternity.
For courage, peace, and perseverance as we walk by faith in uncertain days.
We remain deeply grateful for your years of faithfulness to us and to this mission. Your prayers and partnership have carried us further than we could ever have gone alone. Please help us continue this work — not for our sake, but for the sake of the Gospel in this spiritually dry corner of the world.
With love and gratitude in Christ,
Johann & Louise van der Bijl |
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