After having lived in Overvecht, one of the Dutch government's 40 'social hotspots' or 'problem areas', for 13 years, we sense it's time for us to move on. At first we were a bit hesitant - why leave an area without seeing a Christian community planted as we envisioned? - but two recent developments give us more peace about this decision.
First of all we realize that our prayers and initial steps (though sometimes it felt more like stumbling our way forward) to see Kingdom come to this area are paying off. Over the past year God led a new generation, a group of around 20-30 recently graduated students in their twenties, to intentionally move to Overvecht with the vision to start communities and provide social care. Today we had a picknick with a number of them, and it was encouraging to hear about their plans, contacts and ideas.
Secondly, what happened to my office a few months ago, is now also happening to our apartment: we are more or less being kicked out. Plans for a large-scale renovation are currently being discussed, and if this takes place, we have to move out by 2008. The good thing is that we know God has new things prepared for us, and we can look back on a period in which we were able to sow destiny into our city and neighborhood. I guess in God's Kingdom the sowers are not necessarily also the harvesters. We all have our role to play. And if we leave and 20-30 others emerge to take our place, that's a pretty good deal.
Wow, good to hear that God is obviously starting to move in Overvecht. And you are better than we in our results in Olvenstedt (Magdeburg/Germany). We "only" had one family coming when we left and at the time we didn´t even know that they where already there. But we "only" persevered 5 years ;-))
Our good news is that more people are going to come and they start a community in Olvenstedt in September `07 So the work of the Lord is growing :-)) Bless you!
Posted by: Christine | July 11, 2007 at 16:10
Yes, that's it. God is at work because He sees these areas, and we just do a our little piece in His bigger plans.
Posted by: Marc | July 11, 2007 at 16:14
Cromwell, New Zealand is a pretty cool place if your looking for somewhere to go :-)
Posted by: Dean Comerford | July 11, 2007 at 23:31
Thanks for your invitation, Dean. We wouldn't mind living in the land of the kiwi's, but we still have some things to do in Europe!
Posted by: Marc | July 13, 2007 at 10:37