{"id":15527,"date":"2025-06-02T17:57:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T15:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cgk.nl\/?p=15527"},"modified":"2025-06-03T10:41:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T08:41:59","slug":"persevering-together-in-missionary-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cgk.nl\/en\/evangelisatie\/samen-volhouden-in-het-missionaire-werk\/","title":{"rendered":"Persevering together in missionary work"},"content":{"rendered":"

Missionary pioneers are often go-getters with a big heart full of charity. They constantly look for opportunities and create possibilities to mean something to people who do not (yet) know Jesus. A rewarding, but also demanding task. This is precisely why missionary consultants guide these pioneers and initiators through intervision groups. Two pioneers explain how this intervision works and why it is so important.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gertjan Zwart, a quiet, somewhat thoughtful middle-aged man, is the initiator of De Pion in Alblasserdam. This missionary community centre grew out of the dissolution of the church in Alblasserdam. As chairman of the then church council, Gertjan thought it was more or less logical for him to take responsibility for De Pion. \"I have an interdenominational team around me. We have turned the church building into a cosy community centre. Different working groups each do a bit of the work, so the pressure on the volunteers is not too great. There are a lot of activities done by a lot of different people and it does run. It is just too small and it is difficult to find people who can guide the volunteers or people who can carry initiatives. So it's still pulling the cart. That's why the discussions in the peer review group are very good.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Down-to-earth and resolute Hillie van Dijk is one of the driving forces behind the neighbourhood initiative FlowerPower in Ede. Together with another couple, she and her husband started doing small things for the neighbours, out of a desire to mean something to the neighbourhood. It started with small things, like bringing a plate of food now and then. They organised a Christmas party for the neighbourhood and asked people what they would like for the neighbourhood. \"Something for children, something against loneliness, nicer community gardens. All kinds of wishes were there and we took that up.\" FlowerPower grew into a diverse neighbourhood initiative without a preconceived plan. The core team consists of two couples, who do the pioneering work alongside their families and paid work. \"It's quite an organisation and that can sometimes feel like a burden. The beauty of the peer review group is that you don't have to explain that. These people understand what you're doing.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictured above: a meeting of the peer review group, with Hillie in the yellow vest on the right and Gertjan with the grey scarf on the left.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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