{"id":19974,"date":"2026-03-05T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cgk.nl\/?p=19974"},"modified":"2026-03-05T08:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T07:22:12","slug":"baptism-of-an-83-year-old-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cgk.nl\/en\/evangelisatie\/doop-van-een-83-jarige-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Baptism of an 83-year-old man"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Maart-Jan introduces himself to a visitor to Hart voor West, he says: \u201cJust call me a novice!\u201d And the pastor - whose father he could have been - he calls his elder brother. It marks the modesty of Maart-Jan Bellaar Spruijt. In conversation with a baptised 83-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Childhood around the world<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Born in Leidschendam, he grew up in reasonable prosperity as the middle of five children. \u201cWe played in the Vliet, which was once dug by the Romans. Park Leeuwensteijn was an idyllic enclave, even during the war. As a young boy, I went with my mother to the food distribution. The Germans were endeared by that blonde little boy and gave some extra.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The father of the family works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is posted to the Dutch embassy in Australia. March-Jan is nine years old at the time. Another seven years later, the family moves to Canada. Later, MaartJan realises that he has been uprooted at an early age and is not really at home anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back to the Netherlands<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

After secondary school, Maart-Jan decides to return to Europe. After a year in Paris, he studies political science in Amsterdam and business sociology in Rotterdam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maart-Jan ends up at Philips in Eindhoven. It is a good time; there is a lot of money to do research and the company is growing against the odds. Privately, there are worries, but Maart-Jan nevertheless calls himself a Sunday's child. After working in Amsterdam and the Achterhoek region, Maart-Jan ends up in Rotterdam. He supports his wife Milo in setting up a language school, where mainly expats learn the Dutch language. The business runs well and Maart-Jan enjoys redecorating their old house on Mathenesserlaan as well. Together, they have a daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A benevolent pagan<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

What role does faith play in this story? \u201cI was not baptised, but I was taught cultural Christianity at home. Things like \u2018he who does good, meets good\u2019 were instilled in me at an early age. There was no reading from the Bible or praying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once in a while we went to church with family but I had no idea what was happening there. During a prayer, I saw my father with his eyes closed and shouted through the church: \u2018Mother, father is asleep!\u2019 The atmosphere in our family could be described as \u2018enlightened CDA\u2019. I had nothing against religion, but I also had nothing with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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