- Newsletter -
The Shelter Youth Hostel Ministry Amsterdam
Content
New Articles |
General information |
|
|
|
1. Creativity in Bible discussions
Back_to_contentTelling people about Jesus is not easy. Mix in different nationalities, religious backgrounds, and languages and you get a better idea of what a staff member in The Shelter faces when preparing and presenting a Bible study. Staff members consistently seek to reach guests with the good news of the gospel in a meaningful and relevant way. In recent weeks many of the discussions have tackled difficult issues or presented ideas in a fresh way. This article highlights just a few recent discussions at the Shelter City.
What’s in a Name? Emmanuel Sowah, a staff member from Ghana recently presented a discussion the Name of Jesus. Emmanuel began the discussion by questioning guests about the meaning of names in general and also the meaning of their own personal names. He pointed out that names often relate to character, personality, and value. As the discussion progressed Emmanuel told the guests that Jesus’ name means "Saviour", and then showed how if His name means Saviour then people must need to be saved from something. Using Matthew 1:21 Emmanuel related how Jesus came to save humankind from sin. He said that the guests seemed hungry to know more of the truth. "I saw God working. It wasn’t me per se. I was like a tool and God was using me to reach people," Emmanuel said.
The light of the screen. Movies also have been used recently. In one discussion, Matthew Fulkerson, from the United States, chose to show the popular film "The Matrix". Matthew stated that one of the main reasons he chose to show the film was to give the guests something to which they could relate. "I could relate to it and see how it related to the Bible," said Sheena Power, a Shelter City guest. The Matrix night was the first Bible discussion she attended. Sheena added that she likes the relaxed environment and the different points of view presented at different Bible discussions. "I wasn’t trying to make it a Christian movie. I was trying to make people think that maybe there is a veil covering the truth in our lives," Matthew said.
To give a Bible discussion based off of a movie, it takes more work than just putting the tape in the VCR. Matthew watched the movie two times and searched the internet for information about it. He also teamed up with two other staff members to discuss ideas and prepare signs to advertise the night. The most important preparation, however, was a lot of prayer surrounding the evening.
Another movie used in a recent Bible discussion was "The Jesus Movie". After the movie Martijn Rutgers, a Shelter City manager, read and discussed Isaiah 53 with the guests. Martijn emphasised that after watching the movie, reading the prophecy was a powerful moment. After the discussion was over Martijn spoke with one guest who was very moved by the movie. The guest told Martijn that the movie helped him to understand Christianity for the first time.
Tackling Tough Topics. Hell is never a pleasant or easy topic to discuss, but it was the topic that Christine Saladino, from the United States, chose for her Bible discussion. "One of the questions I often get asked in one way or another is, `Why does a loving God send good people to hell?` So, I decided to address the issue in a Bible study. It was probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done," Christine said. In order to answer the question, the group looked at how the Bible describes hell, mankind, God, and free will. "I wanted the emphasis to be on what the Bible taught about hell and not my own personal opinion," Christine said. Additional discussion included how God is a God of love but has other character traits including justice and holiness and also how God has provided a way but humans makes the choice whether or not to accept the free gift He has provided.
The goal in mind. The discussions given may sound and look different, but one goal remains the same. Each night is designed to share the truth of God´s word with people who are on a journey toward God. Please pray with us that many travellers will take their most important step -- to accept Him who hung the stars, ordered their paths, and hung on a cross so things could be set in order.
Christine Saladino (staff member)
2. Short news facts Back_to_content
3. Prayer support Back_to_content
4. School mission trips Back_to_content
Last month we had the privilege to host two groups of American College students. They used their spring break to do a short mission trip to Amsterdam. Besides staying and working in the Youth Hostel Ministry, they visited other ministries in the Amsterdam area to widen their horizon. Among these ministries were the Scarlet Cord (evangelism to prostitutes) and the centre for Pastoral counselling regarding sexual identity, both part of our organisation Tot Heil des Volks, as well as the Corrie ten Boom house.
For a group of the University of Sioux Falls it was the first encounter with The Shelter. We hope that this trip will be the first of many. The other group came from NorthWestern College (NWC). This school has been sending teams already for a few years.
When describing the ten days of the NWC group in Amsterdam, IMPACTS seems the key word. The kindness and openness of the students, together with the testimonies they shared, had a very positive impact on the guests in the hostels. For some guests it was sad to see the students leave again. Vice versa, the ministry also had a great impact on the students from NWC. This is what a few of them said:
Gina Spoelstra: "God has amazed me with the diversity of His children while staying at the hostel. Some guests have never heard of Christ and others know the Bible better than I do. God has enabled me with the strength and courage to encounter these people, hear their stories, and has given me the heart to love them. Talking with people at the hostel has forced me to put into words what I believe and why along with convicting me to get to know my God better."
Mayumi Ishimoto: "This project was a great opportunity for evangelism. We had a lot of interaction with guests and staff. God totally used each of us to spread His love in so many different ways!! It was awesome that our faith in Christ was united through action and with passion for God."
Carrie Cleveland: "It was a joy and a pleasure to serve alongside the staff and cleaners at the Shelter Jordan. They took us in and treated us as part of their family, patiently explaining what we were supposed to do and joking with us when we did it wrong! Most of our jobs included working in the snack bar, cleaning the bathrooms, dusting, making beds and I have never scrubbed a kitchen so hard in all of my life, it was great! The entire week of serving was a time of fellowship for us and we were grateful for the opportunity."
5. Winette’s Goodbye Back_to_content
On 15 March the Shelter Jordan said goodbye to Winette Hubregtse who has been working as an assistant manager in the hostel for three years. In the following article Winette is looking back at those years in the ministry and tells a little bit about her next step.
A smell of pot floating through the window, a few Japanese guests asking direction to the Van Gogh museum, an Argentinean girl wanting to know how many guilders she gets for her dollar, guests complaining about a blocked toilet and a panicking staff member who messed up the cash register. You all know what I am talking about it is one of these days at the Shelter Jordan. And how I will miss this...
I have been here now for 3 years and hated it at times but also love it to bits. I started in 1997 as a staff member after Capernwray Bible School and was asked to come back as an assistant manager. It took this nurse a while to get the hang of it but I have learned a lot and am glad that I had the opportunity to take this time to learn. What I loved the most was the beautiful talks I had with you, staff members. To see you settling in, finding your way, doubting your faith by times and growing in faith and struggling to find out about the next step in life.
And together we have seen many beautiful things happen in the life of our guests. Like in Pascal's life who after having been around for a while, out of the blue asked me how to become an inside Christian after he realised that he was only a member of a church. And Julie, who met an angel in the streets who called her by name when she was in a desperate situation sitting in the streets down town. He sent her to the Shelter Jordan and told her to join the bible discussion that night. And many more of these stories. It is sooo fantastic to experience God at work through our life!
My next stop is Africa..... Mission abroad has always been on my mind and all the time here in Amsterdam I knew that this moment would come. Last year the Lord made it very clear to me that is was time to move on and slowly He revealed the next step to me. I am accepted as long term missionary for the Africa Inland Mission and will probably start of in Uganda to work among youth and Sudanese refugees. Next year I hope to join a TIMO team. This is a 2-year hands-on course on the field in an unreached people group. I am very exited about the program.
I finished work at the Shelter Jordan on 15 March, and am waiting for a confirmation from Africa for my job there. That is taking 2 months already... I get an intensive training in patience and trusting at this moment but that is all part of the preparation, I guess.
God bless you!
Winette Hubregtse
More than 30,000 travellers are staying in our hostels each year. This means, for us, 30,000 opportunities to bring someone in contact with the gospel. To be able to use these witnessing opportunities we need more than 60 workers each year. Would you like to become a youth hostel missionary or do you know someone who would?
We are looking for Christians between 18 and 30 years of age, willing to commit for a period of 6 to 12 months. During this time you will be part of our international staff team and you will be involved in both practical work and evangelism. The Youth Hostel Ministry provides unique opportunities to serve the Lord and to share the gospel in words and deeds. Go into the world, in a place where the world actually comes to you!
Get more information from our web site: http://www.theshelter.nl/ministry or contact our personnel manager mdehaan@totheildesvolks.nl
Contact for the Newsletter: Auke Algera, newsletter@shelter.nl
Personnel manager: mdehaan@totheildesvolks.nl (Regarding applications)
Ministry site: http://www.theshelter.nl/ministry (about working in the ministry)
News Page: http://www.theshelter.nl/news (Newsletter archive and more)
Tourist site: http://www.shelter.nl (about staying in the hostel as a tourist)
The Shelter City, Barndesteeg 21, 1012 BV Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel: **31-(0)20-6253230, Fax: **31-(0)20-6232282. Management: pieter@city.shelter.nl (projectleader), gijs@city.shelter.nl, hennie@city.shelter.nl, johanna@city.shelter.nl, jaap@city.shelter.nl, martijn@city.shelter.nl
The Shelter Jordan, Bloemstraat 179, 1016 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel: **31-(0)20-6244717, Fax: **31-(0)20-6276137. Management: jacob@jordan.shelter.nl (projectleader), tineke@jordan.shelter.nl, rosemary@jordan.shelter.nl, judith@jordan.shelter.nl, tyleen@jordan.shelter.nl, bertine@jordan.shelter.nl
The ministry is part of the association Tot Heil des Volks, Central Office, O.Z. Voorburgwal 241, 1012 EZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel: **31-(0)20-6246151, Fax: **31-(0)20-4202394, E-mail: info@totheildesvolks.nl, web site: http://www.totheildesvolks.nl
Donations, Money transfers to: Postbank Amsterdam, SWIFT-address INGBNL2A, Accountnumber 104944, from: Tot Heil des Volks, O.Z. Voorburgwal 241, 1012 EZ Amsterdam, (please mention ‘Hostels’)