Number 10

October 2001

Anja Kell is a student at an International School for Tourism in Germany. As part of her education she was required to do an internship at a hotel or a similar tourist organisation. She chose to gain experience in The Shelter Jordan. For a period of almost three months she joined the management team and carried out the various duties of assistant-manager.

" I chose The Shelter Jordan for my internship because I wanted to combine the work in a hotel with Christian ministry. It would give me the opportunity to use the knowledge that I have gained at school to serve the Lord. Coming from a non-Christian family and not having many Christian friends at home, I was also looking forward to work with other Christians. Before I arrived in Amsterdam, I did not know that this time would be so much more than gaining work experience and being part of a Christian fellowship.

During my first days at the hostel I was totally amazed at how much the work is focussing on God. He fills every aspect of it. Even when I sat down at the computer to answer reservation inquiries, I could serve God. In this first contact with our guests I tried to reflect God's love and kindness. When I did accounting in the office, I also knew that I was serving God through this practical work.

For the first time in my life I met so many people from all over the world with various cultural and religious backgrounds. It was very exciting for me to talk with people from Israel. While I was giving a Israeli tourist one of our tracts, I remember thinking " Wow, they are God's chosen people and they even speak Hebrew…" . On the other hand, once I got to talk to him a little more it was sad to find out that he didn't know Christ as the Son of God. Also hearing stories from visitors from countries like Bulgaria and Russia, made me really think and be grateful for what God has given me. God also opened my eyes and my heart for these people and their countries. It is so special to actually meet people from countries that I usually only hear about on the TV or in the newspapers.

Sometimes I got discouraged and asked questions to God. Situations in which I felt unable to help a person in need, not sure what to say. I learned that listening to the person, and praying to God Almighty is the best to do in such a situation. If I trust in God, He will hear these prayers, and He is able to change the heart and life of that person.

Prayer has become such an important part of my Christian life since I started in this ministry. At the Shelter Jordan we come together to pray a couple of times a day: before each shift, in staff meetings, and in prayer and worship meetings at our staff house. It is wonderful to have these times in which we can share prayer requests and bring each person and each situation before God. To me this was very uplifting and encouraging. It made our team one in Christ.

Unfortunately, my time at the hostel is over now, it is time for me to go home to my family and school. Although it is hard to leave, I know that I am taking with me a wonderful experience and valuable lessons, both in hotel management and in Christian ministry . I am looking forward to find out what God has in store for me next. I am sure that there is much more to find out about God. For those who are planning to join the team in The Shelter: have a blessed time!"

Anja Kell

This article is not mainly about The Shelter ministry itself, but more about the environment in which the hostels are located. It provides you with background information about the tolerant and liberal Dutch society. I believe this is important for two reasons. First of all, it will help you to get an idea of the context in which our ministry takes place. Many of our guests are attracted by the tolerant Dutch society. And the city around the hostels clearly reflects the liberal and tolerant ideas as well. Secondly, there are many misconceptions regarding what is legal and what not. For example: many tourists and staff members think that soft drugs are legal in the Netherlands, which they are not. In this article I will try to make some sense out of the mix of prejudice, misconception and reality.

Many low budget travellers think about Amsterdam as the city with the traditional canals and tulips, but also as the city with soft drugs and the Red Light District. " Tourists who travel through Europe often give suggestions to each other regarding what places to visit in a certain city, " explains Rachel, a Shelter Jordan guest from New Zealand. " The buzz about Amsterdam is that you should maybe visit 2 museums, rent a bike, smoke a joint in a coffee-shop and visit the Red Light District" . Also travel guides cover these attractions of the tolerant Dutch society. On the web site of Go Europe this society is even described as follows: " The Dutch are known for pragmatism, tolerance, and trade. Put those three characteristics together in today's freewheeling society, and you get a nation that attracts thrillseeking tourists with commercialised sex and soft drugs."

It is obvious that a number of guests in our hostels visit Amsterdam because of the Dutch tolerance. We can not deny that our ministry takes place in a liberal and pragmatic culture. Our house rules - no smoking, no drinking, curfew, etc - form a big contrast with the world outside the hostel. For some of the guests this is a relief, they find a real Shelter. Others find it difficult to understand. The good thing of being located in Amsterdam is that we have the chance to share the gospel also with those who come because of the soft drugs and the Red Light District. " This is a group of people you would not meet otherwise," says Amanda Parker, a staff member from the USA.

Soft drugs. Many tourists (and locals) visit the so-called " coffee shops" to purchase and smoke soft drugs, such as marijuana and hashish. Contrary to what most people think, these drugs are not legal. Technically soft drugs are illegal, but they are tolerated within certain limits. For using small quantities (5 grams or less) of soft drugs you will not be persecuted, and coffee shops are allowed to sell this as long as they are discreet. The sale of hard drugs - cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy - is not tolerated at all.

This policy of tolerance is called " gedogen" . It is no coincidence that this word is untranslatable. It means as much as " turning a blind eye" . An official body may prefer not to take action against an illegal situation, but may try to keep it within bounds. The Dutch consciously allow what is officially prohibited. The point being that these things are generally prohibited elsewhere as well, but that they happen there regardless, unsupervised.

Prostitution. The policy of gedogen has also been used regarding prostitution. Although brothels have been illegal since 1912, they have long been allowed to operate in clearly defined areas such as the Red Light District of Amsterdam and most other major cities, as long as they follow strict standards for health and fire safety. Only recently, on 1 October 2000, a new law overturned the 1912 law against brothels. With this new law the Dutch parliament legalised what already existed. According to the Ministry of Justice, the new law is aimed at guaranteeing cleaner and safer working conditions for the countries estimate of 15,000 to 30,000 prostitutes and allowing the police to focus their crackdowns on the employment of illegal immigrants and under aged girls.

Euthanasia and same-sex marriages. While the Dutch policies regarding soft drugs and prostitution are slowly getting accepted in many other countries, two other (newer) areas of Dutch tolerance led to recent responses of shock and disbelief around the globe: euthanasia and same-sex marriages. On 10 April 2001, the Upper House of Dutch Parliament voted to approve a bill regarding euthanasia on request and help with suicide. This new law is the first in the world that permits termination of life on request if due care requirements are being followed. Among these requirements are that the patient must have made a voluntary and well-considered request to the physician, must face interminable and unendurable suffering, and at least one other independent doctor must be consulted. Although this new law received a lot of international media attention, the Dutch population in general did not find it controversial at all. Some reports say that 90 percent is in favour. Only orthodox and evangelical Christian groups tried to stop the legalisation of euthanasia. For the majority of the population the law was just legalising what already was happening. Before the new legislation, termination of life on request was punishable but would not be prosecuted if due care requirements had been compiled with. So, the law legalised what was already possible under gedogen.

The second controversial legislation that received international media attention this spring, is the same-sex marriage. As of 1 April 2001, two women or two men can get married in The Netherlands. The conditions for marriage and the consequences of this marriage are the same as for a marriage between a man and a woman. Although, this was never a case of gedogen, it is another clear example of tolerant and pragmatic policy.

Tolerant culture. Regarding the area’s mentioned above – drugs, prostitution, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage – the Netherlands seems to be more tolerant than any other country in the world. Why is this? Where does the Dutch tolerance and gedogen come from and why does it have such a seemingly big influence on the society? These are not easy questions, and I will not attempt to offer the one and only answer. Some authors hint at an explanation, though.

The popular Dutch historian and author Geert Mak describes in " Amsterdam, a brief life of the city" the origin and development of Amsterdam. As a city of trading, Amsterdam was open and welcoming towards all kinds of people, regardless of religious and cultural background. It was because it tolerated (groups of) people that were not welcome elsewhere, that the city grew as an international market place.

James Kennedy, professor at Hope College in Holland Michigan, did a study on the Dutch society in the 1960's, a decade in which the Netherlands moved away from traditional and conservative values towards a liberal and free spirit. He explains the leading role of the Netherlands as follows: " The Netherlands always wanted to be a guiding country. With the idea: 'We are morally better', and 'our enlightenment is actually a nice example for other countries, because we are doing it the right way.' The Dutch believe that they are not little people who have to follow rules. They are mature enough, and perfectly able to determine what is right and wrong. " With this the Dutch overestimate their moral abilities, according to Kennedy.

Both Kennedy and NRC newsletter correspondent Marc Chavannes, recognise the Dutch tendency to discuss controversial topics in the open. Chavannes: " One of the characteristics that the Dutch admire most in themselves is their penchant for openness. They even leave the curtains open in the evening. No need for secrecy, even in 'how we deal with dilemmas'" . The Dutch like to make things " bespreekbaar" , negotiable or open to discussion. This verb bespreekbaar is typical for the Dutch, according to Kennedy: " As long as we make it bespreekbaar, everything will work out fine."

Chavannes explains the Dutch tolerance almost as a necessity. " The Dutch have always had to be inventive, confronted as they were with the task of completing the creation in a land of wind and water but very few natural comforts. Add to that the fact that the Dutch are born with a quasi-sentimental ideal of resistance (against Spanish, French and German oppressors) and the fact that everyone believes in a slightly different God, and the choice is clear. Accept chaos or forge compromise until everyone is blue in the face. The latter solution has become second nature. No wonder that the facade of tolerance so often conceals a reality of indifference. (…) Conformist nonchalance allows us to manage the unmanageable in that overcrowded experiment called the Netherlands."

The challenge. The influence of Dutch tolerance is seen in churches as well as in general society. Church dogma, specific beliefs, are considered intolerant and increasingly being rejected by church members. In 1966 only 29% of church members rejected the letter of church dogma. This percentage increased to 65% in 1995. People struggle with the fact that the Bible speaks of God as the one with ultimate authority and of Jesus Christ as the Truth. There is not much room for authority and truth in a society that desires tolerance and pragmatism. This is a great challenge for those who are doing evangelism. And not only in The Netherlands. You might recognise a similar liberalism and tolerance in your own society.

The challenge is to meet the people where they are at, without watering down the one and only Truth: Jesus Christ. Our organisation " Tot Heil des Volks" is committed to this. Beside evangelism to the tourists in the Shelter hostels, we also bring Gods Word in other areas of the tolerant and liberal Dutch society. The project called " Scarlet Cord" brings the Gospel to the prostitutes in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, and tries to prevent young girls from falling into prostitution as well. Another project offers counselling for those who struggle with their sexual identity. This Bible based counselling stands in great contrast to the liberal believes of the general society. The fourth project does evangelism in the gay scene of the city that calls itself the Gay Capital of the world. In all these areas of our society we see the need for hope and salvation that only Christ Jesus can offer. We would appreciate your prayers and support for these ministries.

AA

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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 to12 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!