This summer it will be 10 years ago that we came back to The Netherlands after living in the U.S. We had joined Christian Associates and came to The Hague, where our friend and then-Europe Director had just secured an office space on Bezuidenhoutseweg. Sophie and I helped Brian decorate the office, together with our other staff members.
Last Tuesday we closed the office. CA is doing well: 10 years ago there were maybe 7 projects in Europe; these days there are 42 projects world-wide, mostly in Europe. But in wanting to become a movement we are pushing the ministry out to the edge and are trying to minimize our operational cost.
Linus Morris (founder and president) was here and with our current staff we had a time of thanksgiving for what has happened and prayer for the future.
For me it was bitter-sweet. There are a lot of good memories attached to this building. I think mostly of the CA staff who served there: Dan & Ann Steigerwald, Paul & Lori Hart, Tom Boeger, Lammert Vrieling, Al and Deela and later Elisabeth Dyck, Eric and Jeannie Folbrecht, Tessa, Caroline, Bernhard — I am sure I am forgetting a few.
The bitter part is that this summer many CA people will leave Holland for different locations. That's another reason we are closing this office now: after the summer there will be less need for it.
My hope is that the work of CA will continue and that in a few years we will need office-space in a number of European cities.
Hey Rogier, A question: What about the CA office-building in the Hague? Will it still be used by Crossroads The Hague or is it becoming available? I would be interested to know as we desire to plant an international church in the seacoast (Scheveningen - Kijkduin)area. Let me know, please. Thanks,
Posted by: Frank Bouwens | Friday, June 12, 2009 at 01:44 PM