Continuing transitions

What a great way to communicate. Melvin and I are grateful and excited to serve at the Dutch Azusa Theological Seminary at the VU University Amsterdam. To be involved with the teaching and impacting of Dutch and international students remains a joy as well as a challenge. The multicultural and multinational nature of the school reflects so well the Europe of today. Students and faculty can practise their intercultural skills right here and now. To give expression to the Kingdom while learning and growing is our reality. To guide and direct students as they seek their own way in this secular and pluralistic world as contemporary Christians and contextually relevant servants of the Lord demands sensitivity, patience and a lot of faith. We pray to be filled with those on a daily basis. The school is seeking for ways to express our Pentecostal identity in a relevant and balanced way. Another challenge is the need to be increasingly partnered with and integrated in the Dutch AG movement and its churches. Azusa is the only Pentecostal and Charismatic Educational institution with a batchelor level in Theology and Ministry, but not subsidized by the government, so its financial position is a constant challenge. This has resulted in an already long existing lack of sufficient faculty and staff, causing overload on each one who serves, with all its consequences.
Another vision and ministry on our hearts: the development of a central national missions department at our Dutch headquarters in Urk which will serve the churches and lead to a much greater missions awareness, motivation and particiaption in worls missions by the Dutch AG churches.
And lastly (for now): the development of the national, newly started department for muslim ministries (MB) is in its intial stages. How we want to see that progress and begin to have an impact in this nation! We pray that it will prove to be a useful model for other European countries as well.
I know this is mostly ministry stuff. More personal things might follow in future Louise Highlights.