‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’
Dear friends in Christ,
Europe is changing rapidly; we see that in the university town of Wageningen. Most young Europeans know almost nothing about Christianity. We meet people who long for fulfilment and peace, who seek truth and meaning in all the wrong places. Many don’t consider the church because they simply don’t know what it is there for.
Tragically, while Christians have been around here in Europe for almost 2000 years, many churches try to reinvent the wheel every 5 years or so. But what if…
- what if we became better students of our own tradition?
- What if we could become more deeply rooted in the long and rich history of our faith?
- What if we could use those insights in our missionary work in Europe?
- What if we could take people on a journey of discovery, perhaps during a retreat in a historic monastery?
We have seen this happen as we walked and talked with people. Perhaps not all Emmaus Road experiences, but we have certainly witnessed some life changing conversations.
Perhaps you have seen the recent reports about young people who are interested in traditional forms of Christianity. We know them, we meet them. And as Anglicans, we have a unique opportunity to serve them with truth, goodness, and beauty. Rooted in ‘Scripture arranged for prayer’ and with a sensitivity to the history of the Church and the living faith of those who have gone before us.
Will you help us build bridges between the past and future of European Christianity?
As REC missionary candidates we are in discussion with the BFM leadership about how we can best support the work of the REC in Europe. We serve in one of the most secular countries in Europe, but we know that God is at work. We invite you to be part of this journey.
Jelle & Janneke Huisman
the Netherlands
Meet Jelle and Janneke
During 19 years in ministry, Deacon Jelle Huisman has served in various leadership roles and in theological education. He served as chairman of Roma Bible Union and is currently writing his PhD on Bible translation for Muslims. He participates in the REC100-Europe cohort, while he also supports the work of the A.K.D. (REC Germany).
Janneke Huisman is the author of two books. She has spent the last six years serving international students in a co-working space in Wageningen. She has led retreats in three European countries, where she helps people to experience the blessing of silence and a rule of life.
With their 4 children, the Huisman family have served in England, Canada, Croatia and the Netherlands. They are currently based in The Netherlands and they travel regularly to Germany.
What does it take to build a bridge?
A team of coworkers: We are excited to be part of the REC100-Europe Church Planting cohort. We are also connected with local churches and with ministries across Europe.
Funding: We seek funding to dedicate our time to finishing the PhD, teaching and hosting retreats. Our monthly budget is $ 5000,- half of which is covered by a part-time job. Will you help us fund the remaining part? Our current fundraising goal is $2500/month.
Connections: We can’t do this alone, so we invite people to pray for us. Please sign up for our newsletter to get our latest news. Could you please share it with two or three people?
What can you do next?
1 Connect & Pray.
Receive our ministry updates and pray with us. Please use this form.
2 Give.
Invest in the future of European Christianity and fund our stipend. See:
https://EmmausEurope.org/donate
3 Parish Partner Program.
We are a bridge between your parish and Europe. Parish Partners talk with us online and get first access to our Retreats in Europe (starting in 2027). See https://EmmausEurope.org/parish