Jeff Adams

When I first started bringing groups to Amsterdam almost 25 years, we had no local church contacts. Over the course of time it has been a blessing to watch the development of two really good churches here.

One is Crossroads International where we attended this morning. We first went to Crossroads when the church was only a few years old and met in a different place. The leadership team at that time was international and contained several Americans. Today, the presence of Americans in leadership is minimal (the executive pastor, for example, is American) and I rejoice in how this remarkable team has cultivated solid Dutch leadership and involvement. Crossroads has become a remarkably diversified church that has a healthy balance between Dutch and the many expatriates who live here. Only half of the inhabitants of Amsterdam are Dutch – think New York City!

Pray for Crossroads. They are in transition, looking for a new lead pastor. They have had some marvelous communicators, yet none has been more than four years or so in the position. Irishman Jerad Kelly recently transitioned to a ministry in France.

I think a good question we can ask of ourselves is if our church disappeared, would anyone in the greater community notice or care? I can truly say that Crossroads has made an impact in Amsterdam and would be both missed and noticed were they to disappear.  I thank God for this ministry. About 1500 people attend Crossroads each week in three Sunday services held in a university.

Another community of believers with whom we interact is Zolder 50. KCBT has been blessed to play a small part in support of some key individuals and we have a prayer team for them as well. This church was begun almost 8 years ago by a team of over 30 Americans, mostly college students. They are part of a denomination based in Orlando, Florida called Great Commission Ministries (our good friends at Lee’s Summit Christian Community Church are part of this group). As in the case of Crossroads, Zolder has now successfully transitioned their leadership and is no longer an “American church,” as only 7 Americans remain. Lead pastor Eric is American, but the other American pastor working with him has returned to the States. Though greatly missed, his absence has opened the door for other men in the church to step forward into positions of ministry leadership and this is thrilling to see. This evening we heard a young man deliver his first sermon and it was powerfully good and most authentic and sincere.

Zolder (attic in Dutch) is no longer in an attic, but a basement! They are transitioning to Amsterdam 50 with the goal of reproducing 50 other faith communities in this city. This is also a ministry that correctly reflects the tremendous diversity of the city.  Zolder is not really a Dutch ministry as much as it is a ministry targeting post-modern youth culture so prominent in Western Europe.

Over dinner tonight we had a great time discussing what we saw, experienced and learned from having attended these two churches today. This is always a highlight of our time here in Amsterdam, to be able to interact with other believers here.

Well, while you finishing watching the Chiefs lose, I need to get some sleep!