Activities and speaking engagements

As most of you probably know by now,  Traveling Light is not just active throughout Europe but also on many fronts in the Netherlands. This is all possible thanks to the voluntary efforts of lovely people!

For example: Krijn and Cora are responsible for the coffee house work in Twinkeltje and the prison ministry, Chantal provides enormous support in fundraising in her vintage shop de Schor, and Jan and Marja encourage through preaching and teaching and maintain international contacts. This is what is on the calendar for the coming weeks:

FRIDAY March 28

Jan will speak at a campfire evening of the Dutch Reformed Church in Klundert. This event is for men only! Walk-in from 20:15 and starts at 20:30. Location: Loods bij Maarten v.d. Werken (entrance via Hilsepoort 7-9). Admission is free.

SATURDAY March 29

Members of the city council Papendrecht will visit Twinkeltje. They would like to talk with us about the impact of the coffee house/second-hand shop on the residents of Papendrecht and the surrounding area.

MONDAY March 31

Bible study evening in de Schor. It has been a year now, that we have been meeting weekly for the 'Group studies for New Life' as provided by Teen Challenge.

FRIDAY April 4

Shopping evening and cozy pop-up café in de Schor. You are most welcome between 19:00 - 21:00 for  coffee, cake, and conversation. The proceeds will go to Traveling Light, as always.

SATURDAY April 5

Marja will speak, and also present the Portuguese edition of her book 'Grace of Giving', in Comunidade Crista em Amsterdam, a Brazilian church.

SUNDAY April 6

Jan will speak in the Free Evangelical Church De Ark in Gorinchem. Service starts at 10:00 AM.

WEDNESDAY April 9

Mission evening Lithuania in Twinkeltje with guest Willem van Dijk. He will talk about his work among the poor and addicted in Lithuania. It promises to be an inspiring evening again! Door is open at 19:30. The Presentation starts at 20:00.

In May, Brian Slater from Abundant Bread of Salvation in Israel will visit. We will also organize a mission evening in which he will talk about his work. The final dates will follow.

In the meantime, we are still fundraising for the work of Teen Challenge in Belgium and Iceland.

Donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

Project news and prayer points north-western Europe

Last week we shared news about projects in several countries in south-eastern Europe. Now, let's take a look at some projects and prayer points in north-western Europe.

Teen Challenge Netherlands in Heerhugowaard will start a discipleship school later this year. Last month they hosted an open house for anyone interested. Do you know young people who would like to invest a year of their lives in discipleship training? More information can be found HERE.

Earlier this month they hosted a training for Teen Challenge workers from rehab centers throughout Europe. There was a good turnout. The TC building in Heerhugowaard is a beautiful accommodation for a training center and ministry institute.

Last week the freezer broke down. Quite inconvenient when you have a house full of guests. Director Stephan Barendse immediately called out for help and pledges started coming in. Traveling Light will also contribute towards the purchase of a new energy-efficient freezer.

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Last Friday we visited Frédéric & Natacha Hensgens, the directors of Teen Challenge in Belgium. In early February they lost their son Nicolas to suicide. An unimaginable tragedy for them, their daughter Mahora, and further family and friends.

At their center 'Maison Betser' they currently care for a number of people who are in the process of reintegrating into society, a kind of re-entry program. Prayers for comfort and support are much needed.

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Last summer we visited Teen Challenge Iceland. They are active in coffee house work and street evangelism. They have the desire to start a Christian drug and alcohol rehab center in due time. For now, they are looking to open a thrift store, which will offer work opportunities and generate some income.

Let's face it, funds are always needed to pay for rent  (coffee house, day program, etc.), to purchase materials (coffee, tea, study materials, etc.), and to pay for other expenses. Please pray that their efforts to reach people with addictions will be effective and bring forth fruit.

Donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!

Project updates south-eastern Europe

As Traveling Light, we support initiatives (which we generally refer to as 'projects') throughout Europe.

These projects often involve helping addicts as well as homeless and other displaced people. But certainly also the command that Jesus gave to all of us: 'Go out and make disciples of all nations.' Evangelism, outreach, coffeehouse work, church planting, Bible education... we encourage and support it all.

The project of the month in our secondhand shops / coffee houses over February, was the work of Radko & Nevin Kratsov in Bulgaria. In collaboration with Youth with a Mission (YWAM Sliven), they are active on many fronts within the Roma community, which extends throughout south-eastern Europe. Radko teaches and provides leadership training in Bulgaria and surrounding countries and helps Roma people develop a Biblical vision in every area of ​​life: relationships, work, health, finances, etc.

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The project for the month of March is the work of Teen Challenge in Croatia. All sales proceeds in our shops Twinkeltje and de Schor will go towards this project. So come and visit us! Even if you don't buy anything, you can always give a specified donation.

Ico & Jagoda Matulic lead an evangelical church, several house groups, and two coffee houses. They are also involved in the work of Living Free in Croatia and surrounding countries and in evangelism activities on islands off the coast.

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Now that we are talking about Living Free... Jonatan & Valentina Vlaisavljevic are the overseers of the Living Free network in Europe. They live in Macedonia.

'Living Free' is in fact the non-residential aspect of Teen Challenge. You can follow the program through a church or other group without admission to a clinic or rehab center. After all, it is only a small part of the people who struggle with addictions and other life-threatening problems that register with a rehab center.

Fortunately, there are other possibilities to help people on their way to true freedom. For example, the Living Free trainings, counseling and coaching sessions, and various support groups. It is discipleship that contributes to a healthy spiritual climate in churches and communities. We want to support this work in 2025 with a donation for materials and travel costs.

Donations are always welcome. You can send a gift in different ways, please take note:

Send a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U and make sure to mention 'general' or otherwise which country or project.

💳 Give by card

👉You can also donate directly via our website!