Five years ago, the church in Columbus decided to finance the sending of several international church plants. The first team of church planters moved to Tanzania, the second group came to Amsterdam, and the third group arrived in North Africa a year ago this summer.

Vineyard Columbus gave tremendously of it’s resources, both financial and personal, to these international church plants. Hundreds of supporters from Ohio are financing these church plants in places where most of them will never travel, to build churches that they will never be a part of. In the same way, so many of our own VA members have given tremendously of their time and energy to help build the foundations of Vineyard Amsterdam. Why is it that so many people, from so many places, were willing to spend themselves on planting a new faith community here in the Netherlands?

First, it’s because people are compelled by the grace of God. The scriptures remind us that we have received freely from the Lord, and in keeping we are called to give freely as well. To live lives that are consistent with the teaching of the Bible, we’re called to give our time, our energy, our resources for the sake of the kingdom! Someone once said that giving is addictive, and it’s true especially for Christians: Once we begin to pour out ourselves for the sake of Jesus, we begin to realize how much more we receive from Christ in return. The grace of God continually fills those who extend that grace to others.

Second, it’s because people are committed to putting the kingdom first. Again, Jesus tells us that if we seek first the kingdom of God, everything else is taken care of. The Lord lived a life that leaned into the kingdom: evangelism, power, mercy, justice… and our lives should have the same lean.  That means that we are committed that our agendas, our finances, and our families are all aimed at the Kingdom of God. People who live lives like this are always asking: “How can I impact the kingdom of God with the life that God has given me right now?”

Third, it’s because they know that as Christians, we’re always called to give our best resources away.  Just as Jesus Christ chose to put on flesh and dwell among men and women, just as the early followers of Jesus sent our their best loved leaders & friends to new places, as a church we are called over and over to give away people and resources in order that Jesus may become known to those who do not yet have relationship with Him. 

Finally, we are committed to planting churches because our God is a missionary God! The Bible reveals him to be a God who searches for lost humanity, a God who longs to heal this broken world, a God who never stops devising ways to bring alienated people back into relationship with himself (2 Samuel 14:14). 

Over these next seven weeks, Eric & I have the honor of sharing with followers of Jesus here in Ohio how their sacrificial giving, their prayers, and their vision for a church in one of the most creative, diverse and secular cities in Europe have helped to lay the foundation of a thriving new faith community in Amsterdam! We get to share with them stories of how, together with a group of Dutch Christians living here, we have begun to see a young church grow together in community, in mission, and in vision for the city. As we do that, our young church will bring encouragement, excitement, and even more vision for church planting to Vineyard Columbus!

Imagine with me, if you will, the day that Vineyard Amsterdam will send out our first group of church planters! The Lord promises that where seed is planted in good soil, it will grow and reproduce a hundred-fold. In the same way, we can expect and prepare to be a church that also is compelled by God’s grace to give away our very best for the sake of His kingdom. What a joy it will be for our church to one day be on the other side of this equation: welcoming home those we’ll send out to start new churches in other European city-centers! Begin to pray with us now over cities in Europe that are close to your heart: that our Missionary God helps us to become His missionary church.

With much affection,

Julia Pickerill



The government is obligated to consider many different aspects when addressing immigration:  culture, economy, taxation, social welfare, and assimilation - all of these factors play a role.  It is certainly a complex and divisive issue that good people can and do disagree on.

But is there anything else to consider?  Is there an appropriate reaction that Christians should have toward immigration?  Together as followers of Christ we can consider five biblical guidelines* for followers of Jesus when thinking about immigrants—even, it should be noted, immigrants of a different religion or those who hold to no religion at all.

1. A biblical Christian should begin with the conviction that immigrants (legal or illegal) are persons made in God’s image, and are therefore, worthy of respect and dignity. (Genesis 1:26, 28)

2. A biblical Christian should appreciate the fact that many of our spiritual ancestors were themselves economic refugees. Thus Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob moved from the Promised Land on several occasions in search of food. (Genesis 12:10; 26:1; 41:57;42:6; 43:1-7) The story of Ruth is the story of an immigrant who continually crossed national borders in search of food. Other spiritual ancestors of ours were pushed out of their homeland because of war or persecution, like Joseph, Daniel, Moses, David, and the baby Jesus. So today, when someone wants to immigrate because of economic hardship, war, or asylum-seeking, this is not far from our own Christian heritage.

3. A biblical Christian should specifically apply the second part of the Great Commandment to illegal immigrants: “The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)

4. A biblical Christian would care for immigrants because they understand that they had a central place in the laws and practices of ancient Israel. Israel was commanded to love immigrants because God loves immigrants: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigners residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19)

5. A biblical Christian would show hospitality to immigrants. According to New Testament teaching, hospitality literally means to love the stranger or the alien. (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9) Jesus commanded his followers to welcome people who had no social standing, such as the poor, the sick, and the outsider. (Luke 14:12-14)

The government does need to address the immigration question: that is their job.  Reforms are needed to build up the economy, to honor the ideals of Dutch culture, and to provide immigrants with the opportunity to fully join into society.

But the way forward should be marked with love, not with fear, hate and distrust.  God’s call to each of us is clear: Remember where you came from and act with justice and love towards the immigrant in your midst.

Vineyard Amsterdam desires to be a friend to those on the margins of society, to act with justice and love to those who are vulnerable.  It is a difficult and a high calling, and we will likely fail many times.  But after all, it is precisely with love and justice that God has treated each of us.

*Excepted from On the Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, by Rich Nathan, June 2010.

 In addition to these activities, we’re also seeing Jesus do the beautiful work of drawing people into his grace, pursuing people and bringing healing from past experiences, and as a church we’re seeing the Lord form us into an urban spiritual family.

 In Joshua 3, we read about Joshua leading the people of God across the Jordan into the Promised Land. The River Jordan was flooded at that time of year, and as the people gathered on the near side of it I’m sure they looked at it, looked at Joshua and wondered how it would be possible for them to cross over a swollen river with an entire nation of people!

 In the midst of all of their wondering, Joshua says something beautiful to them in v5: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

 What a promise! As we look out over the impossible, the Lord comes and says the same thing to us: ready yourself, for something amazing is about to happen! Consecrate simply meets to ‘set ones-self apart’, to dedicate ones-self to something sacred. And as we who are Vineyard Amsterdam are seeing God do the sacred work of building a new community of faith where two years ago, there wasn’t one, it is good to celebrate that God is indeed doing amazing things among us!

 As we look back over the past year, it is a good thing for us to thank God for His extravagant grace in our lives. And, as we look ahead to the autumn, we can look with faith and expectation to what He’ll continue to do in our lives, in our community, and in our city.

 Following Jesus will always lead us to saying “God is doing amazing things among us!” In hard times as well as in easy times, we have an extravagantly good God. Take time to reflect today on the gifts that He’s poured out in your life. Take time to remember the obstacles that he’s helped you to cross over. Take time to thank Him for His grace and love in your own life. 

 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16)

 Our prayers remain with you, that you would know the fullness of the grace of Jesus in your life!

 Warmly,

Julia & Eric

PS-We will be traveling back to the US during summer holiday to reconnect with the church in Columbus, Ohio that sent us here to start a new faith community. We’ll miss life & friends here a lot while we are gone; please keep us in your prayers as we are away from home. If you’d like to keep aware of what we’re doing in the US, go to www.TotZoVineyard.blogspot.com.



June

Meeting Point: June 13 & 27 at 11.00 (Willemsstraat 39, 1015 JB)

Connect Groups: June 7, 14, 21 at 20.00

     Centrum: (NL) Elandsgracht 97-3 1016 TS                                                            

     Zuid: (ENG) Scheldestraat 51-3 1078 GG 

Mark your calendars for these special events…. details to follow…

            Women’s night-out: 16 June

            Men’s World Cup Game night: 24 June

July

Meeting Point: July 11 at 11.00 (Willemsstraat 39, 1015 JB Amsterdam)

Meeting Point summer picnic: July 25 at 11.00 (NO service at Willemsstraat; picnic details to follow)

Connect Group: July 5, 12, 19 at 20.00 (In July, both Connect Groups will meet together at Esther and Antony Northcutt’s apartment, Groenmarktkade 12-3, 1016 Amsterdam.)

August

NO Meeting Point and NO Connect Groups during August – enjoy your summer holiday!

Vineyard Amsterdam will gather for a picnic on August 15^th for those who are in town. Details to follow…

September

Meeting Point is back! September 12 & 26 at 11.00

Connect Groups party: September 6 at 11.00

VA All-church retreat: Sept 17-19 (or October 1-3, depending on final location. Details will follow.)

During the summer, the Pickerill’s, Nash’s & Brooke Christensen are returning to Columbus, Ohio, USA for their working furlough with Vineyard Columbus, the church that supports the Vineyard Amsterdam church plant. Please pray for them as they share what God is doing in Amsterdam with the church in the US.  To stay in touch with them over the summer, visit www.TotZoVineyard.blogspot.com.

I think that it is worth taking some time to analyze his quote – maybe it will help explain why we think having this church called Vineyard Amsterdam is a good idea.

When referring to a woman, there probably could not be two more extreme words to describe her than “whore” and “mother.”  The former connotes unfaithfulness, betrayal and disloyalty in the most carnal ways possible.  The latter:  belonging, nuture, love and comfort.

So why would Augustine go so far as to call the church a whore?  He may have had his own reasons; I can think of mine: the crusades, the inquisition, fundamentalist extremism, hypocracy,  and strange political agendas are a few off the top of my head.  All of these represent to me what I would consider unfaithfullness to God.  Not only unfaithfulness, but unfaithfulness in the worst possible way: that which represents him for what he is not.

But it is easy to brush off all of the wrong-doings of the church as merely historical or as an accusation reserved for extremists.  The reality is that the church is a “whore” because it is made up of people.  More accurately, it is made up of people like me.  I myself have played a part in mis-representing God to the world.  Whenever I chose to act out of hate and not love; whenever I turn a blind eye to injustice; whenever I rejoice in another’s misfortune; whenever I am a hypocrite (and I am a lot!), then I am unfaithful to the God of the Christian scriptures.

What should we do, then?  Disregard or even discard the church?  Become cynical at all the ways that we’ve personally seen the church fail?  Augustine’s answer is a resounding “no”.  She is my mother, he says.

When the church is faithful to God, when the church is actually a “mother”, then we can see some amazing things happen:

First, community happens.  The church isn’t a building, but a people.  One of the great tragedies of the western post-modern world is that many people live utterly isolated lives.  Loneliness is an epidemic in the West.  But God, through the church, offers an alternative.  He offers a family, a party, a feast to be a part of.  One thing is so unique about the church is that it is not merely made up of like-minded people.  Communities can form easily and quickly around common interests.  But the church is the “single great river formed from tens of thousands of scattered tributaries,” as someone once said.  It’s a single family formed by innumerable cultures, nationalites and backgrounds, united together through shared faith.  There could be no better place on the planet to experience this than Amsterdam – the most diverse city in the world.

Second, we fall in love with the world.  The church was never intended to be isolated from the rest of the world; it was also never inteded to be a factory of hate.  Rather, we read in the Christian scriptures that God chose the church to bless the rest of the world.  The church exists to love people; to provide help and support in difficult situations and to party together when there is something to celebrate; to offer justice to those who exist on the margins of society.  Ultimately, we hope to proclaim that God loves the world and wants to make everything new and right through Jesus. 

Finally, we encounter a living God.  In a city like Amsterdam, where there is such an emerging spirituality and questioning of deeper reality, the Christian story needs to be told again.  It is the story of a God who is not only spiritual and powerful, but also personal and compassionate.  It is the story of a God who desires to give you purpose and hope.  It is in the church, where that story is told and retold again – through song, symbolism, scripture, and even through the everyday living of life – that you can find your place in the whole thing.  In the midst of hearing the story and taking part in it, we encounter and interract with God.

I think Augustine got it right all those years ago: the church is a mother.  Motherhood is a beautiful picture of self-sacrifice.  In the same way the church doesn’t exist for itself, but for others.  She draws us into family, teaches love and compassion, and points us to our ultimate purpose.  That is why Vineyard Amsterdam exists.  We hope to be one of many different wonderful expressions of church here in this amazing city.



Thank you, friends, for your generous giving. Many more of you gave in other manners, and we are so pleased that our small, new community would be able to give in such a significant way. If you have not yet been able to make a donation, or if you would like to give again, you can do so via Vineyard Amsterdam. Any funds we received marked for 'Haiti Relief' will be donated to Woord en Daad.

Our church plant began just over a year ago, with a group of Americans and a group of 'echte Nederlanders' coming together to follow God together in this city. Over the past year, we've grown, multiplied small groups, started a Sunday worship service, and created a Servant Team of folks who want to be more engaged with what's happening as the church develops. This fall, the church had it's first retreat. We hosted Quo Vadis at Burritos Cafe', which gathered over 40 new folks together to talk further about issues of life, faith and purpose. We've done a bilingual, multi-aged lesson for kids, taken a walking tour of the city together, and had hours of great fun with one another.

In Ephesians 3:10, The Message reads: Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!

The plan of God was concieved in mystery, expressed in mercy, and extended with grace. We look forward to growing a church where those things: the mysteries of faith, the value of mercy, and the extension of grace are at the very core of who we are and what we do.

If you would like more information about how to get involved in our community, please email Vineyard Amsterdam.

In the midst of all of these firsts, it is important for us to keep the most important thing first--Jesus and his kingdom. It is a great gift to be a part of this new faith community here in Amsterdam. God is bringing together all kinds of people from different backgrounds and connecting us together for the purpose of experiencing and extending his kingdom to those around us!

Thankfully we have had a few people recording some of these firsts. Here is a photo from our retreat last weekend. To see more, you can click here.

Hope to see you at Quo Vadis Cafe on Monday night!

Eric