Impressions of exposure trip to Amsterdam with students of Urban Mission Perspectives Course at Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University in Prague

Urban Mission Perspectives
ETF Prague students' visit to Amsterdam
(16-21 April 2015)

Hosts:
Rev. Bas J. van der Graaf, Pastor of Reformed Jeruzalemkerk, Amsterdam-West (PKN) (coordinator)
Martin de Jong on Saturday (Evangelical Alliance and City to City Europe)

Facilitators:
Rev. Dr. András Lovas, Pastor of Gazdagrét Reformed Church in Budapest, Hungary
Prof. Dr. Anne-Marie Kool, Professor of Missiology

Aims:

During the study trip to Amsterdam the students will examine the cultural context of the city and the response of the Church in mission. During this visit they will travel around the city and try to identify the „idols of the city”, the context, culture, people groups the churches have to face in Amsterdam. The students also will participate in worship services of two different congregations. This way they will examine a more traditional and a more modern approach to the challenges of the urban setting.

During the study visit students:
+ Will get a taste of the context in the Netherlands and especially of Amsterdam. They will participate in a “theological sightseeing” in the city, in which they explore the culture(s) and the city idols and reflected on them from the perspective of Christian mission.
+ Understand what urban mission means in a city with many nationalities, strong secularized, different non-western immigrants with their religion, and that there are many different contexts even in one city.
+ Observe the role of the pastor and what role members of the church play in two congregations.
+ Visit of a Sunday service and have discussions with church members.

Program:

Friday - April 17th, 2015

11.00 Introduction to Amsterdam Urban Mission Perspectives exposure trip
Meeting Place: Central Station at Starbucks on the front side of the station
Facilitators: Anne-Marie Kool and András Lovas.

12.30 Lunch

13:30-14:45 Check in at Shelter City

Rest

15:15-17:30 Neighbourhood Walk /theological observation in het red light district
Place: Pick up at Shelter City
Host: Jaap Oudman. Jaap is a tall guy with glasses and will meet at the front door.

18:00-20:30 Dinner & and stories from Mission House
(Light program, focus on contacts and sharing)
Place: Nieuwe Herengracht 20
Host: MH Team

20:30-21:00 Reflection day 1: First impressions and expectations
Facilitators: Anne-Marie and András

Saturday - April 18th, 2015

10:00 Christian Presence in the Secular City
(Lectures and stories)
Place: Van Boven, Jan Maijenstraat 14 (Jeruzalemkerk)
Speakers: Martijn Horsman Stroom Amsterdam, David van der Meulen.
Hosts: Bas van de Graaf, Martin presentation AIB

12:30 Lunch
Place: Van Boven, Jan Maijenstraat 14 (Jeruzalemkerk)
Who: Broodje Daan

13:30-17:30 Touristic and theological sightseeing
(Markers of the city, like synagogue, churches, architecture, etc. including discussion on theme of “Idols of the City”)
Place: City Center
Host: Bas vd Graaf

18:00-19:30 Dinner
Place: Van Boven, Jan Maijenstraat 14 (Jeruzalemkerk)
Host: Bas and Gerdien Boerhout (Jeruzalemkerk)

19.30-20:30 Reflections on day 2: Impressions of Christian presence in the city
and Idols in the City
Place: Van Boven, Jan Maijenstraat 14 (Jeruzalemkerk)
Facilitators: Anne-Marie and András

20.30 Free time

Sunday - April 19th, 2015
10:30-11.30 Worship Service English Reformed Church http://www.ercadam.nl/worship/
Place: Begijnhof 48, 1012 WV Amsterdam
Host: Andras Lovas and Anne-Marie Kool

11.45-12.15 Transport to Amsterdam North (with lunch “on the way”)

12:30-14:00 Worship Service Hoop voor Noord (Hope for North)
Place: Kruiskerk, Rode Kruisstraat 20, Tel. 020- 6325002
Host: Theodoor Meedendorp

14:30-15:30 Introduction to HfN and Reflections on Worship Service
Place: Kruiskerk
Hosts: Theodoor Meedendorp

15:00-17:30 Time for rest or sleep etc.

18:00-19:30 Dinner
Place: Westerwijk, Admiraal de Ruyterweg 150
Host: Bas, Anke and Maria

19.30-20.30 Reflections on day 3 and closure: Lessons for the Czech Republic and for your own context
Hosts: Anne-Marie, András, and Bas

Monday - April 20th, 2015
-10.00 Check out at Shelter City

Free program

Missiology course at Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University

Protestant Theological Faculty of the Charles University Prague

Urban Mission perspectives including exposure visit to Amsterdam

(RET6054)

2014/2015 spring semester

Teaching blocks:

1. Mar 2-3
2. Mar 9-10
3. May 18-19
(on Monday's 11.00-12.30 and 15.10-16.45, on Tuesday's 16.50-18.25)

April 16-21, 2015 Exposure trip Amsterdam (participation only possible for registered students) *

In the first (theoretical) part of the course we will study the dynamics of “Gospel-Church-context” relations mainly based on the work of Lesslie Newbigin and his successors. Students will also learn about the sociological background of the urban areas. By examining a case study of urban mission in Hungary, students will get insight in the aspects of congregation and community building as well as evangelising the youth in particular in housing-estates.

The second (practical) part of the seminar is a study trip to Amsterdam where the student will examine the cultural context of the city and the response of the Church in mission. During this visit they will around the city and try to identify the „idols of the city”, the context, culture, people groups the churches have to face in Amsterdam. The students also will participate in worship services of two different congregations. This way they will examine a more traditional and a more modern approach to the challenges of the urban setting.

During the two days study visit theological students

• Will get a taste of the context in the Netherlands and especially of Amsterdam. They will participate in a “theological sightseeing” in the city, in which they explore the culture(s) and the city idols and reflected on them from the prospective of Christian mission.
• Understand what urban mission means in a city with many nationalities, strong secularized, different non-western immigrants with their religion, and that there are many different contexts even in one city.
• Observe the role of the pastor and what role members of the church play in two congregations.
• Visit of a Sunday service and discussions with church members

* With Eurolines departure on Thursday evening 16th, return on Monday evening 20th April. Scholarships available. Own contribution 1000 CZK per person.

Impressions of Urban Mission Seminar 2011

„I learnt a lot from the trip to Amsterdam. We could see in practice what we have heard and learned before at the classes. The two church services were good example for me as a future pastor how the Sunday worship can be made different with slight changes. Walking in the red light district I was wondering how the Gospel can be preached there. This question accompanied me during the whole visit to Amsterdam. As a result now I see that the there is no boundary that can stop the Gospel, but it needs to be preached in different ways in accordance with the given context. Similarly I found the classes very useful and interactive. It was a well-structured class with good theoretical materials well linked to our own Hungarian context.” (Áron Ablonczy, 1st year students)

 „The course changed my whole view on mission. I encountered new insight that convinced me how important church planting is. I learnt from Lesssle Newbigin, that mission is not a programme of the church, but it belongs to the nature of the church. Before I lived a selfish life being concerned only about my own salvation. I learnt that our Christian congregation must be open to reach people who have nothing to do with Christianity. This requires a new model for pastors. Instead of turning our backs to the world, the pastors should prepare and empower the church to be missionaries where they are.” (Virág Bella, 1st year)

„I learned that though the context of Amsterdam is different to my background, but the Gospel is the same. And we have to proclaim the Gospel differently in different contexts.  The characteristic of a big city is that it is a conglomerate of many people from different backgrounds. Therefore we have to discover many different contexts and preach the Gospel in many different ways.” (Ilona Henrietta Nagy 2nd year)

 „I am thankful to God that I could participate in this course. Before I knew nothing about church planting, but during the semester my eyes were opened to mission prospective and to the necessity of missional churches. The course combined well the theoretical background to the practical relevance giving an insight to the methods of re-organizing and planting churches.” (Zsófia Mező 2nd year student)

“I understood one of the most important findings in Theology: seeing the city, quarter, congregation as not my area of work but God’s field. He installed us as workers in his vineyard, and He gives us all strength and company to this work. As I see where the pastors give the leadership to God, there real communities are formed. The missional attitude is able not only to attract new people to the churches but to revive the old, tired church members. The missional prospective in my understanding also means co-operation with the different denominations. (Hunor Koncz, 3rd year student)

„Before I started to attend this course, I thought I would never have any intention to start a church plant or work in urban mission. The more I read and learnt in this field during the semester, the more I felt this topic is mine. The trip to Amsterdam had great impact on both my thinking and my spiritual life. This course has renewed my spirit and theology.” (Ágnes Bobok, 1st year student)

 „I feel the course opened my eyes to a mission prospective which I did not have before.”  (Dávid Balogh 3rd year student)

 „If I had to summarize in one sentence what I had learnt in the course, I would say: we need to pay attention to the context, not caring only about our traditions and own thoughts. We should pay attention to the needs of the people, because we cannot do mission without examining the context. As a result of our short trip in Amsterdam I learnt more than in many theoretical courses I had before” (Boglárka Bikki 1st year student)

 „I never thought that this topic would touch me so deep. The trip to Amsterdam really broadened my perspective both as a Christian and as a theological student. It was a good experience, though not everything I heard was new to me, but the course made me to think about mission.” (Flóra Baintner 1st year student)

MATHEM Teaching week -- 2

MATHEM Teaching Week 2 -- an impression

Good News for the City III -- Interview with József Steiner

Good News for the City III Urban Mission and Church Planting Consultation

‘Amsterdam’ Een weekend met Hongaarse studenten

27 april 2011 door Szaszi Bene

Eerder dit jaar hebben we een vraag gekregen van Andras Lovas uit Budapest of we bereid waren om aan een antal theologie studenten de missionaire ontwikkelingen van de stad te laten zien. Met het doel dat de studenten proeven van de werk van AiB en andere ministries in Amsterdam. Samen met Bas van de Graaf (Jeruzalemkerk), Jeanette de Waard (Hoop voor Noord) en Siebrand Wierda (Via Nova) hebben we de Hongaren ontvangen en op verschillende momenten van de weekend met de studenten gesproken over kerk zijn in een seculiere stad.

Idols of the city

We hebben de studenten twee keer meegenomen voor een wandeling in de stad met de vraag: Wat zegt Amsterdam over zichzelf? Voor de studenten was dit de eerste keer in Amsterdam. Ze hebben dan ook een redelijke cultuur schok gehad. De rondleiding was bedoeld om de stad te leren kennen en om de goden van de stad te kunnen identificeren. Als je een missionaire kerk wilt zijn in een grote stad dan moet je stad goed kennen. De studenten hebben met open ogen in Amsterdam rondgelopen. Enerzijds hebben ze genoten wat ze zagen en anderzijds waren ze verontwaardigd. Amsterdam kan overweldigend zijn tijdens een eerste bezoek. Maar ze hebben er goed werk van gemaakt om de goden van de stad te inventariseren en ook te benoemen. Bijna iedereen vond dat Vrijheid het woord is dat de stad over zichzelf roept. ‘Kom naar Amsterdam want hier ben je vrij om te zijn wie je maar wilt zijn’ zou zomaar de motto kunnen zijn van de stad. Voor een eerste indruk en bezoek in Amsterdam hebben de studenten de spijker op de kop geslagen. De uitdaging was dan ook om met de zelfde ogen te kijken naar de stad Budapest. Dit kwam als een verassing voor hun. Ze waren niet gewent om zulke kritische vragen te stellen tegenover hun eigen context. Dit was een echte eye-opener.

Mission mindedness

De studenten hebben ook een inspirerende college gekregen van Siebrand. Hij heeft vertelt over wat een missionaire kerk is en hoe men een kerk opnieuw kan laten starten, kerk planten en samen werken met anderen in een partnerschap. Ze waren helemaal onder de indruk van de mission midedeness van de AiB en de andere ministeries in de stad. Het was iets wat ze misten in Budapest. Namelijk kerken die bewust bezig zijn met kerk zijn in de stad en voor de stad. Hun bezoek aan de diensten van Jeruzalemkerk en Hoop voor Noord heeft dit inzicht versterkt. Ze waren ook onder de indruk van de collegialiteit van de verschillede voorgangers. Ze hebben gemerkt dat ze samen werken in plaats van dat ze elkaars concurrent zijn. In het laatste groepsgesprek waren ze allemaal te spreken vooral over manier waarop kerk zijn is gedaan in Amsterdam. Het zal me niet verbazen als we over een paar jaar goede verhalen horen over de kerken in Budapest en dat dit weekend een belangrijke rol heeft daarin gespeeld.

Kort stukje van ds Bas vd Graaf van de Jeruzalemkerk

In het weekend van 15-18 april bezocht een groep van 17 theologiestudenten uit Budapest onze stad. In het kader van het vak missiologie – gegeven door Anne-Marie Kool, hoogleraar op de Karoli Gaspar Universiteit, maakten zij kennis met allerlei gemeenten en projecten in de stad, maar ook met de visie van Amsterdam in Beweging. Het idee was ontstaan tijdens de City-to-City-Europe conferentie in Budapest van 2010. Het is voor deze jonge mensen een prachtig weekend geworden, waarin, zoals we terughoorden, werkelijk allerlei vensters zijn opengegaan. Het was geweldig om iets van wat we in Amsterdam hebben ontvangen de afgelopen jaren te kunnen delen met toekomstige kerkleiders uit Hongarije. Dit smaakte naar meer en we bezinnen ons dan ook op een vervolg.
Met dank aan medeorganisatoren Jeanette de Waard en Szaszi Bene,

Bas van der Graaf

Bron: http://amsterdam-inbeweging.nl/%E2%80%98amsterdam%E2%80%99-een-weekend-met-hongaarse-studenten/ Voor een foto impressie:

Urban Mission Exposure Seminar Amsterdam

Dialoogwandeling in Amsterdam

Dialoogwandeling

Good News for the City I - Dr. Ray Bakken - Budapest 1998

Good news for the City, consultation of the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies on Urban Mission, under leadership of Dr. Raymond J. Bakke, 14-16th October 1998



In the Signs of Life from Hungary nr. 45 of Oct 29, 1998 I wrote:
"Good News for the City
I was just reading the responses to the conference "Good News for the City" with Dr Ray Bakke, which we held two weeks ago. The following are a selection of the remarks: "It was good to get to know about the work of others." "The contact with one another was very good." "The message was conveyed clearly and was of great help to me." "A second conference is needed. We need a catalyst like this!" More than a hundred people took part from ten different denominations and seven different nationalities. Despite the differences, we experienced unity in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Various participants noted that one of the plus points of the conference was making contacts. We tend so much to live in isolation, especially in the city. Various preachers remarked that the conference gave them the opportunity to discuss the questions, which they face in their city churches. It was at times shocking to be confronted from close quarters with the need of the homeless, gypsies, addicts and prostitutes. In contrast, many people had no idea about what is going on in Budapest in the area of missions and relief work! Another good thing was that lots of volunteers helped with the organization. A theological student came up to me at the end with the question, "May I help again with the next conference?" Thank you for your prayers!"