I was born in 1960, the first son after three girls. Two brothers followed and that made six of us, plus parents. Mother was great, Father a sentimental, unpredictable alcoholic. With dad boozing away there wasn’t much stability in the family and I grew up as a very unstable, loud guy. Tensions were always going on and a lot of fighting turned life into a misery.

My Dad took of with another woman when I was twelve years old. It was liberation day. Finally “liberated” from this yoke of an unpredictable Father who would laugh with me one time and get angry about the same thing another time.

I decided right there and then that there must be more to life that just physical existence and took a decision to start looking for the more in life that, I was convinced about, was out there somewhere.

Because of having no dad around and a working mother I was very much on my own from that day on and I took advantage of the lack of control and consequences to “bad” behaviour. Life wasn’t fair so why should I be fair to life and people?

I became an angry, frustrated young man with a lot of questions but little answers. People didn’t seem to be able to help me find answers to the meaning and purpose of life.

When, at the age of 14, someone at hightail offered me drugs there was absolutely nothing and nobody to stop me from trying and I tried! Big time. And, boy, did I get convinced about more to life that just physics! There was a spiritual dimension after all and I went for it with everything in me.

The drugs triggered another interest in my life; the occult world. The world of spirits and supernatural really began to speak to me and I gradually got involved. Slow but sure I got entangled to the point of no return. Did I have experiences? O yes, beyond human control. Interesting and scary experiences.

It was all part of my quest to find answers to my questions. Is there a God? If yes, how do I get to him?

For sure drugs didn’t get me any closer to God. They convinced me the more that He does exist, no doubt about that. But, if He is a loving God, how come he doesn’t communicate with me in person. I was looking for Him but He didn’t seem to be interested in me!

Occult experiences convinced me even more about spiritual forces and powers. They convinced me about Gods existence, but also about another power, one totally evil. I know I was in the wrong camp but didn’t see a way out of the camp. I was trapped. He owned me. I got desperate.

At the age of 17, in my despair, one night I cried out to God: “If you really love me; If you are really there, and if you are really God, you should be able to find me. I’ve been trying to find you now for more than 5 years and I know you’re there, but didn’t succeed. If you are truly God, please come and find me”. 

About three weeks later I was walking along the beach in Holland and, being bored and fed up with things, I picked up a piece of paper from the sand. It turned out to be one of those cheap Christian tracts. I recognised it as a Christian thing because of the cross that was drawn on it. A little story explained more about the Cross-, Christ and God. I got interested and the same day went to a Christian meeting. That evening, for the first time in my life I heard that there is a way to get to God indeed. It was not in drugs or the occult. It was through Jesus Christ, His son! It made sense when those Christians explained to me about the rebellion of the human race and how God, in His love, decided to send His son Jesus, to pay the bill of reconciliation that I wasn’t able to pay. The only thing I was to do was to cash in on the credit He gained. I actually ran to the beach after the meeting and went down on my knees. I came home and I knew it was true. Peace with God and a purpose in life. He changed me around and gave me a new life.

Now, 29 years later I can only say that it isn’t a joke! It’s real for everyone to gain! 

For the past 20 years I have been working with Operation Mobilisation. The last couple of years as International Speaker and International Mobilisation Facilitator. I enjoy sharing the word of God all over the world with people from all sorts of backgrounds.

In January 2003 we moved the family back to Rotterdam where, for part of our time, we work with our sending church. I consider it the best of both worlds: getting your feet wet in “Jerusalem” while keeping the global perspective. 

As of September 1, 2009 I will be released back to full-time service with OM as the international leader of Member Care and People Development.

Married to Martha and we have four children