Finding Purpose - Song of my Life - Kristine van Dooren

This episode is going to be fun, especially for me, because we were doing our favorite thing. To get started on this story, I had to pull out boxes of videos, tapes and photographs of the musical, that we brought to England in the summer of 1988. I sent some pictures to our friends who participated asking for their memories. I found out things I didn’t remember, and one woman said, “I am smiling as I look at these beautiful photos.We had a wonderful time as a procession group, learning the dances, finding matching dresses, and rehearsing together. It is a very cherished memory in our hearts.”  

Thomas and I, as you heard in the last “flashback episode,” could have never imagined where God would take us in the following years. In episode, “One Step at a Time”, you heard a tape recording of me, talking about an exciting challenge. It was the opportunity to present “Celebrate His Holiness” at the “Fire Conference” in Birmingham. Our church friends inNorthfield, were already looking forward to working with our experienced German team. As a group, we had done the musical in German, three times in Munich.

In that tape update to my parents, I said, “If it’s the Lord’s will, then we will have the people, and be ready to pull it together. It not, that’s fine too, because it would be a very big project.” Little did I know, that would turn out to be a process. For my podcast last year, I did two videos with Jim and Anne, who had directed the first musical in England. Jim said something funny but wise, concerning such an endeavor, “Be prepared to have a plan B, or C, or D, when you set out on that adventure.”

Back to our beginnings; the continuation of PART ONE, from my "First Hand Accounts" episode. This true story includes recording excerpts of myself, from 1982 in West Berlin!

Thomas and I, were telling about our dramatic journey together, from the time we met in 1970. We were true hippies, delving into new age practices and philosophies, looking for God. The first time I began to understand the Bible was when I was in jail!

When we moved up to Mendocino, California, with our homemade tipi, everything changed. We finally met someone who told us the truth!

This turning point, has everything to do with why I write and talk about, "Finding Purpose - the Song of my Life."

Welcome friends! I am glad you are here!

I have been reporting throughout my podcast on various Christian movements; that we were exposed to, or worked with. One good example for us, was the first Jesus March, founded in London, May of 1987. The church leaders were Gerald Coates, Roger Forster and Lynn Green, along with the musician Graham Kendrick. Shortly after that, on the 18 of July 1987, Thomas worked with the Munich pastors, to lead the first march in our city. The next step was in July of ‘88. Thomas wrote in his newsletter. “This July a large evangelisation project is being planned. It will be similar to last year except this time for two weeks. Twenty churches will be participating, forming teams for pubic ministry and streetwitnessing. There will be again a march through the city with special creative programs.”

I actually found a brochure, with the list of the churches and organizations, in Munich! It is an interesting mixture of different kinds of groups.

In my last episode I made the suggestion, to read the first chapter of the letter to the Philippians. I pointed out verse six that Thomas had read, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” But what was Paul’s reason for such confidence? He said that he continually prays with joy, in viewof the fact, that the believers were participating in living and preaching the gospel. And then in verse eight and nine he says, that they defend the gospel based on true knowledge, and all discernment.

The apostle Paul repeats the fact, that he is being held a prisoner in Rome. That is why he is so adamant, that the brethren trust the Lord and have courage, to speak the Word of God without fear. This sounds like a message, that would be good to be heard, in the churches today.

This episode includes our daughters singing. Also a recording of myself, telling my parents about the big plans we had, for the year 1988. Stay tuned for the following stories!

"I'm climbing my mountain" written by Ernie & Debbie Rettino

This month we are enjoying spring in Germany after the cold, bleak winter. Blooming daffodils and flowering cherry trees, line the walkway of my garden area. Sitting in the sun on my patio, I have been reading a newsletter, that Thomas wrote in the spring of 1988.

My last episode was about developing a heart of worship, and practical expression, based on the Psalms. Today, I will consider how that heart attitude, defines what God considers as “success.”

In mailing out our newsletter, we also enclosed a family photo, printed as a postcard with our address. We hoped that would encourage friends to write back, which they often did. “Dear friends, Greetings from the whole van Dooren family. With this newsletter, I would like to share with you God’s goodness and faithfulness, in our ministry here in Germany. I could easily write a book with all the details, but ill try to keep it short and simple.

First of all, we want to thank you for your friendship and support, over the years. God’s grace has been so real through everything we’ve faced, and I know it’s because of your love, prayers and financial help. I include our daughters in this, because they also appreciate, the friends they have around the world.

Something that had become a regular part of our lives by 1987 and ‘88, was doing seminars on the subject of worship and praise for families. As the girls were becoming older, they also helped out with the children’s program. The invitation for a seminar in Birmingham, England, included the information that we would be presenting the musical “Celebrate His Holiness,” at the Euro Fire Conference in July. This is interesting, because recently I did a podcast, about the Fire Conference in Frankfurt, that we attended. In a future episode, I will talk about what happened with that plan!

This how Thomas described the goal for our seminar; "Number one; impart a practical understanding of biblical praise and worship in order to lead a fulfilled life of praise, as an individual, with the marriage partner and children, and as a congregation. Number two; develop and cultivate an intimate relationship with Jesus and learn how to express joy, love and appreciation in a meaningful way. Number three; to celebrate God and experience His redeeming, cleansing and healing presence."

Welcome back friends!

Especially for those of you who are new here, I thought you might enjoy watching my daughter and I, talk about our lives. Our discussion revolves around raising children and all that entails; love, patience, and looking to God's Word for instruction and wisdom. Thomas and I, were from two different countries and family backgrounds. After we became born again Christians, we found unity in marriage, and the joy of the Lord in parenthood!

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring is his reward." Psalm 127: 3

We had a wonderful time, talking about practical ways, how to follow Jesus. Three generations of my family, sharing specific steps, in learning to be lead by His Spirit and His Word. I tell how it started with Thomas and I, as new Christians. God transformed our minds and hearts, as we learned to understand the Bible, and put God's instructions into practice.

Especially in marriage, raising children and making big decisions, we learned to pray and trust the Lord. Even though, sometimes our prayers were not answered as we hoped for, God showed His faithfulness, protection and guidance continually. It's never too late, to open the Bible, and ask God to teach you His ways!

The "Van Dooren Sisters" Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbI5Fl0ZFpI&list=PLD_qjBvSUL2PWtv3NlBOmQsJsNvhjjfhE

You can find Naomi van Dooren, Debby van Dooren (DEVADO) and Elijah Thomas' music, on all platforms!

Greetings to wherever you are in this world. I’m glad that you are interested in my stories, which include some elements of church history, in the 80s. Though our experiences took place mostly in Germany, I am sure people in other countries, can relate to these things.

We had heard Reinhard Bonnke, speak at an evangelistic meeting in Munich, and enjoyed his refreshing style of preaching. It was similar, to our "Assemblies of God," pastor in California. Just for context, Bonnke was 47 years old, when we saw him in Frankfurt. He passed away in Florida, from throat cancer and other complications, at the end of 2019.

Bonnke’s big message in 1987, was that "Revival will come to Europe, through signs and miracles". When our pastor sent us to Germany, his words were similar, promising a large revival in Europe. Here is a portion, of what he said from a tape recording, in November of 1974, “Now I tell you something for sure, what I see for these folks, are first fruits, and their seed is in them, when they land there, you mark my word, they are going to divide, divide and divide, they will reproduce themselves a thousand fold and ten thousand fold.”

Today, I will continue with another experience that Thomas and I shared, at a conference in Frankfurt in the summer of 1987. This was just a month after the musical and the "Jesus March" that took place in Munich. Thomas was invited to help with translating for one of the speakers. We organized a babysitter, and a place to stay, with friends from “Youth with a Mission.” A leader from the “Word of Faith” group in Munich, who was already booked to translate, asked Thomas if he could also come.

In writing my life stories, I tend to analyse each one, according to that moment in time. Then I consider, how that correlates with the later years, even up until this present time. I try to trace the connections, and piece together what we learned, both the good and the bad experiences. With all of this, the most important aspect, is the spiritual side of our lives. Did we grow in the Lord according to the scripture, or were we sometimes led astray?