Finding Purpose - Song of my Life - Kristine van Dooren

It’s amazing how our family was discovering, step by step, God’s plan for our lives. Thomas and I, came to Germany with one purpose, to share the gospel of Christ, that we had come to know in California. Our lives were transformed by Jesus, and we wanted nothing more than to share those truths. We were always a part of a team that worked together on each project at hand.  

In a recent episode, I talked about the international folk dancers, that inspired us, with a desire to replicate their example. Many countries were represented through their traditional music, costumes and flags. Dancers and musicians of all ages, including children, brought so much joy tothe audience. At home that evening Thomas and I, talked about the idea of God’s people being visible to the world, rather than only gathering, within the walls of the church buildings. We decided to start praying about how we could create something like this.

"Exalt the Lord our God" by Rick Ridingshttps://youtu.be/fnjJ_7pJrzo?si=CORznJO2eGX1ov39 

"Father make us One" by Rick Ridings https://youtu.be/iSVXd3GAy9Y?si=TSV-5f62FEsyRq8Z 

In the podcast conversation with Jim and Anne, we talked about how we met in Munich, through planning evangelistic outreaches. Thomas, was part of the pastors circles and also had similar experiences as Jim, being the one to lead the group in song with their guitars. The difference was, that Jim brought a team from Youth With a Mission, that lived in Hurlach to Munich. This included a few women who did folk dance to the songs, and others told stories using pantomime, or “White faces” as they called it.

Our early days, witnessing in the English Gardens, was only about singing, preaching and talking to individuals. There were always young people who responded to the gospel and moved into our communal houses. But it was powerful to see how people responded, when there was more of a program to watch and listen to.  

In the early 80s ministries for praise and worship, included not only seminars for music, singing, song writing, but also fordance. I went to a dance seminar with a young woman in our church, to the town of Altensteig. They were a church and had a large building, that could house students that came for seminars. 

Today, I am talking with dear friends of the family, Jim and Anne. As missionaries to Germany in the mid 70s, we have had alot in common. Preaching out on the streets; using music, mime and dance, drew people into listening to the message. Over the years we worked with many of the same Christian organizations, and singer -songwriters. This led Jim and Anne, on a fascinating journey creating a network of artists, both in the US and Europe.

Their dedication and example, was a big encouragement for my daughters growing up, who also pursued ministry and professions in the arts.

Here you can see what they are up to today!

https://creativeartseurope.com/ 

Today, I am talking about two important things in life; joy and praising God’s Name with dancing. Oh dear, that might seem like a strange thought for Christians, who live in Western countries. But as I am always looking to the Bible for instructions, this is one of those “hard to relate to” topics. Last week, I mentioned the command from Psalm 149, verse 3, that says,”Let them praise his name with dancing, and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” This encourages God’s people, to express their joy, through music and dance. Since we read this in the Old Testament, it would have been normal for God’s people in Israel. That’s why we can learn now, from their example.

When Thomas and I, came back to Germany, one of the first praise songs we learned, was written by a musician that we met in Hannover. It is a joyous song from Psalm 150 in German. It's the last song in the book of Psalms, and it’s all about praise and the instruction to use every kind of instrument, loud cymbals, and to dance with timbrels. Even the last five Psalms, are about the command to praise, to sing a new song, to rejoice in God our maker, and His greatness and His mighty deeds. Writing these Psalms, and directing the choirs, was a part of God’s peoples’ way of expressing high praise, to the King of Kings. The team we came with from California, included Jackie, who was actually of Jewish background, and she had come to faith, in the Messiah Jesus Christ. Somehow, our friendship led to dancing together for special occasions.

Here are two links to Naomi's song that I used on this podcast. You can watch the video clip, both in English (Garden of Love), and in German (Winterhart)

https://youtu.be/ijnMiR18fMw?si=Ah27BRgVemQpW1wv 

https://youtu.be/fcTNGQ3LjdM?si=6EyVf_tvL2Qou8JS 

Listen to all of her songs on Spotify under: Naomi van Dooren!

Particularly in the early 80s, my heart and desire to share the gospel, and to lead in worship was growing. I had the opportunity with women from other churches in Munich, to do exactly that, through our AGLOW group. The purpose of our women’s meetings was to share our testimonies, and to introduce our guests, to praise and worship music. We asked the Lord, to give them open hearts, to hear the truth. Since I was appointed to plan for the music, I chose the songs, and my faithful musicians, Thomas and Antos, came with their instruments. Antos had loaned me a guitar, so I had started practicing at home. While my girls were at school, I would spend an hour everyday learning the chords, and the songs in the booklet, that Antos had made. Those were precious mornings of worship, and I hoped that many women would come to know Jesus. Like the song recording that you heard in the last episode, our motto was; “Ich will dir Loblieder singen unter den Menschen.” In English “I will sing praises unto you, among the nations.” 

We were very aware, that our neighbours and friends who came, had never heard such personal stories and songs like we sang. If anyone went to church, it was either Lutheran or Catholic. The emphasis, was unfortunately not on salvation, or learning to know Jesus. Today, I will share some back story, of how I grew in the understanding of worshipping God, both through singing and through dance.

In my last “story” episode, you heard about my parents,visiting us in Munich, and listening to all of our family music. A special part of that summer, was driving with them in our church van to Florence, Italy. It probably took us at least eight hours, including a few stops along the way. The plan was to stay at Andy and Linda’s spacious apartment, and then do some sightseeing. My parents had never been to such an old antique city like Florence, that was around 2000 years old at that time. My dad, also wanted to take a day trip, to see the leaning tower of Pisa, and a nearby town, called Lucca. Hehad neighbour friends, that were from that area, so it would be an interesting excursion for all of us.

Before that outing, we were invited to the home of Salvatore and Maria, for lunch. He and Danny, had started a small church in downtown Florence, that Andy was partnering with. For some reason I don’t have, or can’t find, many pictures of that trip.  But the best one, I do have, says it all!

click here: "Be Exalted O God"

https://youtu.be/8FwvEBULwIQ?si=vmSR34A5Tb1CBEky 

Welcome to part two of our fascinating conversation!

Our paths crossed in November of 1974 in Eureka, California. We were being sent out to Germany, and Jim and Diane, were wondering where God wanted them to go. Listen to the adventures and places they went to, before finally ending up in France, as missionaries. Our families had some special times together, both in Munich and in France, in the mid 80s.

"Behold and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Psalm 133, 1

Welcome friends to our video conversation!

You have heard the stories of Thomas and I, ending up in California, looking for something we called truth. Today you will hear Jim and Diane's search for the hippies, in California, in the early 70s. Hitchiking to the nearest commune, taking drugs for enlightenment and hanging out with musicians, was much better than going to college. For the first time, noticing a sign in the town of Santa Barbara, that said, "All lost sheep welcome." What could that mean?

Sacrifice and Persecution (tape recording from Germany in 1975)

I want to begin with Thomas’ words to my parents on the tape. He went to great depths to explain to them why we came, and why we were willing to make sacrifices. Both of our parents, would have preferred that Thomas get a normal job, and that we would live in a normal house. This reminds me of the first conversation Thomas and I, had after we gave our lives to Jesus. It was early in the morning, foggy and damp out on Highway One. I was pregnant and we were hitchhiking to our tipi location. Thomas said, ”I guess we are Christians now because we believe in Jesus. But we are not going to be like those other Christians, who go aroundpreaching to everyone.”

This time, we were far away from California! I was pregnant again, and we were living in a cold brick farmhouse in Nienburg. Maybe God, was using our desire to communicate with my parents, to help us formulate what we  believed we were called to do. Our tape recordings were very personal, just talking in our room, and imagining that someone would listen to our story.

Practical and Spiritual Progress - 1975 in Germany (includes old tape recordings)

In our early years together, we were going with the flow, of the hippie movement. Thomas would play his flute on the top of a mountain communicating with the universe out there. I was writing poems to our family, saying our baby had chosen us, to be the parents. And Thomas’ mother, was seeking to know the future of our child, through her astrology charts. We read all of the popular books about spirituality,including the Aquarian Gospel, which portrayed Jesus as a teacher, and a good man. It sounded good, but these false ideas, led us farther and farther away from the Truth. Instead of becoming humble, we discovered that we were separated from God, because of our pride. When we turned to the Jesus of the Bible, he transformed our minds, and gave us His purpose for life.

If you have been listening from the beginning of the podcast, you might remember the story, about when we got rid of those books, by burning them at Living Waters. From that time on, we only read the Bible. But when Thomas and I, were getting ready to leave for Germany, as missionaries, we decided to check out the Christian bookstore in Hayward. We had heard of biographies about Christians, who had chosen to take the gospel to other countries, knowing well that sacrifices would be required of them.