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GEOGRAPHY

Area 41,785 sq.km. Northwestern Europe occupying the Rhine delta; over 30% is below sea level.

*Excluding inland water areas.

Capital Amsterdam (administrative capital) 2,050,000; The Hague (seat of government) 450,000. Other major city: Rotterdam 1,175,000 – the world's busiest seaport. Urbanites 91%.

PEOPLES

Indigenous 90.1%. Dutch 13.8 million; Frisian 375,000; Rom (Gypsy) 8,000.

Ex-colonial 3.1%. Surinamer 320,000; Antillean 98,000; Maluku (Indonesian) 50,000; Other Indonesian 20,000.

Other 6.8%. Moroccans 240,000; Turks 220,000; EU Citizens 200,000; Kurds 70,000; Chinese 70,000; (former) Yugoslav 25,000; Somali 20,000; Ghanaian 15,000; Cape Verdian 13,000; Tamil 10,000; Iranian 6,000.

Literacy 99%. Official languages Dutch (Nederlands), Frisian. English is in wide use. All languages 16.

ECONOMY

Strong industrial, agricultural and trading economy. One of the world's leading exporting nations. Member of the EU. Unemployment is low, but a generous social security system supports a large number who are registered unfit for work. HDI 0.921; 8^th/174. Public debt 54% of GNP. Income/person $25,940 (82% of USA).

POLITICS

Protestant-led revolt against Spain established Dutch independence in 1568 and dynamized the country to become one of the world's great commercial nations. Stable, democratic, constitutional monarchy.

RELIGION

There is freedom of religion – but also freedom for almost any lifestyle! Anti-discrimination legislation increasingly threatens Christian liberties and absolutes in the name of 'tolerance'.

Missionaries from Netherlands
P,I,A est. 1,530 in 90 agencies of which 1,000+ serve in 120 countries. Note: There has been no survey of Netherlands mission involvement for many years – figures approximate.

Missionaries to Netherlands
P,I,A 296 in 62 agencies from 27 countries: USA 139, UK 36, Canada 23, Korea 20.

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Challenges for Prayer

1 The Netherlands has two major claims to fame:

a) A glorious history as a Christian nation – its fight for religious freedom, ministry to refugees and Jews, and a record of extensive involvement in missions to other lands.

b) A decadent present as a secular society that has turned its back on its past. There has been a dramatic decline in the number of Christians in this generation and today's openly permissive society is renouncing its heritage. There are few restrictions on drugs, deviant life styles, prostitution, homosexuality and abortion. The Netherlands is the first country to legalize euthanasia and has become a world leader in promoting a New Age world-view with its values. Pray for a revival that restores the nation spiritually. Pray that the government may also be influenced for good.

2 The historic Protestant Churches have suffered calamitous losses – from 60% of the population in 1900 to 21% in 2000. By 2015 over half their membership will be over 65 in both the many Calvinist denominations and most of the Free churches. Pray for:

a) New life to replace traditions, structural rigidity and increasingly irrelevant theological disputes.

b) A re-commitment to the Scriptures instead of free-thinking liberalism and tolerant pluralism.

c) Restoration of a prophetic message that is relevant to young people today and addresses the tide of secularism, New Age, the occult, eastern and western cults, rampant immorality and a rising crime rate.

d) Concern for the salvation of souls in a climate where dialogue and compromise are prized more than evangelism. The NHK, GK and Lutherans are working towards a church union (Samen op Weg – SOW) – pray that this not be at the expense of outreach.

e) A new generation of leaders with spiritual passion for God's glory and Kingdom extension, and also effective ministry preparation.

3 The Roman Catholic Church is likewise declining in members (41% of the population in 1980, 33% in 2000), priests and missionaries every year. The liberal wing is opposed by the hierarchy but has a strong influence in bending the Church into a liberal direction. However, the growing charismatic and evangelical movements within the Church, with a widespread Bible study and home prayer cell network, are positive signs.

4 There are signs of hope in the gloom! Water these tender plants in prayer:

a) There is growth in the number and vitality of many independent, charismatic and Pentecostal congregations. Yet the need is for consistent discipleship, disciplined prayer and study of the Word and lives that demonstrate the gospel.

b) The Evangelisch Werkverband is a growing evangelical wing in SOW with 300 pastors involved. May this movement be respected, accepted and be catalytic in the whole emerging denomination.

c) The significant impact of the Evangelical Alliance and Evangelische Omroep in drawing together a wide spectrum of Evangelicals for fellowship, encouragement and action. Evangelicals are often fragmented and individualistic. Pray for spiritual unity with a drawing together of denominations, institutions, agencies and ethnic groups with a single vision for reaching the nation and the world, and the willingness to financially support this with generosity.

5 Young people's ministry has become harder through indifference and an interest in non-Christian religious experiences. Christianity is perceived as irrelevant, yet many young people are searching for answers in a society that has lost its direction. Pray for:

a) Parents to see the need to witness to their children, and bring them to faith in Christ.

b) Schools to provide adequate Christian education.

c) Churches to gain the interest of young people by addressing their felt needs.

d) Street evangelism, coffee bars, camps and outreach to drug addicts through YWAM, Agape (CCCI) and YFC.

e) University students who live in a high-pressure ideological battle zone where it is hard to stand for Jesus. Pray for Navigator and IFES groups on many campuses. About 2,500 students are affiliated to over 40 groups linked with the latter.

f) A challenge to missions and outreach that will give young people a cause for which to live and die. The cost of commitment is too high for most. Triennial Europe-wide youth missions conferences hosted in the Netherlands have had a significant impact on young people.

6 Dutch missions, long eclipsed, are gaining new workers and increased interest. The EMA has grown to a membership of approximately 65 agencies. A better understanding of unreached peoples and of the need of the former Communist world and the Middle East has increased recruitment and prayer. Many Dutch missionaries are involved in Bible translation and evangelical aid programmes. Catholic missions once sent out 18,000 missionaries, but this is now reduced to about 3,000.

7 The less-reached need prayer as do those who will cross social and cultural barriers to bless them with the Gospel of Christ.

a) Nearly half the population has been alienated from exposure to the gospel and has no meaningful link with anything Christian. A whole new pattern of ministry needs to be developed. Alpha courses for seekers are proving one fruitful approach.

b) The highly secularized cities. Amsterdam has become a byword for godlessness. Over half the population claims no religious affiliation. The large drop-out population and the moral collapse hamper witness to the unconverted. Over 75% of the Arab, Asian and Southern European migrant population lives in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. A number of churches and agencies have ministry to these sections of the community, but most such work is on a small scale. Notable are the efforts of international movements such as YWAM, Agape (CCCI), and OM, as well as Dutch agencies. Pray for the turning of the tide of permissiveness in these cities.

c) Migrant ethnic minorities are increasing in numbers and by 2015 will comprise 17-18% of the population and speak over 140 languages. Many form an urban underclass with high unemployment, involvement with drugs, and crime. A number of congregations have been formed among the Ghanaians, Indonesians, Antilleans, Chinese and other groups. Pray that these may be spiritually effective and vigorous in outreach to every culture.

d) Muslims will soon be one-tenth of the population, but come from many cultures. Specialized efforts and committed friendship are needed to reach them. Pray for those seeking to reach them, such as SVEOM, Gospel for Guests, YWAM in Amsterdam and various churches. Only a few have come to the Lord, and lack of nurture and care means a high casualty rate. Pray specifically for:

i) The Turks and Kurds among whom are now several groups of believers.

ii) Moroccans – many being Berber Rif and Shilha.

iii) Iranians and Afghans.

e) The Chinese, many of whom are Buddhist. There are over 10 churches among them (COCM).

f) The Hindus – mainly Suriname Asians and Sri Lankan Tamil (Christar).

8 Christian media ministries:

a) The Netherlands Bible Society has an extensive ministry. The Bible is to be found in over 65% of homes, but is not read or studied enough. A new Dutch translation of the Bible is to be published in 2004.

b) Christian TV and radio. Evangelische Omroep (EO) has had a remarkable ministry for over 30 years, with weekly broadcasts for 18 hours on national TV and 60 hours on radio. EO has the largest young peoples' club in the country. Its programming has generated a large response and following with an extensive counselling ministry and encouragement to many Christian ministries. Pray that its biblical approach may not be compromised by liberal or worldly trends, yet be effective in reaching heart needs with relevant programming and in a vocabulary non-Christians will understand.

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