Newfrontiers : Church Planting in The Hague

Church Planting in The Hague

Situated on the south-west coast of Holland is the city of The Hague. Although relatively small, The Hague carries great influence both nationally and throughout the world. Chris Taylor and his wife Karin are about to embark on the exciting adventure of church planting to this vibrant city.

1. Please tell us about yourself and your family. Henson

I am married to Karin and together we have two sons – three year old Simon and one year old Daniel. We have been in London since March 2009, and are based at New Community Church, Sidcup. I am a part of the staff team in the church and we have been made to feel very welcome in the community here.

2. What is your background?
I am originally from Botswana and most of my family is still there. My parents are Christians and I am eternally grateful for the way that they brought up me and my brothers to love and serve God. I went to boarding school in South Africa when I was 12.

It was in my early teens that I really began to grasp the truth of God’s grace. Then, on a gap year in the UK, I was introduced to Newfrontiers, which subsequently led to me joining Jubilee Community Church in Cape Town where I was studying at university.

After university I was a teacher for a couple of years before joining the staff at Jubilee. For both Karin and I, our time there was crucial in shaping us, sharpening us, and giving us a greater passion for a beautiful church to emerge all around the world. It was also while at Jubilee that God planted in us a desire to be involved in church planting in Europe.

3. What do you do with your time now?
I am on the staff team here at New Community Church, Sidcup, and am involved in preaching and men’s outreach, as well as preparing for the church plant.

On the social side of things, we try and have quality family time regularly. I spend a lot of time with Karin and the boys, I play rugby for a local club, I try and get time for photography, and we make sure we have time to spend with neighbours and new friends that don’t know Christ.

Henson

4.   Have you always felt called to church plant? When did you first begin to consider The Hague?
I don’t think that I really understood the concept of ‘planting a church’ until I saw it modelled in Newfrontiers churches. I have always felt called to leadership, and have always had a passion for church, so those things seemed to wonderfully come together as I grew as a Christian, and was involved with great churches.

It was in 2006 that David Holden first chatted to us about being part of planting a church into a major city in Holland. It gradually become clearer that The Hague was the city to which we should go.

5.   What makes The Hague a good place to plant a church?
The Hague is a beautiful city. It is south west of Amsterdam and is right on the coast. Although only a relatively small city, it carries massive influence nationally, within Europe, and right across the world. It is the seat of the Dutch Government, the home of 110 embassies and consulates, and houses the headquarters of a number of major international agencies and businesses. Interestingly, it is actually the world’s second UN city after New York. For all these reasons, it is the perfect place to plant a vibrant, influential and international church.

6.   What are your plans for moving to and living in The Hague?
We plan to move at the end of March 2010 and are full of faith for God to provide for us when we get there. There are a number of areas we could focus on, and we are fully expectant that God will show us the best way to get involved in city life. However God chooses to provide, we want to live by faith!

7.   How are you preparing for this plant and what is still to be done?
I am preparing for the plant by praying! I am reading a lot, as well as writing ideas down. I am also seeking to gather the right team that will be with us in the beginning.

On Saturday 7 November we hosted The Hague Day. It was wonderful to have a chance to meet with others keen on finding out more about the plant. People had come from as far as Scotland, with one guy arriving on an overnight bus from Leeds after feeling God tell him to come to the meeting only a few days previously!

David Holden shared about the history of his work in Holland, while I shared from Acts 11 and 13 looking at some of the characteristics of the Antioch church, and how I am passionate for our church to display the visible grace of God. There was a time for some of the other team members to share how they have made a decision to join the plant, a time of questions, and finally a great time of prayer and prophecy. I was really excited by this time together and now eagerly await its Dutch equivalent (Den Haag Dag) on 12 December 2009 in Holland.

Henson

There is still much to be done in terms of seeing people on the team find jobs and houses, finding a venue for the church to meet, and making sure that the team is strong in community and has the values of the church plant in our DNA.

8. What is your vision for the church?
The church will be called Redeemer International Church because I want it to be a place where Christ, our great Redeemer, redeems lives, marriages, families, and culture in The Hague and beyond. I want the gospel to be proclaimed faithfully and clearly shown in everything we do.