Bringing (the) Good News for marriage and family to couples and families in The Netherlands.

• Each year we offer three Marriage Enrichment Workshops (MEW) at the YWAM base Heidebeek in Heerde: in February, May and November (Thursday-Sunday). That goes along with a Basic Training Workshop in March.
• During the summer holidays (beginning of August) we organize a Family Camp at the property of Heidebeek. We have modest camping accommodation, so a maximum of about 20 families (including 5 one parent families) can apply.
• Every now and then we lead MEW’s in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders), on invitation from churches or individuals.
• Also, we try to arrange an annual encouragement day for those who once participated in the MEW.
• As a ministry we participate in the Marriage Week.

Actually, Family Ministries in YWAM The Netherlands made a re-start. Originally the ministry was founded by Derek and Trich Dodd at the end of the eighties. In 1988 they started with offering seminars about marriage and family. Their vision was - in short - ‘to contribute to the restoration of families in this country’. In fact, that vision hasn’t changed. During the next ten years also the annual Family Camp at the YWAM base Heidebeek (Heerde) became almost a legend. The Dodd’s left Holland somewhere late 90s for Ireland, where they continued their ministry (www.familyliferesources.ie).

The roots of Family Ministries as is is now, go back to 2003. That year Andreas and Angela Frész were invited to Heidebeek, to offer a Marriage Enrichment Workshop (MEW) to eight couples. Early 2004 followed by a Basic Training Workshop. In 2005 Wim and Sijtje Tollenaar together with Fedde and Julia Ypma led the first MEW’s with participants from alle over the country.

In the summer of 2006 they integrated the MEW in a Family Camp. That was also such a good experience, that they decided to continue them too. From 2007 on the focus of the Family Camps is more on family issues.

At this moment about 80 couples did a Marriage Enrichment Workshop and over 50 families attended the Family Camps. There is an overload of happy testimonies.

People can join by participating in any of the activities.

During the Marriage Enrichment Workshops (MEW) we could use the help of couples and singles in the area of practical support. For the Family Camps we need all kind of staff workers, as children’s workers, a cook and so on.

For people who would like to be full time or part time involved in Family Ministries, it would be good to bring in their own vision. Family Ministries in the Netherlands is a beginning ministry that is open for all kinds of ideas. We also would love to see people developing in their personal skills and ministry.