The Netherlands - Almere: NDIC clebrates its 10th.anniversary: "How Great Thou Art"

Pastors - van der Meijdens and the Sisks

This past Sunday, September 17th , was a festive occasion for the New Day International Church located at the Almere Filmwijk, as it celebrated it's 10th anniversary.

Jointly participating in this special event, organized by the NDIC Pastorial team of  John  and Joy Sisk, were also the founders of the NDIC church, Pastors Peter and Nancy van der Meijden.

Unfortunately, Pastors Melvin and Louise, who came after Pastors Peter and Nancy van der Meijden had left, and before Pastors John  and Joy Sisk.became the present pastors for NDIC, could not be there to join in the celebration,  as they were away on a new assignment.    

Pastor Peter "back home"

It was a great event, which included an introduction by Pastor Sisk of the van der Meijdens, an outline of the day's program, and a brief history of NDIC.

This was followed by a touching sermon of Peter van der Meijden, entitled  - "How Great Thou Art"  - highlighted by Joy Sisk singing the beautiful Christian song from which the title of the Sermon  was derived at the end of the sermon

New Day Cafe: an international culinary delight

Following the blessing of the congregation, concluding Pastor Peter van der Meijden's sermon, Pastor Sisk noted : "keeping up with the tradition of NDIC to not only feed the soul, but also the stomach of the congregation, you are now all invited to our delicious New Day cafe "Pot Luck Lunch", with food representing the many nationalities attending New Day International Church".

It was a blessed event of friendship, fellowship and a great opportunity for "the old timers" to reflect on the years gone by.

NDIC anniversary:A blessed event of friendship and fellowship

NDIC opened its doors in Almere at the beginning of September 2007,  all because of a vision its first Pastor Peter van der Meijden had to start an international church in Holland, while he and his American wife Nancy were living in the US

A vision which eventually led them back to the Netherlands

So when the couple returned to the
Netherlands and settled in Almere, one of Europe's most modern, functional and multi-cultural cities, "it was obvious", says Peter, "the vision God gave me in America was becoming a reality".

"Yes indeed", said Peter: "In Gods plan all things always fit together for the good".

Almere, situated east of Amsterdam, was created only about 40 years ago as part of a major Dutch land reclamation project, which eventually resulted in a new Dutch Province called Flevoland

This huge land reclamation project certainly has been a successful venture so far.  In those 40 years Almere has attracted over 200,000 residents and 15,600 businesses, with new residents moving in daily..

In God's plan all things always fit together for the good

Almere today is the largest city in the Province of Flevoland, and the 8th largest city in the Netherlands, closing in rapidly on Groningen, to the North of Almere., to overtake her ranking as number 7.

Paster Peter noted  "What made Almere particularly interesting for us to start an international English language church was the fact that  more than 27% of Almere's citizens come from non-western cultures, in addition to a large contingent of "Expats" , who work in and around Amsterdam, known as the industrial Randstad".

A megalopolis in the central-western Netherlands, consisting primarily of the four largest Dutch cities and their surrounding areas

"One of our primary goals has always been to be sensitive to multi-national cultures and provide a spiritual home for people from all around the globe living in this city and surrounding areas".

"Obviously we also have our doors wide open for Dutch folks who prefer to listen to sermons in English", said Pastor John Sisk.

Over the past years NDIC has become the Church home to many people from all over the world, with or without a previous church background.

As one father with two young children, who moved from Poland to Holland said "we like it here at NDIC because it feels like family, and we find the International environment to be very inspiring to exploring your faith, whereby God can be encountered in new and creative ways. It is very refreshing and stimulating."

Everyone is welcome to attend the Sunday meetings of NDIC, which start at 10.30 a.m. If you are a first time visitor please come a little earlier so you can be welcomed properly. NDIC is located at the Walt Disney Plantsoen 76/78, in the Almere Filmwijk Center, and faces a Vomar supermarket

Almere: NDIC wants your Christmas holidays to become festive "Holy Days"

NDJC right in the center of the Almere Filmwijk

When Sunday arrives in Almere, the Netherlands, one of Europe's most modern, functional and multi-cultural cities, its inhabitants can make a variety of choices,varying from sleeping in, sports, reading - or - attending a Church service and strengthening their relationship with the Creator through the Gospel.

Yes indeed, there is a lot the citizens of Almere can be grateful for.

Grateful that they not only live in a free and democratic Holland, but also that they are blessed to live in a unique modern European city.

Almere: 200.000 inhabitants in 40 years

Almere, situated east of Amsterdam, was created only 40 years ago as part of a huge Dutch Government land-reclamation project, which  eventually also resulted in the birth of a new Dutch Province, called Flevoland.

This project has been a hugely successful venture.  In the past 40 years Almere attracted over 200,000 residents, 14,800 businesses and more are moving in every day.

Almere is now the Netherland`s 7th largest city. and expected to grow to more than 350.000 inhabitants by 2022.

NDIC: a truly International Church with families from 25 Nations

What also makes Almere unique is that 38 % of the population originally came from somewhere else in the world.

Consequently, this also created an urgent demand for an International English language Church, which would be sensitive to the prevailing culture and provide a spiritual home for people from all over the world.

Not only for those living in Almere and the surrounding area, but also for those native Dutch folks, who prefer to worship in English.

This is how and why NDIC was born

The Church opened its doors at the beginning of September 2007 and has steadily grown in the past 9 years  Currently, individuals and families from some 25 nations are usually in attendance each Sunday.

John, Joy and their daughter Sarah Sisk

John and Joy Sisk became pastors at New Day International Church in June of 2016, following the retirement of previous pastors, Melvin and Louise Ho.

For 30 years, the Sisks have served in ministry with one goal: To bring people into a personal relationship with God.

They first served as pastors in the United States for 12 years, and now for 18 years as missionaries abroad.

In the US, they began as children’s and youth pastors, and then became senior pastors.

As missionaries, they have trained pastors and worship leaders in Cambodia, planted and pastored an international church in Taiwan, and directed a Bible college in Micronesia, while interim pastoring an international church.

This coming Christmas season NDIC will hold holiday services on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, at their regular time Church service, starting time of 10:30 AM on Sunday2 and everyone is welcome.
   
Christmas Day service program will culminate with a Birthday Cake for Jesus. New Year’s Day is also the regular monthly “Family Sunday”, where parents and children enjoy the entire service together, including a puppet show before the message, and communion at the conclusion of the service.

John and Joy Sisk hope that Your holidays this year can become “Holy Days” at NDIC.

NDIC is located at the Walt Disney Plantsoen 76/78, in the Almere Filmwijk Center, and faces a Vomar supermarket. For additional information check out the NDIC website.

© Almere-Digest

NDIC : Family Fellowship and New Day Cafe Starting off the Summer Holidays On The Right Track - by RM

African and Caribbean Music Medley

This past Sunday  New Day International Church (NDIC)  had another fun and participative day of worship, music and food.

NDIC, is an English language Christian Church, which opened its doors in Almere about 5 years ago.

A Church which believes that nourishment not only includes the Word of God, but also good food.

One of its success stories of the church which today counts some 100 plus members is its quarterly "pot-luck" luncheon after Sundays services which is called "new Day Cafe"

Melvin Ho -Pastor

The difference with other cafe's is that the food at "New Day Cafe" is free and voluntarily supplied by the members of the congregation - a rainbow mix of people from 16 different countries. The result, a spectacular variety of ethnic food specialties. Certainly a great incentive to visit NDIC , but that is not the only incentive.

Melvin and Louise Ho the pastoral leaders and their organizational team say their objective is seeking to serve the international community in Almere by providing a growing relational and supportive network; an
inspiring and contemporary Sunday morning church experience; and many resources (pastoral care, teaching, relevant literature, etc.), to help people connect faith to life.

From Aruba - A saxophone solo

All this adds up to the special character of Almere, a brand new city, to the northeast of Amsterdam, built on ocean reclaimed land during the early seventies. Its ambitious planners at the time envisioned a suburban living environment for commuters to the nearby capital Amsterdam, Schiphol airport and the very richy "Het Gooi" area. Currently, over 176,000 people live in Almere — one of the fastest growing cities in the Netherlands.

The Dutch government recently announced plans for it to become the fourth largest city in the country, housing more than 400,000 inhabitants. It is also a very internationally flavored city with approximately a quarter of Almere’s citizens originating from outside the Netherlands, representing a variety of ethnic, cultural, social and religious backgrounds.

Only 5 percent of these inhabitants come from Western European or US heritage. Places of worship in Almere also include Mosques and prayer centers for the Muslim community.

Topping off a great event at NDIC Gafe

Almere is also a very open spaced community. According to the local government, there are on average 420 homes per square kilometers, compared with 1,930 homes per square kilometer in the four largest cities of the Netherlands - Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht.

Even though it is still looked down on by citizens of most "cozy, old-style, and traditional" Dutch cities, Almere is already viewed throughout Europe, and by most of its own inhabitants, as a leading example of a successful new and modern designed city. It certainly has a great deal to offer people who seek a suburban lifestyle in a central easily accessible location. Innovative ideas like the NDIC just seem to materialize spontaneously on a daily basis in this surprising bustling new Dutch city.

Almere-Digest