Rev Albert Hoekman received and accepted an appeal from the church in Midwolda on Wednesday evening, 9 September. Following agreement from the Groningen classis he will start work as missionary pastor for Northeast Groningen, according to Article 6 of the Church Order.
In the coming years, family Hoekman will be present in North-east Groningen, with the involvement of deputaten evangelisatie CGK and in cooperation with the Faith in Groningen foundation. Rev Hoekman: "With the Lord's help, we want to strengthen and encourage what is already there, actively seeking the kingdom of God and its expansion. We do this in conjunction with others who also love the Lord and want to pass on His word of grace in the northern Netherlands."
"The route to this vocation has been miraculous," said Hendrik Boer, scribe of the church council CGK Midwolda. "When we look at the road the Hoekman family has taken, around the disconnection from the congregation of Alphen aan den Rijn, to finally end up in Midwolda, we cannot but conclude that the Lord wants to continue with His servant."
Rev. Peter L.D. Visser was as missionary consultant closely involved in the process. "The appeal to Rev. Hoekman for church and missionary work has become a special process. In intensive and good consultation with the church council of Midwolda, Rev. Van Slooten (consultant), Rev. Bikker (deputies VAP), the Hoekman family, the IKC and the Faith in Groningen foundation, the missionary consultants had an advisory role. The (missionary) experiences gained elsewhere in church life could thus be put to good use. This process is a textbook example of the role deputies evangelisation want to play in learning and passing on missionary experiences."
The pastor hopes to join the IKC together with his wife, Jolien Hoekman. From there, they will work together with Evangeliestek, centre for evangelisation of the IKC.
In a joint statement, the organisations involved say they are looking forward with great gratitude to what the Lord will do in the coming years through the efforts of Rev Hoekman and his family in north-east Groningen. "Trusting in His guidance and blessing, we hope that this work will bear much fruit to the honour of His Name. May our efforts contribute to the building up of His Kingdom and be to the encouragement of many in the region."
