My name is Esther van Schie. I live with my husband Harm in Gouda, and together we have three daughters. I have always considered it a privilege to work in a multicultural setting. For fifteen years, I was a teacher of integration and Dutch as a second language. Since September 2017, I have been working as a pastor with a special assignment. The Church in Nesselande, a district congregation of the Reformed Church of Zevenhuizen, sent me to the Geloofsinburgering foundation, where I serve as director. The Dutch can learn a lot from migrants, and migrants can use all the help they can get with integration. I think it’s wonderful when Dutch and migrant Christians work together more. After all, it is only together that we will come to know the length, breadth, height, and depth of Christ’s love.

My name is Marien and I am a pastor equipping and missionary worker for Stichting Geloofsinburgering (Faith Integration Foundation). I train the leaders of the country teams and provide Bible studies at Al Massira (Arabic country team) and Farsi groups (Iranian/Persian country team). I also developed the Freedom Focus course. In addition, I collaborate in a joint project with Kerk in Actie (Church in Action) of the PKN to inspire local churches to believe together with migrants.

Hi, I’m Jemima Chandoe and I live with my family in Moerkapelle. I was born in Zevenaar and grew up in Dordrecht. I am of Dutch/Surinamese descent (my father is Surinamese and my mother is Dutch). I enjoy different cultures and feel at home in them. My partner is from Myanmar. Partly because of him, I understand that cultural differences can sometimes be quite difficult, especially when it comes to religion. Seeing him grow motivates me. I also graduated as a graphic designer from the Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam in 2018. I currently work two days a week for Stichting Geloofsinburgering. I am responsible for the design of the Freedom Focus course and Sharing Bread.

My name is Elias Fhaily. I was born and raised in Syria as a Christian. I had to leave Syria because of the war. First, I moved to Lebanon and then to the Netherlands in 2021. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to belong and have someone by their side. Faith integration is, of course, the best place to do that and to gain experience. I studied computer engineering in Syria. I enjoy helping with the graphic design of the Freedom Focus course, which is dedicated to personal growth and development. I love helping other people and doing my best in everything I do.

Hi, I’m Rahwa! I live in Gouda with my husband and three children. I came to the Netherlands from Eritrea five years ago. At Stichting Geloofsinburgering, I help out with the Eritrean country team. I enjoy meeting new people, which is why I like to get together with other Eritrean and Ethiopian women. I invite them to my home to drink coffee (Buna) and chat. With the Eritrean country team, I get to know more people, practice Dutch with others, and we have sewing lessons.

My name is Huang Liang, but everyone calls me Amber. I was born in China and grew up there until I was 24. In 2003, I came to the Netherlands. I now live in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel with my husband and two children.
I became a Christian in the Netherlands. The vision and mission of the Faith Integration Foundation appeal to me because I am Chinese and a migrant. I also know what it feels like to be far away from your own family, and I know how difficult language and cultural differences can be in everyday life.
Through my faith, I know that God has a plan for each and every one of us. That is why I would like to help Chinese people living in the Netherlands with any questions they may have about their integration (into society and faith).

My name is Ng Bee Hiong. I came to the Netherlands with my four children in 2011. I became a Christian in Malaysia through my husband. My friends at church in Malaysia showed me Jesus’ love, and I was touched by the faith. I want to follow in their footsteps. I want to pass on the love I have received. At Stichting Geloofsinburgering, I pass on this love to other Chinese women by helping them with their integration questions. Because I myself have experience as a new Dutch citizen, I can understand how it feels to make a new start in a new country with a new culture and a new language.

My name is Klazina and I am involved in the Arab countries team together with Lamaii. I am married to Eric, work three days a week as a nurse specialist in elderly care, and am also a mother of five children. My daughter lives in London and my son lives in Konstanz. Sometimes they are quite far away, but they live in safety. What a difference compared to refugees. They can only contact their loved ones by phone, or not at all! Their families live in war zones and poverty! We can be family to our fellow countrymen, so that they feel at home, and we are a warm family. It is truly a privilege and a blessing to be a small part of that.

My name is Lamaii. I was born and raised in Iraq as a Muslim. I left Iraq because of the unsafe situation. I came to the Netherlands as a refugee in October 2015. In the Netherlands, I found the love of Jesus, and I want to show this to others; that is my passion. I have four children and five grandchildren, some in the Netherlands and some in Iraq. I work with the Arab countries team. I enjoy doing this because I believe that everyone belongs.

My name is Ehsan. I live in Gouda with my wife Roshank and our children. In 2018, we had to leave our home in Iran and came to the Netherlands. I help with the Iranian/Persian group. Cultural differences can sometimes be difficult, but they can also lead to personal growth. I believe that with the love and affection of Jesus, geographical boundaries will lose their meaning, and with the spread of faith, the world will become a better place to live.

Hello, my name is Ding Qi. I am 42 years old. My husband and I have just moved from Nieuwerkerk to Deventer. When I lived in Nieuwerkerk, I got to know Amber, Angie, and Esther. I have worked as a Chinese teacher and Chinese translator. I would also very much like to do translation work for the Faith Integration Foundation, in order to pass on the salvation and grace of Jesus Christ to more Chinese people who, like me, long for God.

My name is Rik Balvers, I am 19 years old and have been living in Gouda since 2010, after moving to the Netherlands from Malaysia. After completing my vocational training as a software developer, I am now studying ICT at university. I follow Jesus and want to help others with what I can. In addition to my studies, I enjoy sports and play in an indoor soccer team sponsored by Geloofsinburgering.

Hi, I’m Arianne! I’m half Ghanaian and half Dutch and live in Gouda. I’ve been working at the foundation for two years. I came into contact with the foundation through an international church, the ICU. I was asked if I would like to create fun content for Sharing Bread, and I have been part of the team ever since. Sharing Bread is a platform for all kinds of women of all cultures, colors, and sizes. I make videos about culture, difficult questions in the Bible, dance videos, and memes. We also organize events. The best thing about my work is that I get to learn more about different cultures and women and see how cultures overlap, which is something I have experience with myself due to my multicultural background.

My name is Joëlle van Schie and I study social work. I grew up in an international community, so from an early age I learned a lot about different cultures and developed a keen interest in them. Since the end of 2020, I have been part of the Sharing Bread team, writing content and much more. I love being able to work for the kingdom of God through my job.

My name is Rineke van de Kamp and I support Esther with administrative tasks. This is also my ‘profession’. Until we had children, I worked as a secretary! Speaking of children: my husband Mart and I had four: two boys and two girls! And now we also have two grandchildren! Our daughter lived in Singapore for a long time, and there I discovered more and more how faith transcends boundaries. I see that at the Faith Integration Foundation as well. My wish is that faith be put into practice. I would like to contribute to that and hope to see many beautiful things!

Hi! My name is Anne van der Grond and I study communication. I have been working at Stichting Geloofsinburgering for a while now, where I take on communication tasks. I am learning a lot at Geloofsinburgering and I love that I can use my skills in this way.

My name is Lemlem Asmerom.
I am from Eritrea.
I have been in the Netherlands for almost six years.
I have two daughters.
I live in Gouda.

All my life, I have wanted to share God’s love with other people. I am interested in other languages and cultures and what motivates other people. A few years ago, I took a course on Islam so that I could better understand what motivates them. Together with Esther van Schie (pastor-director of the foundation), Marien Kollenstaart (advisor), and others, we started an Al Massira course for Christians and seekers from a Muslim background a few years ago. This is how I came into contact with the Geloofsinburgering Foundation. I think it’s wonderful when people from all kinds of backgrounds and colors come together to glorify God. I notice that it gives many migrants and refugees a sense of recognition and peace when they meet other believers and fellow sufferers here. Geloofsinburgering helps migrants in the Netherlands in a concrete way, and I would like to support that.
I am married to Klazina and the father of five children. I work as an information security officer at an IT company. In addition to being chairman of the Geloofsinburgering foundation, I am active in the De Rank parish in Waddinxveen.

My name is Bas Plaisier. Since 2020, I have been living in Gouda with Henny Wendt, to whom I have been married for over 50 years. We have four children and 12 grandchildren. As an emeritus minister of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, I regularly lead church services, including in Indonesian congregations.
We were involved in missionary work in Torajaland in Indonesia (7 years) and later in China/Hong Kong for 3 years. In the Netherlands, I worked for ten years as a pastor in the Moerwijk neighborhood of The Hague, where we founded the Kinderwinkel (Children’s Shop), which is still active today as a missionary project for children. In 1997, I became the scribe/secretary-general of the Dutch Reformed Church and, from 2004, of the then newly formed PKN.

For years, I have been actively involved in ecumenism, refugee work, and relations with migrant churches. I am also involved in the PKN committee that conducts faith discussions with asylum seekers who, as Christians, are at risk if they have to return to their home countries.

Ik ben Peter van Duijn, getrouwd met Ria, vader van 3 prachtige dochters en opa van een net zo mooie kleindochter.
Zakelijk ben ik meer dan 40 jaar actief in technische, commerciële en management functies bij bedrijven die actief zijn in de internationale glastuinbouw. Zeven jaar geleden ben ik met twee partners het bedrijf Van Duijn & Partners gestart met als expertise klanten in een advies of interim rol te ondersteunen bij het innoveren van hun bedrijf(sprocessen). Ik ben enthousiast lid en penningmeester van de Lions Club in Zevenhuizen. In de PKN-gemeenten van Berkel en Rodenrijs en Zevenhuizen ben ik verspreid over die 4 decennia 15 jaar actief geweest als jeugd- en evangelisatie ouderling en als kerkrentmeester. Eind 2019 ben ik toegetreden tot het bestuur van de Internationale Bijbel Bond in Amersfoort en nu dus bij de stichting Geloofsinburgering. Een prachtig initiatief waar ik graag mijn steentje aan bij wil dragen.

My name is Marion Huberland, married to Joël, and together we have three children: Mattanje, Josua, and Laëlle. For several years now, our family has been involved with the international church ICU in Gouda. We enjoy the multicultural diversity, connecting with people who have grown up in such different ways and who find each other here in their faith in the same God. In addition to the ICU, we are also connected to the church in Nesselande, where I am an elder responsible for training and equipping. The Faith Integration Foundation brings these two sides of our church life together. I think it is wonderful to be able to contribute in a small way to the great work of God in his kingdom by serving on the board of the foundation.