Mission and Aid · October 29, 2026
Also published in Português (Brasil)
Pastor engages with homeless youth in Leeuwarden
A street pastor engaged with a young man who had just become homeless, asking, 'Do you have good help in finding a house?' The young man, after some hesitation, replied, 'I think I don't want a house right now.'
Bart Visser, the street pastor, reflected on the conversation in a magazine for Christian Reformed Churches in Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel. He described the interaction as an eye-opener, stating, 'I thought I knew too quickly what he wanted. But I was mistaken.'
Visser is the pastor of the Christian Reformed Bethel Church in Leeuwarden and has been serving as a street pastor for eight hours a week since 2025. When he informed his community about his decision to work on the streets alongside his pastoral duties, many assumed he would be preaching the good news. However, he clarified that a street pastor is not a street evangelist, emphasizing, 'My first...'
Reports indicate that many churches are actively involved in supporting displaced individuals, with 78 churches expressing a willingness to provide shelter for status holders. This reflects a growing trend of church involvement in social issues within the community.