Why

We are doing this because we have experienced in our own lives that the relationship with God makes us happy. We have become convinced that our deepest meaning is in this relationship with God. God made us as humans, not to lead life on our own, but to live based on this connection with God, in this life, but also in life after this life, in eternity. We would like to share this with other young people in popular vacation areas.

Questions we often hear:

Why are you doing this?

We do this because in our own lives we experienced that the relationship with God makes us happy. We have become convinced that our deepest meaning is in the relationship with God. God made us as humans, not to lead life on our own, but to live based on this connection with God; in this life, but also in life after this life, in eternity. We would like to share this with other young people in popular vacation areas.

Why among partying people in coastal cities such as Salou and Sunny Beach?

You may not expect this, but we are finding that the question: “why am I here on earth” is important for many young people. This is true also among people in Lloret de Mar and Blanes. In large groups young people do not always have the opportunity to freely discuss questions like these. At the same time, vacation is an excellent time to talk about it. Lloret de Mar and Blanes simply are very popular holiday destinations for young people.

We want to give young people the opportunity to discuss those questions with us – without any obligation. Our faith in Jesus helped us in finding an answer to this question.

Is it meaningful what you guys are doing?

Yes. In some cases a discussion with a Beach Mission volunteer results immediately in a change in somebody’s life, in the sense that they decide to follow Jesus. Often people need more time to make such a decision. A discussion with one of our volunteers can be part of that process. More imporant than the results is the obedience of the volunteers to the call of Jesus to make disciples of Him. And that always provides meaning.

Are you being paid for this?

The volunteers of Beach Mission do not get paid for their involvement and for the most part they pay the costs of their trip themselves.

Are you managing to have a conversation with young people when they have been drinking too much or used substances?

Sometimes we don’t, but often we do. It also happens that young people get sober in no time in a supernatural way. We are finding that God is in control. The Holy Spirit is able to break through this.
But with most young people it is easy to have a good conversation.

Is a week not too short?

Yes it is. The more people sign up, the longer we can go!
On the other side: we try to build up a relationship and connect them to a local buddy.

When you become a Christian, are you still allowed to have fun, drink, and have sex before marriage?

Whether you are Christian or not, you yourself are responsible for the choices you make. At the same time, your choices are often strongly influenced by the relationships you have. You always evaluate whether the choices you make, are hindering the relationship with your partner, children or parents.

This works the same in a relationship with God. And God will show you what and which issues are blocking the relationship between Him and you. God does so by way of the Bible, by your conscience and by the Holy Spirit.

But it is very important to take steps in this. That is what the Bible calls “confessing your sins” (to mention what is blocking the relationship and say that you understand how bad that is for the other, for God) and “convert” (start going a different direction in life).

Life stories

Judith

I find I am now full of enthusiasm for God, for He gives so much love and joy when you know Him!

Candice

The people in church had something I didn’t.. that rest and fulfilment I had tried to find in all my partying and achieving..

Our Message: Living in connection with God

As people we are made as relational beings. We can connect with one another, reflect on our own behavior and think about the meaning of life, for instance. Relationships give meaning to life. We are convinced that our ultimate destination is in the relationship with God. God has created us as a person, not to live our own lives, but to live out of the connection with God. In this life, but also in the life after this, in eternity.

Experiencing God
Most people realize there is more between heaven and earth, but many people have never had a personal experience with God. The reason for this is that there is a problem between us and God. That problem is in our thinking and acting. As humans we are able to do many good things, but when you look at all the misery in the world, you see that we as humans are not able to live in harmony with people around us. We see that on a big scale, but also in our own lives. Even in doing good things, we often seek our own happiness. This problem creates a distance between people, but also between man and his Maker, God.

Sorry

A good talk often solves the problem, at least when the problem is not too big. In case of a crime, for instance, it is not so easy. The victim or the family of the victim is not satisfied by a ‘sorry’ of the guilty one. Even when you are fair, the least you want is that somebody gets the punishment he deserves. Now, how big is our problem towards God? Is ‘sorry God’ good enough, or does it take more?

Punishment deserved
When God created the world, all was well. Man got responsibility for the world. As long as man was connected to God, there would be no death and man would live with God forever. Now there is much suffering in this world. God holds us personally responsible for our own mistakes, but also collectively for all misery in the world, because we are no different than other people and evil seems to have crept into our DNA. God calls this sin and He deals with this as we do with a crime. God is not satisfied with only ‘sorry’. The punishment that God accepts is that we die and are in eternity without Him. Result would be that no man would be left. Is there an alternative solution?

Restoration
God came with an alternative solution! That solution is the sacrifice of an innocent man. Somebody who does not deserve the punishment himself, but wants to take it upon him for somebody else. Who would be so foolish? Which man is innocent? Only Jesus. For His love of the world, God accepted the form of a man in Jesus. He lived life as God had intended. He did not have evil in his DNA. During his life He cared for people who were cast out by society, He pointed out the malpractices of the spiritual establishment and talked about a new Kingdom of love. The spiritual establishment wanted to put him to death. Yet He was not the victim of this, for He willingly let let himself be taken prisoner, sentenced and put to death. He ended up in eternal darkness and so Jesus sacrificed himself for us.

Problem solved?
Even before we could ask God, He took this step in the year 33 AD. It was His own initiative. Yet God wants us to realize that it was necessary for us personally too. Are you at that point? Let God know!

Adoption
As victim or relative of a victim, it does not just happen that you become close friends years later. With God, this is completely opposite. He wants to make Himself known through the Bible. He, the Maker and King of the universe, the highest spiritual authority, wants to adopt us as a child. He wants to make a connection with us, as close as in marriage.

I want to come to You with my life today.
I am no better than anybody else.
I want to ask forgiveness for my faults (sins).
The sacrifice of Jesus was necessary for me.
I am happy you came up with this solution.

A BUDDY: TEACHES YOU TO LIVE IN CONNECTION WITH GOD

No better way to learn how to live based on the connection with God than with a buddy who lives close to you and who regularly visits you!

We want to help you in doing this!

What you can expect from a buddy:

Explanation of what baptism is and to be baptized yourself
Reading the Bible together and in doing so get to know God better
Discovering what the Holy Spirit can mean for you
Learn how to become a buddy yourself

Why