Travels, governmental policies and languages

 

 

To see the practical reality of the unity of the Local Body of Christ come to fruition in all localities all over the world.

 

The Local Body of Christ consists of all christians within a certain locality. We also believe that it is honoring to God when that becomes a practical reality instead of only the spiritual reality which it is already. We therefore believe that any contact and resultant fellowship between believers within a certain locality is gain and honoring to God provided that none of them is subjected to excommunication. This can be seen as the vision from the Mustard Seed which has a small and seemingly insignificant beginning but which has its inherent power to grow to fruition and become the full expression of the Local Body of Christ for the glory of Jesus Christ.

 

Going door-to-door and thus come in contact with every christian within a given locality. This can only be done in those countries where the number of Christians in a given neighbourhood sufficient is to make this a practical approach (say a minimum of 5%). The next couple of steps are follow-up with those interested and ingrain in them the vision of the Local Body of Christ and be a servant in helping those christians come in contact with one another. The next step is to help the Local Church come into practical existence (ultimately the Lord's work). Another step is to encourage the Local Church to keep in touch with other christians and newcomers within their locality. The last step is to be their external worker and whereever possible to give that job to others. It is hoped that others will join this ministry as the Lord provides. Networking through existing christian groups and personal contacts, speaking at conventions and other occasions, evangelism and Public Relations like this website, a regular updated blog, media appearance (talkshows, classical guitar concerts) and business cards will be additional tools towards the goal of this ministry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My name is Joep de Kraker and I have been born in 1974 in a little village called Dirkshorn, 20km north from the city of Alkmaar, which is situated about 60km northwest from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. We are a happy family of four with one 6 year older brother. I have moved around quite a bit. Within the country as well as abroad. I lived in Spain for three months. Half a year in Greece/Cyprus and 2 years in Great Britain.

 

Starting at primary school with international draughts I became 4th of the Netherlands at 15 years of age with blitz draughts in the age category 12-15. After finishing high school I went to college of music to study classical guitar. After many years of study I have come to the point that I sooner or later expect to start giving concerts. I have given up on international draughts already for years but in recent years I have become an enthousiastic gamer being succesfull in PC rally games namely Rally Championship 2000 and Richard Burns. In 2008 a dream came true as I became member of a tennis club.

 

Some miscellaneous other parts of my life include my driving licence which I only got in 2008. Two visits to China which country means a lot to me. A beautiful golden ring with a diamond at its centre which serves both as a reminder and a witness to the beauty of the Lord Jesus who lives in me. I got numerous friends throughout life so far. Many people who know me especially in The Netherlands find me a fun guy to be with. Numerous attempts at a romantic relationship but as yet (July 2010) never been succesfull in that. I have a couple of times cycled over 200km on one day with a personal record of 268km and walked once 60km on one day. Listening music (especially classical music and U2). Reading children's novels from the British author Enid Blyton and the Dutch author Willy van der Heide (Bob Evers serial). One of the most special holidays I ever had was with my brother when we crossed 30km of the Scottish Highlands on foot. We took two days for it. The first day there were no roads or public foothpaths and we struck up our tent in the middle of nowhere near to a river. We took its water to fill our bottles. It was a huge adventure and the scenery was fantastic.

 

Several christian subjects have caught my attention over the years including (but not limited) cellchurch, gifts of the Spirit, predestination, Trinity, sexuality, endtime and theomatics (mathematical proof of the Bible and a prime exegetical tool for symbolism). Altogether in a different category are the fruits of the Spirit namely love, humbleness and suffering which have played and continue to play an important role in my life.

 

I have been a member of a number of Church denominations/groups including Dutch Reformed Church in all three wings(fundamental, confessional and liberal), Baptist Church, Anglican Church, Evangelical Church, Victory Outreach, Assemblies of God, Charismatic Church, a Charismatic Intergenerational Cellchurch to name the most important ones from the past. On top of that I have been a visitor to a great many kind of Churches including Roman Catholic Church, Quakers, Salvation Army, Greek Orthodox Church and the Christian sects Christian Science (that's not Scientology Church), Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormon Church and The Family International (the Family) aka Children of God. 

The most recent one is also the most beautiful one. It is a kind of housechurch set up through the ministry of Gene Edwards. I have been part of this Church for 6 years which is by far the longest time I have been in any Church. She (part of the Bride of Christ) closely resembles that which I believe to be the pure expression of the Local Church. She purports to be the Church in the neighbourhood and that's why She doesn't have a name and neither can She be called a housechurch. However this Church has never aimed at creating fellowship with all Christians within Her neighbourhood. That's the crucial difference which the Local Body of Christ wants to change.  

 

By the end of March 2010 I started to contact all Christians within a radius of about 50 metres around my home. I found 26 Christians households and presently I have regular Christian fellowship with just one of them. A Christian family with around 7 children. I appreciate this very highly despite that this family doesn't fully agree with the vision of the Local Body of Christ. It's still a very basic but true expression of what the Local Body of Christ is all about. 7 other households have expressed an openness to be in touch with me. 1 for true Christian fellowship but the contact has been very scarce up till now. The other are Jehovah Witnesses who are very kind but don't see me as a Christian and I have reasons to discount them as Christians. The other 5 households would only get in touch with me (not me with them) but they have as yet never been in touch with me. All the other Christians weren't interested or didn't have time for it.