Last year the BB Club Houten helped start new youth work in Murska Sobota Slovenia. Now their three-week trip to the US is over. Was their search for an American partner group successful? Did they find a partner they can work with to start youth work in Central Europe?  

During their preparation the Houten bridgebuilders – 17-23 years old – thought about the possible cultural differences and prejudices that perhaps would end up not being stereotypes. They spoke to many youth and quickly discovered that Americans talk much more easily about their faith than Dutch people.  Eight very different churches with large youth groups heartily welcomed the group. “It’s surprising how much room the churches have for the youth!” said the BB Club. “The first night we slept in rooms in a youth church in West Chester PA. For one week we were guests of the Christ Evangelical Covenant church in Lansdale PA.  Every church has youth leaders who take you with much love to the next group on the itinerary. We also met the Presbyterian church during a conference in New Wilmington PA. During a nice conversation, a girl had an epileptic attack and almost fell under a car. All of a sudden, we were all standing shoulder to shoulder in a big circle praying for the girl, until she was taken to the hospital. This made an impact. God has an important place in the life of these Americans. We kept asking ourselves if Americans believed: more, differently, better, more intensive or superficially. Youth are open about their faith. The Bible is read daily.” Aetze sighed: “It is very normal there to talk about what you believe. Americans are proud of their church. They are very hospitable and have money available for youth work in places where the church has little influence.” 

Some comments from the Bridgebuilders:
“We visited a young, but enormous church in Pittsburgh. You took an escalator to go into the church and there was a gym. This church was clearly a meeting place. In the Prince Street United Brethren Church in Shippensburg PA people seemed more like us and the houses looked like Dutch houses.”
“The people from the Evangelical Free Church in Montrose PA kept asking us difficult questions about our mission and Atlantic Bridge. From our own experiences we could tell them about the contacts that we built in Slovenia, in the street and in the café. The cafe – that is sensitive for Americans; alcohol and being a Christian do not go together for most. Since our trip, there is a big Bridgebuilders Club at the Lutheran church in Murska Sobota.”
“The church in Brooklyn, New York was enormous and impressive, overflowing with everything that you would need in your daily life! Stores, workshops, gyms, radio- and tv-studios, it just kept going!” The two-and-a-half hour sermon from the pastor of this Black Gospel Church was the period at the end of this impressive journey.

After this exchange the pillars of the bridge are in place. There is a lot of emailing and chatting. Dutch and Americans are going on a mission together next summer. This can happen in an American way, but also in a Dutch way. It is about contact, building bridges, meeting others, inspiration. Youth brave enough to make friends with young people from other countries. Discover that your commitment does something, that it changes the world. That is the heart of Atlantic Bridge.