Refine
Clear All
Your Track:
Live:
Search in:
Finding Purpose - Song of my Life - Kristine van Dooren
Finding Purpose - Song of my Life - Kristine van Dooren

Finding Purpose - Song of my Life - Kristine van Dooren

Finding purpose in life is what we all long for. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or where you live, or how many roads in this life you have already traveled. Happiness and contentment, and purpose, is what we all hope to find one day. My name is Kristine van Dooren. I am from California but I have lived most of my life in Germany. I would like to tell you my story, which I wrote and was published in German, in 2007. The title of the book is “Das Lied meines Lebens” which means, “The Song of my Life.” Let me tell you about it. Music on my podcast: https://open.spotify.com/track/3lSwZO2vey

Available Episodes 10

We were young and always juggling church activities, with family time, and Thomas’ job. I found some pictures of our yearly church retreat, in autumn of 1980. Even though a lot of planning went into it, plus traveling with small kids, these long weekends were worth it. For us women who had lived communally, we were especially routined in, shopping and cooking for a large crowd. Plus we had experience in organizing events, that were fun, and provided a rich time for both the young and old. Besides age and family backgrounds, the gathering included many nationalities; British, French, Austrian, New Zealand, Belgium, Switzerland, American, German, Greek, Polish and Italian. Our group photo, of some 60 people that weekend, brings back so many nice memories.

I wish I knew where all those people are now, and how their lives turned out!

During the summer vacation with our parents, Thomas and I, celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. We were able to go out for the evening, just the two of us, which was always a special time to share our hearts and talk about our dreams for the future. By 1980 we had been together for 10 years, and were continually amazed, at God’s faithfulness in our lives. He had blessed us with four daughters which gave us much joy, and we looked forward to raising them in the nurture of the Lord. We had gone through three difficult years before we were Christians. Being immersed in the hippie lifestyle following our hearts, and not wanting to believe that our ways, were sinful in God’s eyes. The first big change in our relationship took place when we exchanged wedding vows at the Civic Center in 1972.

Less than 10 months later, we prayed to Jesus for the first time together, and the next day our daughter was born. In that week, two miraculous events took place, showing us that God is real, and he was protecting us. From then on our lives took on a whole new direction. As you have heard the story, you know how we eventually ended up back in Germany, as missionaries. Becoming part of a team, that went to Munich to start a church, was definitely not something we could have imagined before.


I will begin today by connecting some of the dots back to our story in 1980. In the last episode, I was talking about learning to read the Bible out loud, to encourage my soul. I remembered that my first experience was with Psalm 42, and especially the part that says, ”Why are you cast down o my soul? Hope in God." But I had forgotten about verse 8; “Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer to the God of my life.” I thought this is so beautiful, imagining that God has a song for me, even in the night.

It was like a new discovery or reminder, not to worry about the troubles in this life. Like Rachel said in our Conversation Interview, ”Even though I have read the Bible throughout my lifetime, I still stumble on verses that I hadn’t noticed before. That’s an example of God’s word being alive. It can always speak to us in a fresh way.” For myself, I had an encouraging experience while I was writing Episode 108.

“scripture in song” by Jason Silver 🎤Psalm 127 Lied - YouTube


Welcome back to another discussion with my friend, Rachel. Today we would like to go into more details about our experiences as young women, learning to let God's Word, become the foundation of our life. I believe that all men and women seek fulfillment, and have the need for a direction that gives them hope, love and a place of refuge.

We talk about receiving a new identity in Christ, only He can make everything new, in our hearts and lives. It truly is possible to receive faith, and experience the loving kindness of God, through learning to understand the Bible. It's a process, but He has promised to give us His peace, that passes all understanding!

Welcome friends! I would like to introduce to you, my good friend Rachel, who is originally from the UK. We met here in Munich at a German church. We discovered quickly on, our love in reading, and studying the Bible. This might seem a bit uncommon for women, but in various ways, and for different reasons, God set us on that path. Enjoy listening to Rachel's journey from Birmingham, to France, and eventually to Germany. Every step of the way, accompanied by the truths of the Bible!

On with the next episode that takes place in the year of 1980. You have heard about our new endeavors, branching out and connecting, with new friends in Italy. I told a portion of their story packing up, and leaving the familiarity of their lives behind, for an unknown future in Italy. In the recent “Rerun - Final Countdown,” I shared a lot of the details that led to Thomas and I, finding our way back to Germany. Though we took some unusual routes, that even led to discarded plans, still we trusted that God was going before us. The most joyful event as new Christians, was the day we turned onto the road with the welcoming cross at the Living Waters Ranch. Then a year and a half later, we left that same road forever. It was a sad but hopeful day, as we viewed the large wooden cross, that stood out from the Redwood trees in the distance. But we were taking with us, so many valuable lessons and friendships, that we had known there.

I mentioned in that episode that we had made an 8mm movie, walking through the fields, crossing the creek, and spending the afternoon with Naomi, in the dining room of the Redwood dome. Well, that film and others, have finally been incorporated into a 22 minute interview documentary that my grandson made with me. He did a beautiful, and time consuming job, putting many of the pieces of our lives together, in one short film. Hopefully I will be able to share it with you soon!  


Welcome friends!

In the last episode, I was talking about the adventures of our friends, that moved from California to Florence, Italy. I thought it would be fun, especially for my new listeners, to hear my story about ending up in Germany. At the end of 1974, Thomas and I, with our first daughter, (and pregnant with number two), were sadly moving away from Living Waters. The plan was to live in Eureka, in a communal house, and get more Bible training there. But we discovered that God had a completely different plan for our lives. This is what happened!

A couple of months ago, I posted two video conversations, about the beginnings of a church in the UK. This fits into our story, of how we came in contact with other people, who also desired to go to different countries. Throughout the coming year of 1980, there were more developments, in this direction. Thomas was hearing from his friend, Steve, in Eureka, that a team was forming to go to Italy. Their situation was similar to how the UK team started, with people who had lived in our communal house in Trudering. Maybe you remember, I talked about a group that came in 1975, called Christ is the Answer.

They were still at our house, when the second team from Eureka joined us in Munich. Marc, who was a part of that team wrote about all of these adventures in his book. I will reference it at the end of the podcast.

Song link: "Beautiful are the Feet"

https://youtu.be/lUbk9el1jgE?si=Bu7sX69lx643nwVp 




As usual, I have been rummaging through old newsletters, and found this statement that Thomas wrote. He was reporting to our friends in the States about what we were doing in Germany as missionaries. He said; “Kristine besides being a mother of four, was involved with church organization, counselling and teaching women, children’s work, correspondence, and hospitality.”

Of course, I wasn’t doing all of that at the same time, but what stood out to me now, is the mention of teaching women. I used to have stacks of notebooks from the 70s and 80s, but unfortunately, I didn’t keep them the last time I moved. It would have been fun to see, what kind of notes I made, in English and in German. Since I have been reading Thomas’ German articles, it’s obvious for me to see how far away I was, from being able to express things in German fluently.

But because I wanted to communicate with the women, things that were important to me, I was motivated to try my best. The regular sermons and Bible studies in out church were always led by the men. The teachings applied to everyone, but sometimes it was important for us ladies to get together, and talk personally. 

After I was finished with the months of nursing our fourth daughter, I started getting together with the women at one of the communal houses. Since we were spread out in the city, it was a good opportunity to meet the young women, who were new in the faith. This began for me a deeper pursuit into the scripture, so I could share God’s truths with the women.

Song link "Run to You" by Elijah Thomas https://open.spotify.com/track/4AsOs1rWSG0IAdLnY8ZfTT?si=4JZQUJ10QyuAhPUcNkzlwA&context=spotify%3Atrack%3A4AsOs1rWSG0IAdLnY8ZfTT



In the last episode, you heard Thomas and Naomi, singing a portion of Psalm 46. In reading the scripture verses, it made me curious, as to the reason he chose those particular phrases. They must have rung true to him at the time. It begins with “God, is our confidence and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we shall not fear, though the earth be removed, and the waters roar.” So what was my young husband troubled about when he sang “I will not fear, even though the ground is shaking under my feet.”

Although our home life was harmonious, and he didn’t have any problems at work, there were other issues wearing on him. That year our form of ministry had shifted and it wasn’t easy, learning to re-structure, after having a communal base. There were still two community houses, but it wasn’t easy for everyone to find their place. Some of the newly married couples, were also busy establishing a means of support, and preparing to start a family.

We were living through, not only the “winds of change” in our young church, but also the troubles in Germany were ever present. In the world news there were constant reports, just like Jesus said, “ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it, that you are not alarmed.”