Stichting "De Vaste Burcht"

Focus on Mission & Evangelization, wherever on earth!   We go back to the year 1979. I (Adri) worked for ABN-AMRO Bank HQ in Amsterdam, and joined an in-company course where presentation techniques were teached. Part of the course was a ten minutes presentation about a subject you could freely choose. One of my colleagues, Pieter Molenaar, gave a presentation about a foundation he set up together with his wife. In those days trailer truck convoys were organized to Poland because famine prevailed the country. His foundation was organizing a convoy as well, but could not get around the finances; he was in desperate need for more financial support, otherwise the trailer would be half empty, and - as we all know - it is costly to transport air by car. So, this was the main theme of his speech. After he finished the speech he sat down next to me, and whispered in my ears: "...and, do you think I did well?" I whispered back: "Yes you did, but at a certain point you did not tell the truth!" He was flabbergasted and did not know what to think about my answer. I told him: "You are not correct in telling the audience you have a deficit, because you have not!" He started to become angry and replied "I phoned my wife this morning, and I know exactly which amount I am short of!" I asked him what the amount was. He mentioned the amount, and although I cannot remember anymore what the amount was, it must have been several thousands of euro's. Then I reacted: "I will transfer this amount today into your bank account. Do you see now that you didn't tell the truth? You do not have a deficit at all !" Since that time we have worked together for many years, and helped in each other's projects. He has been in the board of "De Vaste Burcht" for two decades. In fact, he is one of the very few Chistian colleagues I have ever had in my banking career. I can tell you, there are hardly any Christians around in Investment Banking circles. At the time I was in a very difficult situation as a managing director of an Amsterdam stockbroker company, he and his wife have been on their knees for several years to uphold me in prayers. Pieter teached me how to set up a foundation, and make maximum use of tax deductibilities. "De Vaste Burcht"was born on April 18th, 1980.