by Brendan Kimbrough | Dec 12, 2025 | SAMS Missionaries, Uganda
We give thanks for the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Jessica Hughes, SAMS Missionary, who died at home on December 8th. Jessica celebrated her 55th birthday on December 3rd with greetings from friends all around the world.
Jessica served faithfully with your Society since 2011, primarily as a lecturer focusing on field ministry preparation at Uganda Christian University (UCU) at the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology. She also helped UCU navigate massive challenges during the Covid pandemic by serving as the eLearning Manager. The seeds she planted in her ministry roles continue to bear fruit in East Africa and beyond for the Kingdom of God. Her fellow missionaries, students, and colleagues loved her dearly.
She persevered in the faith and earnestly sought to follow the Lord’s will throughout her life. By God’s grace, she graduated from the Selah program (spiritual direction certification) in September!
Jessica’s sending church, All Saints, Woodbridge, VA, has walked with her beautifully through the two years that she has been on this difficult journey–supported especially by the “Wonder Women” and held in the arms of Jesus. Jessica’s funeral will be at All Saints at a date in early January to be determined.
Jessica shared in her November letter this prayer: “Of all good things I have known in this life, Jesus, it is you alone I might keep into death, and it is you alone that I need.” ~Every Moment Holy, Volume II
Last month Jessica and I shared a sweet time together in prayer and remembering God’s goodness. I carried love and greetings from us all. Her love for you all was deep. We celebrated together the feast day of Hilda of Whitby—another faithful missionary who was gifted by God with wisdom. She, too, suffered in her last years. Hilda’s dying witness left a powerful mark on contemporary Venerable Bede as he recorded that she “passed from death to life.” Jessica kept in her vision the sure hope of passing into life everlasting in Jesus.
Please pray with me:
- O Lord, may you grant comfort and strength for Jessica’s extended family, her Wonder Women, her church family, her UCU family, her SAMS family, and all who love Jessica.
- May you continue your healing touch on Jessica’s godson Nick.
- “Let us learn to love one another well in our common grief, O Lord. Let us learn to speak freely together of our great loss, and our still-greater hope.” ~Every Moment Holy, Volume II
- “Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world;
In the Name of God the Father Almighty who created you;
In the Name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you;
In the Name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you.
May your rest be this day in peace,
and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.”
In the love of Jesus with thanksgiving for you,
Stewart Wicker
A Memorial Service for Jessica will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10 a.m. The service and reception will take place at All Saint’s Church 14851 Gideon Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192
by Brendan Kimbrough | Dec 5, 2025 | SAMS Missionaries
by Brendan Kimbrough | Nov 12, 2025 | SAMS Missionaries
by Logan Gates, SAMS Missionary Candidate to Chile
Have you ever been asked a question about faith and not known what to say? This happened to me a few years ago on the campus of Arizona State University. I was handing out flyers for an event on faith and reason, when a professor came up to me and asked, “Are you one of those Christians who believes in sin?” I was caught off guard and couldn’t think of anything to say besides, “Yes.” Right away he shot back, “Why do you have to go around making people feel bad about themselves? Why do you have to come and do that here?” I had responded with an answer that was biblically faithful, but I could tell that he didn’t leave the interaction with an accurate impression of the Christian faith, because he didn’t see Christianity as having any “good news” to offer!
As Christians we hear and see many types of objections to our faith. “Science and religion cannot be reconciled.” “The Bible is just a collection of myths.” “Christianity is misogynistic and homophobic.” “There can be no good God in a world with so much suffering.” When non-Christians raise such topics, sometimes we can feel tempted to tell people they just need to believe. Why should Christians care about such questions and objections?
In 1 Corinthians 9:22, the Apostle Paul writes, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” When we hear this verse as Christians, we might think of Hudson Taylor, the nineteenth century missionary to China, who took the unprecedented step of adopting Chinese dress to better connect with the local people. But what about becoming all things to all people at the level of their questions about faith? That is the domain of apologetics.
The term “apologetics” can generate mixed reactions among Christians. To some, it can imply that we are “apologizing” for what we believe. For others, apologetics is associated with getting into arguments with people, or trusting in reason instead of the Spirit to change people’s hearts. Some Christians go so far as to say that apologetics is something we should toss out altogether.
But the word apologetics is actually one that is found in the Bible. Perhaps the most prominent place it shows up is in 1 Peter 3:15, where Peter writes, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” The word translated as “answer” is the Greek word apologia, which is a legal term meaning a “reasoned defense.” In other words, “apologetics” doesn’t have to do at all with apologizing but rather offering a reason for the hope that we have in Christ.
How do we do that exactly? To start, Peter tells us our apologetic should be given with “gentleness and respect.” The hope that is within us looks and sounds much more winsome to a hearer when we give a gentle and respectful answer that is also reasoned. On top of this, it’s interesting that Peter doesn’t tell Christians to give an answer to a person’s questions, but rather the person behind the questions. Peter tells us we are to give an answer to any “one” who asks about the hope that we have. This distinction may seem like hair splitting, but often as Christians we can find ourselves giving correct answers, like I did to the professor at Arizona State, while failing to reach the person and the deeper concern behind the question itself.
To give another example, if someone asks us why a good God would allow evil and suffering, we might be tempted to jump to a philosophical answer. But it is very possible that the person who has asked this question is undergoing intense suffering themself, and the philosophical answer won’t hit home. Perhaps what they need most is for us just to listen, to express sorrow, or to pray for them. We need to resist the temptation to jump in with an answer.
How do we grow in answering people and not questions? We can follow the example of Jesus, who often answered people’s questions by asking questions in return. One case where Jesus does this is when he is asked by the rich young ruler in Luke 18, “Good Teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Of all people, Jesus knew the answer to this question! Nevertheless, Jesus responds to this question with a question: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone…” By responding in this way, Jesus drew out from the rich young ruler the deeper barrier keeping him from entrusting his life to Jesus: he thought he was good enough for God.
Of course, we aren’t Jesus and don’t have his supernatural insight into what’s going on in people’s hearts. But there are good questions we can ask to better understand the questioner behind the question. We might ask something like, “May I ask why you asked that question?” or “Is this something you’ve felt for a long time?” When people make blanket statements about the Christian faith (i.e. “science has proved that God doesn’t exist), we can ask clarifying questions: What do you mean by “science”? What do you mean by “prove”? How did you come to that conclusion? Often this will lead to the person opening up more about what their real issues are when it comes to God, which gives us the chance to engage them at the level of the heart and help them see the reason and beauty that is to be found in Christ and His Gospel.
Now, there will be times when we need to not just ask questions but also give “answers”! It might be that someone we’re speaking with really does want to know about how science can be reconciled with faith, or what evidence there is that the Bible is historically reliable. In those cases, we might have some homework to do! After all, Peter says we are to be “prepared” to give an answer – and getting prepared takes time and effort. It can be overwhelming to think of preparing for all the possible questions our unbelieving friends and family members might have. But a good place to start is thinking through for ourselves why we believe that Christianity is really true. What “reason” do we find most compelling for believing in the God of the Bible? It could be that the Lord has intervened in our lives in a dramatic way, or that we see his glory in creation, or perhaps we find compelling evidence that comes from science, history, or philosophy. Your answer to this question will help others who are seeking.
You might next think about who are the non-believers whom God has placed in your life, and whether you’ve asked them what are the barriers that hold them back from believing in Jesus. You might not know how to answer in the moment, but you can always thank them for sharing and say you’ll think about it further. This gives you the chance to look into their questions and find resources and answers that could be helpful for them. Your friend will appreciate that you took the time to care about their questions!
A final thought. It’s striking that in 1 Peter 3:15, before Peter has anything to say about how we are to answer, he talks to us about the importance of our own hearts before God: “But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy…” What matters far more than our particular answers is the integrity of our own walk with the Lord. To paraphrase the British evangelist Michael Ramsden: it might be we have all the answers ready, but no one is asking us any questions. In that case, we need to ask how we are living, and whether that leads people to ask about our hope – and want it for themselves. Lord, help us!
Logan Gates is an Adjunct Speaker with Apologetics Canada who, along with his wife Samantha and their son Lewis, is preparing to serve in Chile as a Missionary Candidate with SAMS. Visit their Missionary page here.
by Brendan Kimbrough | Oct 24, 2025 | SAMS Missionaries
By Wade and Chelsea Weeldreyer, SAMS Co-Directors of Missionary Care and Mission Engagement
In September, SAMS missionaries, senders, and staff gathered with 1,500 other Christians at the New Wineskins Hope for the Nations Conference in North Carolina. Over several days, we celebrated God’s redemptive work around the world and asked the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into his field.
One simple refrain that emerged again and again, from plenary speakers to casual conversations, was this: God is on the move.
Indeed He is, and the 11th annual New Wineskins conference brought this into focus in fresh ways.
Here are a few glimpses of the ways that SAMS saw God on the move…
We saw God on the move as seasoned missionaries and individuals exploring missions shared meals together, shaping one another with questions, a listening ear, and times of sharing.
We saw God on the move as conference-goers stopped to chat at SAMS’ mission exhibit. The Spirit works through the ordinary, and many individuals stopped to connect with us because they noticed our world map, the coffee station, or, simply, a SAMS missionary practicing the ministry of presence.
We saw God on the move through our SAMS Celebration Dinner speakers – four missionaries who invited us to rejoice in how God is active in Europe, the U.S., North Africa, and Southeast Asia; and to imagine the ways in which God invites all of us to join Him in His global mission.
We saw God on the move through “divine appointments,” such as when a retired air traffic controller met a Southeast Asian global leader seeking someone to serve alongside the local church using exactly those skills. (Connections like these invite us into postures of prayerful curiosity about how God will move next!)
Finally, we saw God on the move through missional partnerships that already exist around the world. Through these partnerships, members of the body of Christ can gift one another with mutual discernment, encouragement, and joy.
In step with this, we welcome you to join SAMS in prayer in the following ways:
- Pray that missionary inquirers can move forward in mutual discernment with their home churches, with a sending organization such as SAMS, and with a receiving church wherever God leads.
- Pray that missionaries will continue to receive encouragement from the conversations, prayers, and interactions that they experienced at New Wineskins.
- Pray that senders experience much joy in their refreshed and increased connection with missionaries and the workings of God’s mission around the globe.
If you were at New Wineskins this year, we hope that you, too, are reflecting on the ways in which you sensed God on the move. Perhaps you experienced a renewed sense of discernment, encouragement, or joy along the way. We pray that the Lord meets you and blesses you where you are. And, if you were not at this year’s conference, you may decide to mark your calendar for the next one: September 20-23, 2028!
by Brendan Kimbrough | Oct 3, 2025 | Netherlands, SAMS Missionaries, The Church and Evangelism
by Johann Vanderbijl, SAMS Missionary, pastor and author serving in the Netherlands
What causes people who have once known the power and presence of the living God to stop following Him?
Moses warned Israel that it begins with complacency. When God’s people forget to honor Him as Father and Creator, they slowly relegate Him to the sidelines of life. That is not only Israel’s story—it is Europe’s story. Once the cradle of the Reformation, Europe is now a mission field. And the Netherlands, where my wife Louise and I serve, is a vivid example of what happens when nations that once knew God slowly forget Him.
The Spiritual Reality in the Netherlands
A few snapshots paint the picture clearly:
- Islam is growing: In 2015, about 4.9% of the Dutch population were Muslims. By 2023, that number had risen to 6%.
- Evangelicals are few: Only about 4% of the Dutch population identify as Evangelical believers, most of them clustered in the “Bible Belt,” far from the province where we work.
- Religion is declining: In 2010, 55% of the Dutch population considered themselves religious. By 2023, that number had dropped to 42%.
- Young people are drifting: Two-thirds of 18–25-year-olds now identify as non-religious. In our church, teenagers often tell us they are the only Christians in their schools—and confessing Jesus is viewed as ‘social suicide’.
- Even among Christians, faith is shallow: Fewer than half of Protestants attend church monthly, and three-quarters of Roman Catholics rarely or never go.
In short: the Netherlands is religiously plural, spiritually restless, and largely post-Christian.
Why North Holland?
Nowhere is this more evident than in North Holland, where we live and serve. This province has a rich spiritual history. Haarlem was home to Corrie Ten Boom. Alkmaar was the region of Brother Andrew. Missionaries like Willibrord and Boniface once brought the gospel to the Frisians here. Today, however, North Holland is one of the least churched provinces in the Netherlands. Many historic church buildings are no longer places of worship—they’ve become apartments, museums, cafés, or even breweries. They stand as silent symbols of a faith remembered but not lived. On a typical Sunday in our region, a church service might draw only a handful of elderly members. The younger generation—our neighbors, our children’s friends—are growing up without ever hearing the gospel in a meaningful way.
Why This Matters
So why Europe? Why North Holland? Because if the gospel is truly good news for all people, then it is also good news for Europeans—people who once carried the gospel across the globe, but who are now in desperate need of hearing it again.
The spiritual hunger is real:
- Loneliness is rising, especially among young people, often leading to anxiety, depression, and fear.
- Suicide is now the leading cause of death among Dutch teens and young adults. The number of youth seeking help for suicidal thoughts has risen by 75%.
Europe doesn’t just need nostalgia for a Christian past. It needs Jesus today.
Our Role—and How You Can Join Us
In North Holland, we meet people who are spiritually curious but biblically illiterate. Young adults who have never opened a Bible. Families searching for identity in everything but Christ. People who believe everything—and nothing. We cannot change this landscape alone. But we also cannot ignore it. That’s why partnership matters. Your prayers, encouragement, and support are not simply “keeping missionaries on the field.” They are investments in re-evangelizing a province, a nation, and a continent that has forgotten its first love.
Hope for Europe
So I return to the opening question: What causes people to stop following God? It happens slowly—through complacency, compromise, forgetting, and replacing Him with lesser gods. But what can bring them back? The faithful witness of God’s people, boldly proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord—not only of history, not only of other nations, but also of the Netherlands, of North Holland, of every street, family, and heart where His name has been forgotten. We believe God is not finished with Europe. Revival is possible. But it begins when God’s people take seriously the call to go, to give, to pray, and to serve. That’s why we’re here. And that’s why we invite you to join us—so that the gospel will not only be Europe’s past, but also Europe’s future.
Resources:
https://oakriverpress.com/products/patw/europe/europe-full-small.pdf
https://oakriverpress.com/
Johann and Louise VanderBijl are SAMS Missionaries serving in the north Holland city of Heiloo. Johann’s missionary roots trace back to his Great-Grandfather – an Anglican missionary in Southern Africa. The Lord revealed His love and purpose to Johann in 1980 through the witness of an unrelated missionary. Since then, his personal salvation impressed upon him the need to share with others the wonderful gift given to him, especially those lost in their own misfortunes. Johann and Louise met while they were both serving in Northwestern Namibia. Together, they try to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness in whatever God has called them to do. Johann has authored several books which can be found under the Langham Publishing imprint.
For further information and how you can support the VanderBijl’s cross-cultural work visit their SAMS page and their blog.
