The name DNJI comes from “District Nazarener Jeugd Internationaal” which is translated “district nazarene youth international”. The youth work of the Church of the Nazarene in the Netherlands is organized in the DNJI. Its main focus is the age group 12-29 years. The DNJI forms an alone standing organization within the international church as well as the district. Every local church has a youth group which comes together on a weekly base for a variety of activities. For more information on the DNJI visit our website www.dnji.nl (only in Dutch available).

The DNJI is responsible for national activities such as youth camps, youth weekends, gala’s, leadership development, etc. The DNJI is to support the local churches in their efforts to reach young people and educate young Christians.

As DNJI we are trying to help connect the different local NYI’s and support communication so that all can learn from each other as well as carry each other’s burdens. One of the features of this communication support is the monthly newsletter ProActive (sign up – only in Dutch available). ProActive helps to keep each other posted of what is going on in all NYI’s throughout the district. Newsletters are a simple communication tool but very effective.

The DNJI is run by a council of young people who are all elected by the yearly DNJI convention. These young people are all volunteers and next to their families, friends, and local church responsibilities have it on their heart to serve the district youth.

Since many years the district invests in the DNJI by providing financial resource for a district youth worker. In the past this was more an administrative position ensuring that all DNJI events are organized properly and therefore the organizational burden wouldn’t be too much for the DNJI council. In 2007 the DNJI and district decided to change the job description of the district youth worker into a district youth pastor. Since January 2008 I (Dennis Mohn) am working as district youth pastor in the Netherlands. The organizational tasks are divided between the members of the DNJI council. Each member has his own sub-committee that helps him or her with the implementation of their task. In the DNJI council meetings itself we come together to share our progress with each other and divide new responsibilities.

My job is it to coach and mentor the local youth leaders. Many of them are lay people and are mostly stand in their position without much help, which has nothing to do with that the church leadership doesn’t want to help but because there are not much resources available such as bible study material, finances, etc. My job is it to help those youth leaders to find good material that will assist them in their ministry but most of all it is my to be a pastor to them and help them with problems they face with other leaders, challenges they meet with teenagers and young adults, and theological questions they have. On a regular base I am visiting the local leaders to talk with them about their ministry and to hear what I and the DNJI could do for them to help them in their task.

The youth work in the Netherlands is on the right track and moving into a great future. It is great to see how people grow in their faith and bond with people from all over the district. God is at work! If you have any questions feel free to contact us.