Two years ago, in January 2018, I was going to a conference at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. While walking in the sun and enjoying the setting I prayed: Lord how I would love to work in Amsterdam, preferably in an international setting. Now I am employed in a wonderful institute which matches both criteria. I am a grateful person.
My name is Laura Dijkhuizen and since January of this new year I am working at the IBTS Centre as the new coordinator of the Research Community. I will be taking over the coordinating tasks of David McMillan and explore how to develop the Research Community further.
The work at IBTSC is part time (ideally on Mondays and Tuesdays) the other days I am working as an Academic Dean of the School of Divinity at the Foundation Academy of Amsterdam (for the very curious ones: www.foundation.eu.com).
I studied theology in Amsterdam, a Bachelor in Missions and my Masters in Practical Theology at the Vrije Universiteit. Currently I am undertaking my PhD on the (in)visibility of women within the Dutch Evangelical Movement.
I live close to Amsterdam with my husband and two (out of five) daughters. The oldest three already moved out. We have a background in missions and lived on the compound of an Evangelical organisation in the Netherlands. We were responsible for youth work for about ten years and our oldest three daughters were born during this period. The two youngest come from Mozambique where we have been involved in several projects. Among other things, we developed a Bible School which is still running. Currently I am involved in a pastors training program which runs throughout more than a dozen countries on the African continent.
I am very much looking forward taking up this new challenge within the IBTSC and serve the Research Community. My dream is that theological research will serve the practice within the church and her mission. And vice versa that research is inspired by these practices and serve the bigger goal of Gods mission with the church.
