European Bible Mission (EEBM) and to serving full time instead. She joined the EEBM staff in March 1983 as editor/writer of the mission's English-language publications. Based at EEBM's international headquarters in the Netherlands, Jan served in this capacity for almost six years and also traveled into Eastern Europe, bringing Bibles, Christian literature, and encouragement to believers there.
In March 1989 Jan transferred to Vienna, Austria, to work with Biblical Education by Extension (BEE) International as an English/educational editor, editing and rewriting curriculum for its seminary-type training program and church-based training centers in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In April 1991 Jan joined the Soviet team as administrative assistant, coordinating BEE teaching trips into the Soviet Union. She became the administrator and managing editor of Russian publications for the C.I.S. & Baltics team in May 1994 and took on the added responsibilities of overseeing the translation, editing, and printing of the BEE curriculum in Russian and other languages of the former Soviet Union.
In June 1995 Jan transitioned to BEE International’s U.S. headquarters staff as special assistant to the president. This involved assisting the mission president with scheduling and communications with the field staff and Board of Directors and handling the foreign rights and copyright permissions for the various language editions of the BEE curriculum. She also planned and edited the mission newsletter and edited development and communications materials sent out from the U.S. office.
Prior to joining GEM in November 2005, Jan was on loan to BEE World and its Internet Biblical Seminary project as a curriculum editor for three years. This project focuses on offering the BEE curriculum in numerous languages over the Internet and on CD.
During these years Jan has had a front row seat to the collapse of Communism and the opening up of a new era of freedom in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. She has also had a front row seat to the decline of Christianity in Western Europe. When Jan speaks about the work of Greater Europe Mission, she does so enthusiastically, motivated by the testimonies of the Christians she has met in those regions. |