Christians for Israel Holland appoints new Office Manager

After twenty years of faithful service, Leo van Koesveld will retire as office manager of Christians for Israel Holland (Christenen voor Israël) in Nijkerk, Netherlands as of 30th June 2012. The editors of The Messenger wish to acknowledge all the work Leo has done over the years. He has been one of the pillars of the Dutch organisation, responsible for a diverse portfolio including human resources management, financial administration, event management and office facility management. Leo has an amazing knowledge of Israel and the Jewish people, and has led many groups to Israel. We wish Leo all the best in his retirement, together with his wife Lida.

Leo’s successor is Ben VandePutte. Ben is well known to many of us. Together with his brother David, Ben established Christians for Israel Belgium (he is still the secretary), which for many years operated as a project under the Dutch branch, but is is now an independent non-profit organisation under Belgian law. Read more

Ben tells us:
"I met my beautiful wife Cornelia while working in the Ukraine as a bus driver for the Exobus project in the 1990s, together with my brother David and Koen Carlier. We now have three wonderful children: Samuel (12), Rebekka (10) and Noah (3). For the last 9 years I have been working as shipping agent for a large Spanish Shipping company in Zeebrugge, Belgium. We moved to Nijkerk last August in order to take up this position. For the last six months of 2012 I commuted to Belgium, and since 1 January 2012 I have been working at the Israel Centre in Nijkerk. I enjoy badminton, and love cycling to work on my new Dutch bicycle!

I am really enjoying working in the Israel Centre, where I meet so many people who share my deep passion and love for the Lord and His people. I especially want to thank Leo who is mentoring and training me to take over this very challenging position in July."