For me, it was love at first sight. As a man in my early thirties, I traveled regularly to the United States during the mid-1990s. My work at Baan Company brought me to cities such as San Francisco, Denver, and Washington. I thoroughly enjoyed all the differences, but above all, the people — the Americans. My love for America has never faded since then.

Several years passed, and I picked up the “America thread” again in 2019 and decided to start my own organization in the U.S.: MissionInvest USA. Since then, I have traveled to America several times a year to build a network of Christian donors and investors for our 'Kingdom projects', particularly in Africa, Asia, and Central America.

Critical response
Until recently, I could count on a great deal of sympathy whenever I talked about America. But that is beginning to change. There is still sympathy, but at the same time I increasingly encounter critical reactions. Understandably so, because America is constantly in the spotlight; almost everyone follows developments there closely.

Yet opinions are divided and often black and white, with far too little nuance. They are frequently shaped by the media, and public perception is heavily influenced by a handful of politicians. At the same time, that is not the whole story. Those who travel through America themselves encounter a different reality. You speak with ordinary men and women; you meet each other person to person. Especially in encounters with Christians, it becomes a conversation from heart to heart. That is what makes every visit to America valuable to me. And that is precisely why I believe it is important to show that side of America as well.

No politics, but faith
America is so colorful that it cannot be captured simply in the colors blue and red. Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, and Iowa are all states with their own unique characteristics. Political preference is only one aspect. And although politics certainly interests me, I know it can be sensitive, so I simply avoid discussing it. As an outsider, I need to know my place. I prefer to focus on what connects us. For me, that is the Christian faith and the love for God and His Kingdom. That is where the core lies for me. In that, we stand shoulder to shoulder.

Take, for example, Kees who's a farmer in Texas. Forty years ago, he emigrated from the Netherlands and started in Texas with 38 cows. Today, he runs a large operation with 12,000 cows. As the son of a farmer myself, I loved driving across his ranch in a large American pickup truck, visiting the different locations. Less than a year later, I attended Sunday morning church with him, where we sang psalms together, shared a wonderful lunch afterward, and met many fellow believers.

I fondly remember Rick, an entrepreneur with a great heart for missionary projects. We were the same age. We met in 2019; a few years later, we both became ill. We exchanged many messages, sharing our concerns and hopes. Rick passed away at the end of 2023, but his testimony lives on. My connection with his wife has become a lifelong friendship.

Although a great deal of money is earned in a state like Texas through textiles and oil, Texans are also remarkably generous. Wherever there is need, they help — nearby or far away. That deeply moves me. Especially when it comes to spreading the Gospel, they are willing to give very large sums of money. I notice it time and again in conversations. For them, one thing stands above all else: winning people for the Kingdom of God.

Why Americans are so mission-minded
Why do they do that? Because of Jesus’ command to proclaim the Gospel worldwide. That cannot wait. Right now, the fields are ripe for harvest! MissionInvest therefore travels regularly to Texas to develop partnerships with larger donors for its missionary projects. Much is needed; the harvest is plentiful. Among Christian entrepreneurs in America, there is a strong missionary awareness.

I have often wondered why that is, and why that same strong focus seems less present in the Netherlands. I cannot support it with research, but I believe it has everything to do with the way many American churches actively involve their members in missionary work. Not through committees, but by encouraging people to go, give, and serve themselves — among other things through mission trips. As a result, a culture develops in which missionary thinking becomes second nature.

Gratitude
In America, I often hear people say: “God has blessed us abundantly, and that’s why we want to give back.” That attitude flows from gratitude — the desire to give something back out of love for our good God. Because of all His blessings, but even more because of the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, the dearest thing He had to give.

The radical commitment, the generosity, the passion for God’s Kingdom — that is what touches me in American Christians. Therefore, despite all the differences, I love Americans!