This is Anton Hein. Born 50 years ago in Amsterdam, Netherlands (or Holland, if you will), and still enjoying this wonderful world-class city in pocket format.

My wife and I operate various web sites but thought it might be good to provide one dedicated place to introduce ourselves.

I was born on a houseboat moored in the Prinsengracht, straight across from the Westerkerk Church — whose tower, while technically not located in the Jordaan district, was claimed as theirs by the citizens of that most famous Amsterdam neighborhood. It is Holland’s most famous church overlooking the most sung-about neighborhood in the country. [See picture above... on Nov. 14, 2007, the tower was lit in blue in honor of World Diabetes Day]

Catty-corner from our floating home was the Anne Frank House. Still is, actually, but our house boat is long gone and I currently don’t even live in the Jordaan area anymore.

Parrots, Ireland, and Last Names

In September, 2002, I married Janet Hudson and ever since we have lived in her home in Amsterdam-North — a flat on the sixth floor of a high-rise building situated in a beautiful park.

We live among the tree-tops, so to speak (watching flocks of playful parrots go from tree to tree — global warming is unfolding before our very eyes). We may eventually move back to the very center of Amsterdam, but there’s no hurry. Over here we’ve actually got the best of two worlds: One the one hand one of the finest cities in the world, and on the other one of the most beautiful nature areas.

Janet was born in England, but to her great joy she was raised in Ireland, and she’s truly as Irish as they come.

We are best friends, and we make a great team as we compliment each other in skills, character and temperament.

Work, Work, Work

Janet is a licensed mental health counselor. She works 32 hours a week with an organization that provides shelters, legal- and practical help to abused women.

Together we operate a number of non-profit websites that deal with Christian apologetics (a defense of the Christian faith against challenges both from within and without), religious cults, and God’s grace and mercy.

We are helped by a number of friends — including my brother, Ruud Hein, who is a SEO and WordPress expert.

We also publish some commercial websites, and provide hosting to several third-party sites.

Ministry

We are Christians, but we are uncomfortable with much that is said and done in the name of Christianity.

We believe in practical, relevant Christianity: walking the walk instead of just talking the talk. By that we do not mean a disregard for sound doctrine, but rather sound doctrine that goes hand in hand with a desire to try and be like Jesus.

Our guiding scripture is Jesus’ mission statement, which we see as our ‘job description’ as well:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
- Source: Luke 4:18-19

We try to live our lives — and to engage in ministry — from that perspective.

Anton Hein