New Europe Director Appointed
30 September 2020
We are delighted to announce that Peter Maris is the new Area Directors for Europe, picture here with his wife Annemarie. He takes over from Carolyn Jackson who is now focussing exclusively on her role as Equipping Director and remains on our Leadership Team. Under Carolyn's leadership since 2015, the Area has grown to around 20 countries with many others well on their way to establishing a national Freedom In Christ ministry.
Steve Goss, International Director, says, "Carolyn has done an absolutely outstanding job in leading the Europe Area and also our developing work in the Middle East. She hands over a vibrant, growing community to Peter and Annemarie. I've known Peter and Annemarie since 2012 and have seen them do a fantastic job in developing Freedom In Christ in the Netherlands and also in Albania, as well as serving as Assistant Area Director in Europe. I can't think of anyone better suited to taking over the leadership of our largest area. I'm very excited to see what develops!"
As she stepped down from the role, Carolyn Jackson said, "Since 2015 it has been my privilege and joy to serve as Area Director and play my part in a such wonderful team of godly men and women. I want to give my heartfelt thanks to every national leader and team member for all their prayers, support, grace, and encouragement. I especially thank my Assistant Area Director, Peter Maris, for all his faithful support, input and wisdom. We have worked together for over seven years and I am really delighted that the Lord has clearly directed our steps to appoint him as my successor. I hope to have the privilege of cheering him on in this next part of God’s pathway for Freedom In Christ in Europe."
Based in the Netherlands, Peter and Annemarie have three grown-up children. Until 2009 Annemarie worked with people with special needs and Peter was head of a sales department but they gave up their jobs to go as missionaries bringing humanitarian aid to Albania. A year or so later a French missionary gave them a copy of the Freedom In Christ Course, saying, "It will be helpful in your work for the Lord but it is not necessary to make it your ministry". It made a great impact on them and they found themselves telling many Albanian pastors about it. Peter then felt called to translate the course into Albanian and made contact with Freedom In Christ Ministries. Steve Goss invited him to a gathering of Freedom In Christ people from around the world in 2012 where he met Jan and Nellie Kits who had started Freedom In Christ in the Netherlands. When they felt it right to step back from that role some years later, they asked Peter whether he would succeed them and so, after seven years in Albania, Peter and Annemarie returned to the Netherlands in 2018. They left behind a fully-functioning office in Abania under the leadership of Pastor Arjan Larashi. Annemarie has been very active in co-ordinating intercession in Europe for Freedom In Christ and Peter has been Assistant Europe Director. He remains on the Board of Freedom In Christ Albania.
Peter and Annemarie say, "All these years we have been guided, trained, and equipped by Carolyn Jackson. Now Carolyn is handing the baton to us. It was difficult for her to hand it over and it was not easy for us to say yes because it is impossible to replace her. But we love to serve the Lord and have a heart to equip churches in Europe to transform the nations so are moving forward in faith. It is a privilege to work in God's Kingdom."