I am writing about someone whom I have never met - in the traditional sense of the word. It was Beth Easton who introduced me to Johan Schep because many years ago he stayed with Beth's family in Grangemouth. She suggested his name for inclusion in the Dayshare 'family' and he and his wife Linda were added to the mailing list. Most people who read Dayshare blogs rarely comment and remain anonymous. Not so with this enthusiastic Christian from the Netherlands. He has regularly communicated with me for several years. Beth told me that he was a Bible scholar and evangelist and that he would be great for contributing to the blogs. I have shared the testimony from Yothan, the young Israeli who came to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of Johan Schep. I have also recently shared his thoughts on Christmas and his thoughts on those Messianic Jews who do not celebrate Christmas.
Johan has given me written permission to use his book on the letter to the Hebrews on Dayshare and I will be sharing extracts from this book via our website. He has kindly offered me free copies of this book which can be posted out to your home address. I was impressed by Johan's selfless generosity. I have no idea of his financial circumstances but there was no suggestion of payment - there are few websites offering printed books posted out free of charge. I can pass on copies of this book to those of you who live in the Falkirk area. If you want a book posted out to your address, please let me know by giving me your postal address by email to dayshare153@gmail.com
Johan Schep was born in a farm in the Netherlands to parents called Govert (which means 'friend of God) and Ida. He lost his little brother Jan in a road traffic accident just outside their own home. Johan nearly drowned one day when he fell into deep water and had to be rescued by his mother whom he loved dearly. The family attended church every Sunday and at age 11, Johan, along with other boys from the village, attended a youth meeting run by the local Salvation Army. Johan heard about the Good Shepherd and he came close to trusting in Jesus at that stage. In 1963, the family emigrated to Brazil and for a time they stayed in a small wooden house with no electricity and no running water. Johan took ill with a ruptured appendix. His mother gave birth to a baby girl but there were complications with the birth and his mother could have died. Perhaps this was the last straw for Johan's father who was experiencing financial problems and he made the decision to pack up and return to Holland - after only two years.
The family faced several problems on their return to the Netherlands. They were homeless and the family had to stay with different families. At first his father worked in a factory which manufactured animal foodstuff but he borrowed money to start a shop and Johan helped out in the struggling business selling milk around the area. Johan was exempt from military service because he was the main breadwinner for the family. However, he had an urge to travel. He was greatly influenced by the hippy movement in the U.S.A and he loved the songs of Bob Dylan. It was hard making a living because the small shop faced competition from a supermarket and was the target for shoplifting and theft. And so, Johan packed his bags and set off for a new life in Israel where he started working in one of the Kibbutzim. War broke out and Johan headed off for the Negev desert.
He found himself alone in the desert and built a small hut of palm branches. As he was emptying his rucksack he discovered a Bible which had been placed there by his mother. For the first time in his life, he started to read the Bible for himself. His mind was full of questions such as, "Why am I here?"; What is the purpose of life? What happens when I die?" He was touched by the verse in Galatians:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. [Galatians 5:1 ESV]
The two words 'freedom' and Christ jumped out at him and he saw Jesus Christ in a new light. As he read more of the word of God, he saw that Jesus' death on the cross was to bring him freedom which he so much desired. He gave his life to Jesus Christ and became a Christian.
So Johan had been trying to discover the meaning of life but he found his mother's Saviour from reading his Bible. He became an evangelist seizing every opportunity to share the message of good news with everyone who would listen. He did not discriminate between Jews and Gentiles (with the firm belief that the Gospel transcended barriers). He concentrated on Isaiah 53 when he was witnessing to the Jews - a chapter which is so dear to the believer in Jesus the Messiah but presents a challenge to Jews who are still in unbelief.
In the year 1982 Johan came as a student to Capernwray Bible School in Cumbria where he studied the Scriptures in depth but he also became further involved in evangelism. He joined with other students in a Luis Palau Crusade in Leeds where he shared the Gospel in the streets and public places of Leeds. This passion for 'knowing Christ and making Him known' continued after the end of this crusade and inspired him to spend most Saturday afternoons in the city of Lancaster where Johan sought out opportunities to share the Gospel in one-to-one situations in the county town. Bad weather was not a deterrent.
Here is a tribute to Johan Schep from someone who was also part of the staff of Torchbearers International.
I first met Johan in 1986 shortly after each of us joined the staff of Torchbearers International, he in England and I in Germany, I was immediately drawn to Johan's authenticity, his passion to preach the gospel and his infectious relationship with our Lord Jesus, He has been a friend for all seasons. Johan has been teaching in the Torchbearer schools for many years as one of our faithful Field Representatives and has had a deep influence in Christ in the lives of his hearers. It is a privilege to call Johan my friend and to write this short foreword, I have known few believers in the Lord Jesus who have had such a radical conversion experience as Johan. Like some of God's servants, Christ met Johan in the Sinai desert when he was living there as a hippie; the desert then became his classroom! His life has had many twists and turns, but his teaching comes out of a rich walk with the Lord through thick and thin. If you were to ask Johan how long it took to write this book, the correct answer would be, a lifetime. By God's grace, he is the message he preaches. [Peter Reid: General Director of Torchbearers International]
Some Bible teachers have described the Book of Hebrews as one of the most profound Books of the Bible, or even as the fifth Gospel, declaring the superiority of Christ. So we are going to journey with Johan through this amazing and inspiring book of the Bible. Johan's interest in this book is largely because of his passion to preach Christ (the Messiah) to the Jewish people. This is very relevant for the situation in the near Middle East where we find Palestinians and Jews engaged in bitter conflict. Johan is married to Linda whom he knew in his childhood but he met again when he was 54 and she was a widow. They serve the Lord together.
Here is a video from Johan who is currently on a skiing holiday in Switzerland.
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