I am a believer

The Christian evangelical activities of Johannes Hoefnagel; Producer, designer, media specialist, visionary.

Johannes has a natural style of faith experience, in which daily practice and the people around him determine to what extent talking about faith is relevant. Much more often than talking about it, he lives and applies daily matters in his conviction. In addition, Johannes is committed to practical matters, such as organization, vision and production of holistic activities.

Explanation of the concept of 4M character weekend to the 4M Team Romania in the Tatra Mountains.

With a clear vision on marketing the Christian method, Johannes combines contemporary marketing and communication techniques with sober and logical thinking and doing.

The early years

Raised in a Full Gospel Church as the son of pastor and church founder Hessel Hoefnagel, faith has always been a present factor. When Johannes met his future wife Carola Vorsterman van Oijen, through his childhood friend Esther (married Vorsterman van Oijen) from his youth group, he broke off his study of Tropical Cultural Engineering, because Carola had absolutely no ambitions to go-abroad-live-and-work. Johannes’ goal was to work and help, so not dependent on donations from the Netherlands, but to be (financially) independent and help from there. That turned out differently.

Burning Candles

Through Carola, Johannes becomes involved with Burning Candles, a well-known Dutch gospel group where Carola sings. The enterprising Johannes quickly finds his way in the gospel world and starts working as a lighting technician for Flevo Festival, EO Praise and Opwekking, in addition to his own design and advertising agency.

The adventurous Johannes joins in the (inter)national activities of Burning Candles and travels with Carola to various corners of the Netherlands, Europe and even Israel.

Vrije Evangelisatie Zwolle

In his new home church, Vrije Evangelisatie in Zwolle, Johannes takes on various media and presentation-oriented tasks. The VEZ is the home church of Burning Candles where singing and music are an important ingredient of the church services.

In his younger years, Johannes has a clear image of evangelism. In his experience, this must be done in a contemporary way that appeals to a broad target group. Always focused on the outside world, because that is where the people are that need to be reached.

When Henk Stoorvogel is hired as a pastor at the VEZ in 2005, Henk and Johannes quickly find each other. Henk with a clear vision of evangelistic messages and Johannes knows how to implement this in an advertising-oriented way. Great evangelistic campaigns are created, such as ‘Party in the Houses‘ and ‘Buy a Chair‘ for the expansion plans of the VEZ.

De 4e Musketier

It is therefore more than logical that Johannes is attracted to the idea of ​​the 4th Musketeer; an initiative that Henk wants to set up with 3 of his friends.

Johannes has a lot of experience in project-based work, both in the field of marketing and in the field of events. With his regular group of volunteers from the VEZ, they know how to guide 4th Musketeer into a successful organization very quickly. Henk provides the spiritual charge and Johannes produces the activities into real adventures. The Dutch Christian man doesn’t know what’s happening to him.

600 men celebrate their battle in the Belgian Ardennes.

4M becomes a great success and has grown into a worldwide movement through trial and error; more than 50,000 participants in more than 25 countries have become acquainted with the various activities.

Johannes is co-responsible for the rollout to more than 15 countries and produces a Muskathlon in a number of countries.

In 2016, 4M ends up in a crisis. That’s not so strange. When an organization grows so quickly and gets more and more activities, with many new people participating, clear management is needed. This resulted in different insights and interests. With great pain in his heart, Johannes left 4M.

Time to Reflect

Johannes takes the time to reflect on his principles. Faith, lifestyle and (future) work are considered and stripped of all self-evident things. A new phase begins; no longer accepting everything, but first thinking about it. Faith, meaning and way of life are experienced per day and in the moment. No ‘why’ questions are asked, only how to deal with a new day and everything that comes his way.

In 2020, Johannes starts to clear up old issues and make agreements with people from the past with whom matters need to be discussed. Only with those who want to.

Speaking out to each other, listening and sharing are a good basis for forgiveness of each other. And that is precisely why recovery can take place.

Central and South America, Eastern Europe and New Zealand

In 2022, Johannes is asked to go to Ecuador where 4M is starting up. No obligations or executive task. Along as a friend.

In Ecuador, Johannes speaks with Kent Sused, CEO 4M USA. Kent would like Johannes to help develop 4M International in various countries, including Central and South American countries.

Colombia 2023

In the following years, old friendships are renewed and new friendships are made. 4M is set up in the American countries of Ecuador, Guatemala and Colombia. Johannes also helps out in Romania, Denmark and New Zealand.

De Basis Apeldoorn – Upstream café

In recent years, Johannes has been a guest at De Basis/Upstream in Apeldoorn during the Christian holidays. Peter van der Weerd is the pastor/initiator there, Johannes has worked a lot with Peter in the past.

Christmas Musical ‘De Coupé’ – Upstream Apeldoorn with Ben Ketting, Jonathan Vroege and Sera van der Vijver.

In 2023, Peter asks to help with a large Christmas production ‘De Coupé’. Johannes is responsible for the lighting of this impressive theatre piece. More than 8,000 people visit the performance. Johannes remains involved with Upstream, to supervise various matters. In 2024, Johannes will take care of the Christmas performances.

Family

Johannes and Carola got married in 1993 and have one daughter, Isabelle.

Carola, Johannes and Isabelle

Timeline – Christian organizations

1970 – 1989

  • Full Gospel Church Emmen, Stadskanaal, Hardenberg, Enschede, Urk

  • Italy (South Italy mission)

  • Youth group Emmen

1990

  • Burning Candles

  • Free Evangelism Zwolle (VEZ)

1991

  • Burning Candles 25 years

1992 – 2000

  • Flevo Festival, Flevo Hof (Biddinghuizen), Eindhoven Airport, Liempde

1993 – 2001

  • EO Praise, EO Vips, EO TV

  • Burning Candles Christmas concerts

1994

  • Burning Candles, Ukraine tour

1996

  • Opwekking, Pentecost conference until 2008

  • Burning Candles 30 years, Israel tour – Jerusalem 3000 years

1998 – 2008

  • Vrije Evangelisatie Zwolle (VEZ): Projection/Media team, Head of Communication, Party in the Houses, Buy a Chair, Christmas concerts

2007

  • Homeless marathon Zwolle

2008 – 2017

  • The 4th Musketeer character weekends (4M): Belgium, Germany, USA, UK, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, South Africa, Australia

  • 4M Events

2012

  • Muskathlon: Greece, South Africa (A21)

  • 4MUSK, magazine for Musketeers

2015

  • Arise (4M women)

2020

  • Come Home, Theo Lens

2022

  • 4M International: Ecuador, Guatemala, Romania

2023

  • 4M International: Denmark, Colombia, New Zealand

  • De Basis Apeldoorn, Christmas musical de Coupé

2024

  • De Basis/Upstream Apeldoorn, Lighting team training

  • 4M Training – The Salvation Army Netherlands

  • 4M Company Challenge – Groothuis Group

  • De Basis/Upstream Apeldoorn, Christmas services