History of Atlantic Bridge

A short history of Atlantic Bridge

In January 1988 John and Donna Oostdyk went to the Notary in the town of Kruiningen (The Netherlands) and  signed the documents to officially start Atlantic Bridge. At that time they lived in a building that used to be a retirement home (called Avondlicht – Evening Light). In 1983 three families with a total of ten children had bought the building and started a Christian community for the care of youth, local as well as regional and international. In a sense Atlantic Bridge was birthed out of this community as most of the family members were involved and supported it  in some way or other. The name of the building that housed these families had been changed to De Vierslag.

Atlantic Bridge has its roots in Youth For Christ, an international Christian youth organization. John and Donna had been staff members of YFC International since 1973 but felt a pull to begin a new endeavor and project under the slogan “building bridges and breaking down walls”. For a number of years while working from the Vierslag, they worked in partnership with Youth For Christ, managing a European music band called Oasis and later on the Youth Ministry Exchange Program. In 1988 the umbilical cord was cut and Atlantic Bridge drifted out into the uncharted waters of the youth culture in Europe.