“I have noticed that the vast majority of Surinamese society is surviving and that life is often a struggle. Not only materially and financially, but also mentally and emotionally, people are in great need.” This is the opinion of the Surinamese-Dutch pastor Orlando Bottenbley of the Free Baptist Church Bethel in Drachten, Netherlands, who is in Suriname for four music concerts entitled ‘Hope is now’.
Text Tascha Aveloo
Image private collection
Bottenbley often visits municipalities in Suriname and has a great love for the country and its people. He states that the help that is often offered to people in need – no matter how well intended – is inadequate. “Then I think it’s great that we can bring a message: ‘we are called to live’. This is the theme of the four meetings.”
“I know plenty of rich people who are really not that happy and ‘poor’ people with peace and joy in their lives. And that is the message of hope that we want to bring”
Jaïr Schalkwijk
Traveling with the preacher were Elvis ‘Elvis E’ Ediagbonya and the celebrated ‘Queen of Gospel’ Muriël Blijd. Elvis E is a successful Nigerian-Dutch gospel artist, singer, pianist, producer and choir conductor and one of the driving forces behind contemporary black gospel music.
Also the Surinamese musical director Ivan Ritfeld, known from Suripop and the Surinamese singer Yvanca Ritfeld, participate in the four music concerts. The whole thing is supported by a live band and an occasional choir of singers, formed by voices brought together and trained by Music & Me under the direction of Bernice Rijn-Hubbard.
(read more below the photo)
Counterbalance
The organization wants to counterbalance daily stress and social uncertainty with high-quality live music and Bottenbley’s message. Bottenbley will briefly talk about the theme ‘Called to live’ at each concert.
“But what does ‘life’ mean? How do you receive life and how can you experience it?” At a time when there is much talk about economic opportunities, rising prosperity and impending oil extraction, the organization invites young and old to reflect together on a deeper form of wealth: ‘what hope and meaning can mean for us today’.
Accessible party for everyone
Jaïr Schalkwijk of the Hoop Foundation is now the initiator of the concert series, and singer Ritfeld emphasize that this is not a traditional evangelization campaign in an old guise, but an accessible party for everyone; religious or not. The tone is set by Bottenbley, who has been closely associated with Suriname for years and brings a successful concept from the Netherlands.
Schalkwijk explains that the event is deliberately set up differently than people may be used to. “When people hear about an evangelization campaign, they immediately think of what they are used to in Surinamese society, namely meetings with long speeches. We have moved away from that. We want to reach people with top musicians and singers, so that they can enjoy beautiful music inspired by faith. At the same time, we want to pass on a message of hope, because we believe that Surinamese people really need this. It will not be a party just for believers, but for everyone. We are convinced that otherwise people will walk away.”
Schalkwijk, who studied in Drachten for years and worked with Bottenbley, looks back on the creation of the initiative. Together with his wife and a team of enthusiastic volunteers, he has organized dozens of events in recent years, but the concert series ‘Hope is now’ takes the concept to a more professional and broader level. “We often see that as a society we focus very much on the future: in a few years oil and gas will arrive, and then everything will be fine. But perhaps we can also make the best of it in the here and now and give people hope. It is a free concert, where you can just walk in even if you have nothing to do with the church. You don’t have to do anything, except enjoy a nice evening. It offers relaxation for people who sometimes do not have the budget for regular entertainment.”
Schalkwijk emphasizes that the event responds to the broader human need for connection and mental peace. He recently conducted a survey on mental health and found that people are very skeptical and sometimes negative about the future of the country. “What I often notice is that we think that one thing is the solution; such as more money. But a person is so much more than that. The spiritual and emotional dimensions are at least as important. Bottenbley brings a down-to-earth message. He has also weathered storms himself, such as the murder of his brother in Suriname and knows what it is like to deal with setbacks. It is not a hallelujah story, but realistic and accessible to everyone.”
Music as a universal language
In addition to a live band and an occasional choir of more than thirty voices, Dutch artists will perform. Singer Ritfeld thinks the initiative is “beautiful and wonderful”. “The foundation is young, but it is moving in the right direction. In February there were already fantastic, well-attended and successful concerts. It is always nice to spread your faith. The event is accessible: everyone is welcome; just come as you are.”
Asked how she personally views the modern view of religion in an age of globalization and social media, Ritfeld remains clear and direct: “For me it is straightforward. I still think in black and white and for me Christ is the only way and the truth in life. I also convey that during the concert, but in an accessible way. And that is exactly the power of the concept of ‘Hope is now’.”
“People are in great need not only materially and financially, but also spiritually and emotionally.”
Orlando Bottenbley
Schalkwijk: “I think that young and old, rich and poor, could use some good news in these times. I know plenty of rich people who are really not that happy and ‘poor’ people with peace and joy in their lives. And that is the message of hope that we want to convey.”
The first concert is Saturday evening at seven o’clock in the Church of God Rainville, followed by a second performance on Sunday morning at ten o’clock at Tabernacle of Faith and Love Ministries. There will be meetings on November 7 and 8 in Ballroom Prince and Congregation Jesus is King respectively.
