If this is your first time to be introduced to us, we are Jon and Lisa Vande Riet. We were born three months and a thousand miles apart. I (Jon) was raised on meat and potatoes in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lisa comes from spicy New Orleans with its Shrimp Gumbo and Jumbalaya.
My ancestry reaches back to a long line of preachers and teachers from the Netherlands. My grandfather, who was a pastor, prayed so much he wore holes in the knees of his long underwear. He was also a writer and editor for the Christian Reformed Church.
Lisa's maternal side is Cajun French and paternal is Irish. Her Irish side, the Quinns, has the entrepreneurial spark. Her Irish grandfather, Francis Patrick was born on St. Patrick's Day. He came to the U.S. and tried settling in Michigan, but after seeing a sign at the Ford Motor Company, "Irish Catholics Need Not Apply", he went south and never bought a Taurus.
In New Orleans, Francis Patrick had a son called Pat, a grandson called Patrick, and a great grandson named Francis Patrick. Although the first Francis Patirck only had 75 cents when he arrived in the U.S., these "Patricks" now own a number of hotels in New Orleans. When we visited the clan back in Ireland one summer, their Iris charm made this Dutch boy feel like a Patrick!
I moved to New Orleans in 1978 to minister among Russian seamen who were at port there, and to help at a local church. I met more than Russians. I met, fell in love with, and married Lisa in 1979.
We have two wonderful daughters: Rachel and Mary. Rachel was born in Texas (She roots for the Dallas Cowboys). She has attended school in both the Dutch and German languages and later learned Russian in Moscow. She seems to have inherited the writing gift from her Dutch ancestry and has won awards in creative writing in both Russia and America.
Mary was born in Oregon, when we were ministering among Russian immigrants there. She loves pets (most recently talking us into adopting a stray cat) and is a "people person." She seems to have received the love of humor, storytelling and the "gift of gab" from her Irish side.
ACADEMIC TRAINING
Lisa’s degree from LSU was in Interior Design. Later, she received ministry training at a Bible Institute in New Orleans. Design and decorating is not widely recognized as a “ministry”, but blessing and enriching others’ lives certainly qualifies as a ministry. Lisa’s degree and ability in design has been a blessing to others during our time on the mission field. For example, Russia is known for its “drab” architecture and interiors. When we lived there, she used paint and swatches of color to lighten up dark areas and by this inspired many Russians to brighten up their lives.
My degree from ORU is in Communications with additional emphasis in Biblical Studies and Russian language & culture. We both had the privilege to do further course work in Western Europe in Theology, Leadership and Russian Studies at the University of the Nations.
“HANDS ON” TRAINING IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
As in any field, practical training “in the trenches” is important. A vital part of this training was our involvement in the local church. We first helped out and ministered in the churches in our home towns in Michigan and Louisiana.
Later we had the privilege of special training in pastoral work by two pioneer church planters. One had planted a church on the west side of New Orleans, while the other had started several churches in small towns in the central part of Louisiana. Not only did we learn about shepherding God’s people and church planting, we also received a spirit of faith which remains with us to this day.
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY
Before concentrating on Russia, we both had further “trench training” ministering on international teams in a wide variety of ministries and nations. I am grateful to the Lord because this not only gave practical training but exposure to hundreds of ministry tools.
Some of the highlights were:
Evangelizing among international Muslim students. There were opportunities to share with students from Libya, Yemen, Oman, and the Arab Emirates.
Planting a church in Apalat, Philippines. Although that town had staunchly kept the Mormons out, Holy Spirit revival broke the barrier and a New Testament fellowship was started.
Canoeing up the Volta River to do remote village evangelism in Ghana, West Africa.
Reaching out to exiled Tibetans in Switzerland.
Being a “Bible Smuggler” of Christian literature for the Chinese people .
Preaching in crusades and training seminars in various parts of India.
Helping to give every home in the province of Cuenca in Spain a piece of gospel literature.
Sharing mission vision throughout the Southern part of the U.S. as part of a Youth With A Mission “multi-media” team. We showed films and computerized slide shows that challenged young people towards missions.
FOCUS
In the early 1980’s, we began to focus on Eastern Europe and Russia. Since Russia was closed to traditional missionaries in the 1980’s, we went to Oregon where thousands of Russians had emigrated. We met recent emigrants as well as those who had been in America for 25 years and still spoke only Russian.
Drinking tea was a key ministry for Jon at that time. By sharing the Word and hearing their stories, language skills and cultural understanding increased. We also helped out in a new church plant in the city of Salem which increased our understanding of pastoring and church planting.
Moving to Europe in 1986, we spent the next four years living in the Netherlands and Austria, ministering in and out of Russia, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland. We did underground evangelism, taught seminars, and brought Christian literature to believers. We also organized and facilitated many ministry teams at that time.
To minister in Russia at that time meant we needed to master some new skills. We learned to memorize names, addresses, and maps and then destroy the information. We hid our cars in barns during secret retreats. We wrote and talked in code. Mission Impossible stuff!
We also discovered how to conceal Bibles and Christian literature to give to believers. On one trip I had gospel portions taped to my body. At the Customs in Moscow, the tape broke. I had an instant “pot-belly” full of literature! We are grateful that the official only noticed a somewhat heavier foreigner.
RUSSIA OPENS!
Suddenly, Eastern Europe and Russia went from being closed countries to wide open! It happened so fast, we were like those who were dreaming. We were living in Austria when this change in the “Iron Curtain” was taking place. When we were able, we packed our van, shipped the rest of our things to Russia, and moved to Moscow.
History
Lives Changed
Although we were both brought up in the church, I met the Lord in a life-changing way in 1969 and Lisa in 1974.
In 1969, I went on a youth evangelistic trip to Colombia, South America. We traveled to remote villages and had crusades in big cities. I had never heard of “crusades” in the church I grew up in, but when I saw instantaneous healings after prayer, my life was turned around.
The same year, I heard a man called “Brother Andrew” speak about his ministry in Russia. As I listened and later read his book, God’s Smuggler, my heart was sparked for Russia and missions.
In 1974, Lisa attended a devotional at her sorority at Louisiana State University. She was reared a devout Catholic, but had been troubled that she didn’t have more love in her heart. The theme of the devotional was on the fruits of the Spirit and emphasized how receiving the Lord brought those fruits. Her heart was flooded with the love of God after she prayed to receive Jesus into her heart.
Not long after that, with a full heart, she saw in her mind’s eye masses of people from a foreign country. She knew she was called to missions!
About & Information 
Although we were both brought up in the church, I met the Lord in a life-changing way in 1969 and Lisa in 1974. 
