Boumans by the Danube - January 24, 2026
Dear friends,
One of the most exciting surprises of our calling five years ago to move to Hungary has been the development and flourishing of the Cohort Europe program. For a refresher, “Cohort Europe is a year-long opportunity for young adults to live in community, serve in a grassroots ministry, engage in deep spiritual formation, and explore the complexities of cultural understanding and social justice.”
It was not on our radar as we moved, and now it is a primary work for me (Jeff). Now in its third year, we are amazed to have had 14 participants so far, from the US, Indonesia, Venezuela, Canada, Nigeria, Belarus, Syria, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Our locations have expanded to include Budapest, Berlin, Klaipeda, and now Málaga. We may be adding another partner location this year. Some of you responded with generous gifts to our participants Pamela, Justé, and Dasha at Christmas – I will have the same information below in case you missed your chance last time. I wish you could have heard the excitement in their voices during our January Zoom call when they reported on new giving in their donation reports. Dasha, from Ukraine and serving in Spain, was recently featured in a Resonate publication here. And for first-hand testimonies on their Cohort Europe experience, see two new videos from participants in the 2024-25 Cohort year. This one from Sean and Ashley Ray; and this one from Ivan Santoso.
During our current six months away from our home in Budapest, many of you have asked, or been wondering, “what are you doing while you are in the US?” It’s a good question, and the answer is a blend of on-going work supporting this year’s Cohort Europe group, and now a lot of time recruiting new applicants for next year’s group. We are also spending time with family, with friends and supporters, and supporting churches. Julie plans to spend several days per month with her mom and sister in Pennsylvania, and I have Cohort-related trips in February and March that will take me out of the country for several days each.
There are two upcoming opportunities to learn more about Cohort Europe program. These are primarily for prospective participants, but you are also welcome if you are just a curious supporter. I would be grateful if you could forward this information to any young adult (roughly age 20-30) who might be interested in a gap year of service and ministry in community with others, in a European location.
February 1, 2pm EST
March 2, 2pm EST
For the Zoom link, people can reach out to me directly (jeff.bouman@gmail.com) or fill out the form at this link.
As the world seems to teeter out of control, we are eager to continue building bridges, offering refuge and hospitality, and using our gifts and time to demonstrate a stubborn commitment to honoring the dignity of every person, the hope of all nations, and the provision of ministry opportunities in Europe for young adults. For those of you in Grand Rapids or West Michigan, please feel free to reach out if you would like to meet up in person sometime.
Peace,
Jeff and Julie Bouman
How to Give
At the midpoint of our fiscal year, our current percentage raised reached 48%, and we are very grateful for those of you who gave year-end gifts. We cannot do the work that God has called us to without your generosity. Thank you!
- Give online, be sure to choose the “Missionaries-Europe” option under “Please select” and then the drop-down menu for “Jeff and Julie Bouman”
- Mail checks to Resonate Gift Processing, PO Box 30006, Lansing, MI 48909-9760
- Please also consider an extra gift to one of our three Cohort Europe participants – each of these young women comes from a country where missionary giving is not as culturally common as it is for Americans and Canadians.
For Dasha, from Ukraine, give here.
For Pamela, from Syria, give here.
For Justė, from Lithuania, give here.
Each of these members of Cohort has been challenged to raise $10,000, and we trust God to provide for each of them as they serve.
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