View source for Friese Doopsgezinde Jongeren Bond (Mennonite Youth Association in Friesland)

After [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] there was a spiritual revival among the Dutch Mennonites, especially among the young people. They wanted to judge and discuss the problems of Christianity in their own way, critical of former times, enthusiastic as to the future. In the Dutch province of [[Friesland (Netherlands)|Friesland]] this revival was rather strong: in 1921 youth groups had been founded in the Frisian congregations of [[Annaparochie, Sint (Friesland, Netherlands)|St-Anna-Parochie]], [[Bolsward (Friesland, Netherlands)|Bolsward]], Heerenveen, [[Leeuwarden (Friesland, Netherlands)|Leeuwarden]], and [[Veenwouden (Friesland, Netherlands)|Veenwouden]]. The first <em>Jongerendag</em> (youth meeting, age 18-35) was held at Veenwouden on 21 September 1921. After that youth meetings were held annually in the province. They had a large attendance, sometimes more than 300 young Mennonites being present.

On 4 February 1924 the <em>Friese Doopsgezinde Jongeren Bond</em> (FDJB) was founded at Leeuwarden. It acted as the top organization of all youth groups; gradually the number of associated groups rose to 40. The total membership of affiliated circles numbered 180 in 1924, 430 in 1934, 360 in 1953.

At the outset a large number of church boards and ministers stood rather skeptical or even negative toward this movement, but other ministers promoted it from the very beginning: [[Nijdam, Cornelis (1884-1946)|C. Nijdam]], [[Toe Water, Willem Hendrik (1885-1938)|W. H. toe Water]], P. Vis, [[IJntema, Jan (1894-1944)|J. IJntema]]. The relation to the general Dutch Mennonite Youth Association, founded in 1928 (see [[Doopsgezinde Jongerenbond |<em>Doopsgezinde Jongerenbond</em>]]), was at first somewhat troubled and cooperation was somewhat difficult, but in 1932 the difficulties were entirely cleared away, and there was a feeling of unity. Besides the yearly youth meetings, the FDJB organized instructional meetings (<em>kaderbijeenkomsten</em>), mostly held at [[Fredeshiem (Steenwijk, Overijssel, Netherlands)|Fredeshiem]] and [[Samen Een (Giethoorn, Overijssel, Netherlands)|<em>Samen Een</em>]] at [[Giethoorn (Overijssel, Netherlands)|Giethoorn]]. The Friese Doopsgezinde Jongeren Bond had a <em>bondslied</em> (group song) written and set to music by [[Bonga, Lykele (1892-1952)|Pastor L. Bonga]] of Leeuwarden. Many particulars about the founding and the early history of the FDJB are found in the program of the 13th youth meeting, jubilee meeting 1924-34 held at [[Grouw (Friesland, Netherlands)|Grouw]] on 27 May 1934.
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