God sparks revolutions in hearts that dare to surrender…

A journey of calling, struggle and divine breakthrough.

1972

Birth

Founder Jan Bakker, who writes and works under the name John Boulanger, was born on the former island of Urk, a beautiful fishing village on the edge of the IJsselmeer, currently home to approximately 22,000 residents.

1990

The Great Cleanup

In the 1990s, Jan became fascinated by Christian rock music. The heavy sounds and radical lyrics appealed to him, but deep down, uncertainty gnawed at him: Can this mix be right? Do these styles align with the holiness of God? Where does this path lead to?

Finally, he decided to make a radical break with this doubt. He threw away several garbage bags full of his precious music collection. Driven by the Biblical principles of Elijah and Paul: “Do not hesitate between two opinions” and “When in doubt, do nothing,” he chose complete surrender. God is above the music. By letting go of this collection, a new balance and stability emerged. This sacrifice formed the basis for future breakthroughs.

2000

2000 – 2003: An Unexpected New Beginning

Although Jan wasn’t originally a songwriter or composer, everything changed around the year 2000. During a moment of worship in his bedroom, while playing his Yamaha PSR 9000 keyboard, a creative floodgate opened. Suddenly, lyrics and melodies flowed in, and he immediately began recording them.

In 2003, this resulted in the recording of approximately fifteen songs. Despite the limited resources, the core of the vision was immediately audible. Songs such as ‘Soldiers for Christ’, ‘Call of this World’, ‘SomeOne’s Waiting’ and ‘Hurry up Baby’ saw the light of day during this period. Remarkably, the lyrics of these songs have remained virtually unchanged to this day.

Yet the time wasn't right yet. Because others barely connected with the music at the time, the recordings disappeared into the closet. A hidden treasure that would remain there for over twenty years, waiting for the right moment.

2025

The Fire Flames Again

A decisive turning point occurred on Monday, October 13, 2025. During a youth prayer meeting, someone unexpectedly prayed for Jan. Although nothing outwardly changed, he was alert; he heard God's voice speaking through the words. The prayer touched a chord that had long been silent.

The confirmation came the next day, in a very ordinary moment. While searching through his archives for footage of one of his daughters' wedding, Jan came across a video from years ago. In the recording, his evangelical church band played one of his own songs. The quality and power of the song touched him deeply; it sounded much stronger than he had anticipated at the time.

At that moment, the “fire of the Spirit” descended. He was filled with a new, powerful inspiration that immediately brought him back to the anointing he had experienced earlier in his bedroom. What had lain in the closet for twenty years was suddenly brought to life. The time of waiting was over.

Nighttime Revelations

Psalm 127:2

In the nights that followed this new anointing, something miraculous happened. Time and again, Jan was awakened from a very deep sleep around two, three, or four in the morning. For someone who normally sleeps undisturbed, this was a clear call from God through the Holy Spirit.

During these moments of silence, he received revelation after revelation: new songs, fresh inspiration, and pithy words from God. One of the songs that emerged this way is the powerful "Let the Holy Spirit Take the Wheel."

2025

The Dialogue With The Creator

The poignant song "Destroyed Life" had a remarkable genesis. After a constant flow of inspiration, Jan one day said to God, "I've written so many songs now, I think that's enough."

God’s response was as surprising as it was immediate: “I want you to write a song about abortion.” Immediately with this command, God also gave the first words: “Deep within.”

Jan immediately realized the urgency: “That is indeed an important subject that I had not thought of myself.” What followed was a moment of pure divine inspiration. In just a few minutes, the entire song was completed; a text that came directly from the throne of God, through the heart of the Father, and was put onto paper.

Isaiah 9:6

The Source: Burning Love and Emotion

The songs of Soldiers For Christ are characterized by a twofold cry: a "cry to God" and a "cry from God." They are cast in the form of fervent prayers and supplications. Jan feels a deep connection with the words of the prophet Isaiah, who speaks of the "burning love of God."

The songwriter is convinced that God has placed a small part of that burning love from His Father's heart within him. This compassion is palpable; during worship services, the love for God and the world's need often lead to tears of emotion.

His greatest motivation is his passion for people who don't yet know God and miss His love, people who, often blinded by ignorance, are heading towards their own demise. From this sacred seriousness and deep compassion, all his songs are born. It is music with a mission: the salvation of souls.

2020

A Prophetic Sound

Around 2020, Jan published a book that laid the foundation for what was yet to come: “A Turn in Christian Rock Music, a Prophetic Sound?” [available through Bol.com, among others]. In this book, on the one hand, he stood up for Christian rock artists, but on the other hand, he sounded a note of warning. He asked critical questions: What are our sources of inspiration? Isn't it time for our own fresh inspiration, straight from the Holy and Pure Source? Isn't it time for a new, heavenly sound?

It was only when the new songs for Soldiers For Christ started flowing that Jan realised the deeper meaning of his own words: “This is the fulfilment of what I wrote then! Now I hear those new sounds and that heavenly sound myself.”

Patience and Variation

God works in mysterious ways, and He takes His time. Sometimes promises seem to fail to materialize, but the journey of Soldiers For Christ teaches us that patience and trust are essential lessons from the Holy Spirit.

The result is a unique, diverse style that defies categorization. The music is characterized by powerful drums, captivating guitars, and soulful violin. The spectrum is broad: from powerful music that awakens the soul to tranquil worship that transports the listener to the throne room. This variety makes the music widely applicable, from Christian and secular radio stations to theater, choirs, and expressive dance.

2026 – 2028

The step to the stage

With their eyes firmly set on the horizon, Soldiers For Christ is working toward a new peak. The goal is to organize a number of live concerts in the years 2027 and 2028. A moment when the music, the message, and the burning love of the Father's heart come together to inspire and mobilize a generation. Not focused on a grand show, but on an encounter with God.

Biography

The Man Behind the Mission: Jan Bakker & John Boulanger

The writer and composer often works under the pseudonym John Boulanger. This name originated in an informal workplace atmosphere, where a colleague called him that as a friendly gesture. In everyday life, however, he works in the financial sector under his own name, Jan Bakker.

He grew up in a loving and deeply religious family where his father was the pastor of the evangelical church "De Morgenster" for many years. With a father from the Old Reformed Church, Jan learned early on that, despite church differences, the fundamental truth of Christ unites us.

A Digital Platform Builder

Jan's passion for evangelism translated early on into building bridges on the internet:

• 2006: He launched Spiritualnet.nl as a Christian answer to the spiritual quest of many.
• This platform is connected to KerkplazaNederland.nl, a guide that points the way to approximately 2,800 churches and congregations.
• 2024: The expansion with Wereldreligies.com always with the aim of spreading the Good News.

Foundation: Family and Church

Jan and his wife Jolanda, who has roots partly in Scheveningen, form a close-knit team. They are blessed with four daughters and now have seven grandchildren. Their service to the local church is multifaceted: Jolanda as a children's worker and assistant group leader for many years, and Jan as a song leader and group leader.

A Prophetic Sound: The Coming Revival

During his years as a song leader, Jan often spoke prophetically: “There is coming a revival; many will come with weeping and tears.” After the pandemic in 2022, he saw the first signs of this becoming reality. Not only did his own congregation grow explosively, but throughout the Netherlands a new hunger for God arose, especially among the younger generation. Soldiers For Christ is the musical interpretation of this movement.

Revivals

Global Revivals [2022 – Present]

Since 2022, there has been a remarkable increase in spiritual breakthroughs internationally. The call of Soldiers For Christ reflects this global hunger for God.

• 2022 | The 'Hammond Awakening' [Louisiana]: What began as a four-day meeting at Old Zion Baptist Church grew into a movement that continued uninterrupted for months under a massive tent. Thousands of people from all corners of the globe traveled to this small town to experience the power of God.
• 2022 | Growth under pressure [Iran and China]: Despite severe restrictions, sources report that the church in Iran is currently one of the fastest-growing in the world. In China, too, the number of believers continues to steadily increase, despite persecution, with a remarkable hunger for the Pure Source.
• 2022 – 2023 | The 'Jesus Revolution' Wave: Inspired by the film of the same name, a wave of mass baptisms on beaches occurred, including a historic moment at Pirate's Cove in California where over 4,500 people were baptized in a single day, the largest baptismal service in American history.
• 2023 | The 'Asbury Outpouring' [Kentucky]: A regular chapel service at Asbury University transformed into a spontaneous worship marathon that lasted 16 days straight. Tens of thousands of students and believers from around the world gathered in an atmosphere of humility and deep adoration.
• 2024 | ‘Le Quiet Revival’ [France and Belgium]: A quiet but powerful shift is taking place in Western Europe. France and Belgium are reporting record numbers of baptisms, with the 18-25 age group (Generation Z) in particular making a radical commitment to the Gospel.
• 2025 | ‘The Festival of Hope’ [Belgium]: With over 13.000 visitors in Brussels, an unprecedented milestone was reached for evangelism in Belgium. This demonstrates that the spiritual soil in the Benelux is becoming fertile again.

Prophecies

A Prophetic Voice for the Church

God longs to share His plans with His Church. He does this through prophecies: revealed words and predictions that He entrusts to believers to pass on to His body.

During the thanksgiving service on December 31, 2025, Jan, the founder and composer of Soldiers For Christ, shared a prophetic word. He declared that the Church is on the cusp of a great, massive breakthrough. This promise of a new wave of God's power is the fuel behind the music and the mission. It is a call to be vigilant and to prepare ourselves for what God will do in the coming years.

General Church of Jesus Christ

Renewal for the Church

The vision of Soldiers For Christ goes beyond music; it is a cry for restoration and renewal within the General Church of Jesus Christ. Songs like ‘Open Up The Gates’, ‘The Call’, ‘Higher Plan’ and ‘The Awaking Cry.‘ are not merely compositions, but powerful calls to the Church to rise up and change.

For those who want to delve deeper into this topic, the Wereldreligies.com platform offers more in-depth information. Under the menu "Discover More" > "Checklist for Churches," you'll find 28 concrete statements. These statements serve as a mirror and guide for today's church, helping it prepare for the new, heavenly voice that God wants to be heard.

Mission

Sharing The Good News!

The mission of Soldiers For Christ is clear and determined: together with a dedicated team of musicians and singers, we will go to war to spread the Good News of the Gospel. We will do this using a rich palette of creativity, from various forms of expression and dance to film and the latest technological possibilities.

Our goal is the restoration of a broken society. We believe this is only possible under the anointing, powerful work, and indispensable guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are ready to serve, inspire, and point the way to the Source of Life.

Power!

Rise up in Power!

The Holy Spirit is not an abstract concept, but a magnificent, powerful, and tangible force at work today. It is the power that Jesus Christ, our great Exemplar, has personally promised us.

Walking with God is not a relic of the past, but an absolute reality of our modern times. For billions of believers worldwide, this connection with the Creator is no longer a "woo-woo" illusion, but the solid ground beneath their feet. Our call is therefore radical: "Put aside all lies and choose the Truth!"

We challenge you: Rise up in strength! Fear not, and dare to take new steps in your life, in close consultation with God and strengthened by His Spirit.

The Truth sets free…Truly free!

Urgent Call!

A Call to Spiritual Integrity

A fundamental goal of Soldiers For Christ is to inspire and correct Christian musicians, especially those within the harder music genres. We believe that Christian artists tend to look too closely to secular models that are influenced by dark forces. This manifests in a disturbing trend of embracing the “dark” under the guise of artistic freedom.

The use of symbols [such as the "horn sign"], wearing clothing with skulls, and an appearance that exudes darkness are antithetical to representing a holy God. God is a God of harmony and perfection; our appearance must align with the Truth we sing.

SFC wants to show that things can be done differently. We stand for music that can be loud and powerful, utilizing all modern technologies, yet always remaining in harmony with God's Word and Essence. We call upon artists: let your words, your behavior, and your radiance be one pure testimony of the Light.

A Testimony of Grace: Strength Through Weakness

The founder's path is not one of his own strength, but of trial and error under the magnificent grace of God. Jan reveals that he is a human being with flaws and shortcomings. God had to shape him in love, sometimes literally "grabbing him by the scruff of the neck" and setting him back on track.

The Hand of the Master

Sometimes God intervened thru his work. Although he did his job well, circumstances or a non-renewed contract sometimes forced him to change his work environment. In hindsight, Jan sees this as the protective hand of the Father. When the temptation of an old weakness like smoking arose, a struggle that sometimes even felt like an attack from the enemy during the nite hours, God simply placed him in a new environment where the temptation ceased.

These "storms," ​​similar to Jonah's, had a positive purpose: Jan became a versatile, active evangelist. He learned to empathize with people from all walks of life, stayed fresh and alert, and was trained and protected by God Himself.

A Radical Call

From this life experience, Jan shares a final, urgent encouragement:

• Surrender your life radically: Give God everything: your dreams, your plans, and your time.
• Do not fear the purification: Don't be afraid when God shatters your life and plans. He disciplines those He loves so that at the right time, He can raise them up again in true power.
• Build on the Rock: People, no matter how dear, can hurt or disappoint. God never can. He is absolutely trustworthy.

Are you disappointed in life or in God? Give Him another chance. Place your life back in His hands, let go, and surrender. He is a God of patience and peace, who will absolutely take care of you.

The Golden Rule: To God Alone Be the Glory

In alles wat Soldiers For Christ doet, staat één principe centraal: Soli Deo Gloria, Alleen God de eer. We zijn diep dankbaar voor de weg die God met ons gaat, en we hebben respect en waardering voor de leiders en de “heiligen” die ons voorgingen of naast ons staan. Zij verdienen onze dankbaarheid, maar nooit onze aanbidding.

Worship is reserved exclusively for the Creator. No human, no artist, and no leader may sit on that throne. Only God deserves our complete surrender. Where we as humans fall short, He remains perfect. Therefore, never build your faith on any person, but fix your gaze unwaveringly on Him.

The Birth on April 5, 2026

The big question remained: when is the right time to release all the songs? After much deliberation and a long wait, we were about to put the music online, but a nagging sense of uncertainty lingered. One Sunday morning, walking to church, Jan took this struggle to God: "Lord, if you don't intervene, the songs will go online this week. Is this really the right time? It's such a crucial decision."

Brother Joop Strietman spoke at that service. To Jan's surprise, a life-size clock appeared on both screens with the text: Wait! Timing is crucial! Jan was stunned; this was a clear answer to his prayer and a confirmation of his suspicion.

Three months later, during a prayer evening in Urk, a sister sat next to him. "Jan, I'll come sit with you again," she said. Although Jan couldn't remember her doing this before, he greatly appreciated it because of their shared history as choir leaders and their spiritual connection. During their conversation, Jan explained that he had given musicians three months to think about joining the SFC core team. He shared his plan to then post everything online.

The sister responded immediately: “Jan, that falls around Easter, the days in which we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” At that moment Jan knew for sure: this was the date.

At the end of March, the entire team came together and made the decision. On Sunday, April 5, 2026*, Jan and the core team published all the issues, accompanied by a powerful testimony and tribute to God. On the day we commemorate the resurrection of the Lamb, our Savior and Lord, SFC has also "risen" from obscurity, ready to be a blessing to the world.

These months proved to be desperately needed. During this period, several important songs were written, this website was built, and other essential matters were taken care of. The waiting, the patience, and the attunement to God's Spirit brought peace and ensured proper preparation and the right timing.

*The release date was moved up a bit to allow for some testing.

Isaiah 40:27-31

In Grateful Memory: The Power of Prayer

Soldiers For Christ is, above all, a fruit of prayer. We want to give God all the thanks and glory for His tireless faithfulness. We also express our deepest gratitude to all the leaders and intercessors who have stood beside us throughout the years. Without their unwavering commitment, Soldiers For Christ would never have been born.

We especially remember the generation of prayers that preceded us and are now with the Lord. We think of loved ones like Brother Klaas Hoefnagel, Sister Co Boom, our parents, and the many others whom we cannot possibly name without neglecting someone.

We remember with deep respect the brothers and sisters who gathered early in the morning, even before their workday began, in the small building "Het Lichtpunt." They made great sacrifices and offered their prayers, often without seeing their full fulfillment during their earthly lives. But God is faithful: He answered their prayers. The fruit we see today and the music that sounds now are partly a response to their perseverance. Their legacy lives on in every note we play. April 5, 2026.