Dirk Jan Groot (1945-2026)

Dirk Jan Groot, founder of Dorcas, passed away on Tuesday August 4th at the age of 81. With his passing, we say farewell to a man who passionately devoted his life to people in need. His faith went far beyond words and was expressed in practical support, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to people in vulnerable situations.

‘Wealth is the worst thing that can happen to you.’ When Dirk Jan Groot put forward this statement, he liked to quote a Romanian pastor: ‘God does not look at what you give, but at what you keep for yourself.’ It typified his way of life. Dirk Jan believed that what you receive is meant to be shared. That conviction shaped the choices he made and the path he followed.

He had worked for many years as an upholster and construction supervisor. When he became a Christian, his life changed profoundly and took a new direction. Guided by his faith, he increasingly devoted himself to persecuted Jews and Christians. As a youth elder in the church, advocate, and mobiliser, he continually sought ways to ensure that people suffering injustice were not forgotten.

In his quest to support persecuted fellow human beings, Dirk Jan Groot sought publicity and successfully requested attention for their plight in the Dutch House of Representatives. Together with like-minded supporters, he founded the Christelijke Stichting voor Hulp aan Gewetensvervolgden (Christian Foundation for Aid to the Persecuted for their Beliefs) (CSHG) in 1980. Alongside campaigns for persecuted people in Eastern Europe, small-scale material assistance also emerged through the Dorkas working group.

Dorkas and the CSHG coexisted for several years. In 1986, the foundation Dorcas Hulp Internationaal was established, with Dirk Jan Groot as its director. Matthew 25 was a crucial Bible passage for Dirk Jan and inspired him in his work. The words about caring for those who are hungry, thirsty, sick, imprisoned or excluded were not a distant ideal for him but a calling for today.

Dirk Jan was someone who could mobilise people. He saw need, spoke about it, prayed for it and took action. Under his leadership, Dorcas grew rapidly because many people recognised themselves in the simplicity and power of the mission: standing alongside people facing poverty, vulnerability and injustice.

During the Balkan civil wars, Dorcas provided humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflicts in former Yugoslavia. Together with a small group of staff and many dedicated volunteers, including his wife Janneke, Dirk Jan further developed the organisation. The involvement of volunteers was indispensable from the outset. They collected goods, sorted them, packed boxes, organised activities and tangibly expressed what Dorcas stood for.

In the 1990s, Dorcas grew strongly, partly through sponsorship programmes, humanitarian assistance campaigns and the well-known Dorcas Food Campaign. What started as a small venture became a movement of people who believed that support could start close to home and make a difference far away.

At Dirk Jan Groot’s initiative, Dorcas Aid International was formed in the 1990s as an umbrella organisation for the fundraising organisations and the country offices. Under his leadership, Dorcas expanded its field of work from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and Africa. Several Dorcas offices were opened, where local staff further shaped the work. Dirk Jan became international director and was responsible for both the country offices and the fundraising organisations.

Dirk Jan Groot was a pioneer. Driven, faithful, persistent and at times also impatient when the need called for action. He had a great mission, but never lost sight of the individual people in need. Until his retirement in 2010, he fully devoted himself to Dorcas and to people in vulnerable circumstances. After retiring, he remained involved with the organisation in various capacities for some time.

Dirk Jan had been ill in recent years. On August 4th, his earthly life came to an end.

We are grateful for who Dirk Jan Groot was: a founder of Dorcas, a pioneer, a man of faith, and the driving force behind a movement of committed people. His life and work have taken on lasting significance. In Dorcas, in the lives of people who have received support, and in the hearts of many who were moved to action by him.