Welcome to Brussels 1000
Prayer Map 2. Gare Central 4. Grand Place 6. Catholic Churches 8. European Union 10. Palais de Justice 12. Belgian Parliament 14. Brussels Overlook
Escalators, stairs, thousands of people, and screeching trains and trams. As you enter your connecting tram, you can feel the heat of the 20 people crammed in around you. As the tram speeds off toward your destination, you leave behind a completely different underground world. Gare central is the busiest station in all of Brussels. Thousands upon thousands of people pass through the station every day. Every person that enters Brussels passes through this station.
Gare Central Metro Stop
Pray that the daily hustle, bustle and purposelessness would be unfulfilling and that the people passing through here would seek something more.
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Grand Place
Welcome to Grand Place. This is the main tourist attraction in Brussels. It is filled with the scents of chocolates and waffles, which have become Belgian delicacies. The buildings around the square once housed guild halls, now, they are filled with restaurants and chocolate shops. People from all around the world travel just to see this square. Pray that man’s creation would be seen as insignificant next to God’s magnificent creation. Pray that the wealthy would loose satisfaction in traveling to see this are and seek something beyond this world.
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Catholic Churches As you walk inside the dimly lit buildings, scattered around Belgium, you can find brilliant stained glass windows depicting the Life of Christ. At this point, the cold air hits you and you notice the church is completely empty. They’re architecturally beautiful buildings, used to house services on a regular basis. Now, most of the people who enter them are tourists. Catholicism, at one point, had shaped this country. Now, it seems to be an identity of tradition, rather than a system of belief. Pray that genuine Christ followers (either catholic or protestant), would emerge and boldly reach their city.
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European Union
Mixed banter of English and French fill the air. A peculiar shaped building stands in the center of downtown Brussels. It’s covered in mirrors and said to be capable of being seen from space. This is the European Union building. Brussels is the capitol of the European Union. Leaders from around the world visit the European Union building and many important world decisions are made here. Pray for the leaders and politicians that enter this building. Pray that Brussels would be a starting point for spiritual revival that would spread through all of Europe.
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Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favortism
to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. -Leviticus 19:15
Palais de Justice In the city of Brussels an accused person is guilty until proven innocent. Passing a verdict and declaring a sentence falls to the responsibility of those working in the Palais de Justice. This regal looking building overlooks the entire city of Brussels and houses the high court. It has been going under refurbishment for years, but due to economic hardship, construction is at a stand still. On any given day shot observation reveals a vast heterogeneous group of people coming and going out of the building. For the people on trial, these coming and gongs may represent a drastic change of life. Pray that the Superior Court would rule and judge fairly for Belgians and Immigrants alike.
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Belgian Parliament Standing tall and strong amid the hustle and bustle of daily life the parliament building exudes power. Those walking through the nearby Parc de Bruxelles are unaware of the decisions being made that will greatly effect their way of life. Like every other major city important decisions must be made. In Belgium the power of government lies with the parliament. The political climate of Belgium is one of discord with staunch party lines. These lines have been drawn because of language difference between the French speakers and the Flemish speakers. As a result, the group housed in the parliament building is made up of coalitions. Pray for the Authorities, Police, Politicians and Teachers as they directly influence the lives of all Belgians.
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Brussels Overlook
With the Palais de Justice under construction, tourist and Belge alike are drawn to two attractions; the WWI memorial and the city overlook. Upon gazing, your senses are overwhelmed with awe and you begin to loose a sense of self in the sheer volume of the surrounding view. In the distance are office buildings, cityscape and antiquated steeples. Even with the steeples in view, one does not get a strong sense of loyalty to God. Monuments and relics of ancient devotion to Christ may soon be replaced by minaret and crescents of Islamic mosques. God is the God of this city. Pray that the people would recognize that and worship the True Creator. Brussels is the capitol of the European Union. Pray that it will be a starting place for Christ’s influence throughout all of Europe.
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