News from the Belgian Evangelical Mission
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February-March 2016 Bimonthly newsletter Issue 58 The Belgian Evangelical Mission Bld. Lambermont, 158 1030 Brussels - Belgium
BEM Info God’s beating heart by Kurt Maeyens
It
is the aim of the Belgian Evangelical Mission to be an instrument of evangelism in God’s hand. Our vision is to plant and develop local evangelical churches in Belgium so that throughout the country the gospel will continue to be made known.
In our post-modern society, the Christian faith seems to be less and less relevant. Christians are certainly not in the majority and our influence is limited. As a church we need to put aside secondary issues and think about our calling.What is our goal? Who are we? What difference are we really making as Christians? This will help us realise how insignificant and vulnerable we are as Christians, that we can do nothing in our own strength, that we are dependent on God and His promises. We can’t do anything on our own; we need to realise that we need each other, that it is only together that we’re strong. At the same time we’ll be challenged to put to good use the gifts and talents that God has given each of us. Time, money and manpower are all needed in order to achieve the aim which is on our hearts. When we commit to God’s mission, opportunities for service will arise. It’s when faith and church-going is more than a weekly ritual and we realise that God wants to use us as instruments in His hand, that we will be fulfilling the true calling of the church. Then we will come closer to the beating heart of God, Who wants to use us as His hands and His feet! How can we reach the people of today with the gospel? Through the local church. The best way to reach people with the gospel is by showing love and concern for each other. God’s Word tells us ‘By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ John 13 v.35 Today, God has chosen the church to be His hands and feet. God wants the world to hear His message of forgiveness, redemption, salvation, unconditional love and eternal life, and He has chosen a wonderful tool – the local church.
As a church, we’re here to be used by Him. Whatever the size of the church, it’s the capacity for love and service that matters. Together, let’s show our compassion to a world in need by a loving spirit of service demonstrated through a commitment to help the suffering in society. Let’s encourage each other as His witnesses in this world. Together we can discover that when we are weak, He is strong, and that when we make mistakes, we can receive His forgiveness. To be a fellowship, to be a church, to be a witness...we in the Belgian Evangelical Mission believe in this mission! That’s why we put out heart and soul into building up God’s people, that is, God’s church in Belgium. Once again, as a team of missionaries, we want to be His servants in the new year stretching out ahead of us. We want to commit to bringing about God’s great desire - that people might turn to Him. The goal is that they might be born again; God’s instrument is the church. Will you build with us in this coming year? Thank you for working with us!
Live from Arlon Don’t miss the live TV broadcast of the Easter morning service from the BEM church in Arlon! Sunday 27th March 2016 from 10h00. ***
TV: programme ‘Culte protestant’ on RTBF/ A2 France Internet: www.rtbf.be/videos ‘culte protestant’.
Our Gistel
church plant Project
Borgerhout
Ruben & Priscilla Kamps
Drienie Lombard
Brasschaat
Deinze
Aalst
Teo & Elly Kamp
Matthias & Sabine Valenta
Brakel
Berthold & Renate Lamparter
Binche Hilde Deleebeeck
Henk & Trijnie van Dorp
s and missionarie M E B re a y e The the servic s are at their gift churches of other
Philippeville
Libramont (pastoral oversight)
Charles & Francoise de Roemer Stephen & Ruth Trump
VEG Geraardsbergen
VEG Sint-Niklaas
VEG Genk
Eigenbilzen
VEG Dilbeek
Prison chaplain
Herman & Adrie Spaargaren
Leslie & Elizabeth Message
Jannes & Mathilde Kalkhuis
Rudy & Marina Wassens
Piet & Hanneke Krijnen
Willy & Sue Tops
A team of m issionaries committed to
ters and pastors Hoogstraten Project Veerle-Laakdal
Corneel & Lia Crezee John & Marga den Boer Zoutleeuw Eupen Jonathan & Sarah Weber
Andreas & Inge Seidlitz
Hannut Gembloux
Herstal
Eric & Anne Zander
Luc & Suzy Salsac Arlon / Virton
Thomas & Rosie Geronazzo
Andre & Annie Cools
Arla Bracke
Support pastoral work Please help with financial support for the BEM mission posts and their leaders (if appropriate, please indicate the name) Send a cheque to the BEM UK
Belgium o building Christ’s Church in
see bank info on the back
Every second month a new episode of the Nortons’ saga on www.b-e-m.org
Summary of the preceding chapters Every day, in the post, Ralph and Edith Norton received more requests for bibles. Soldiers and gendarmes wanted to make up for lost time and get back into the Scriptures or they wanted to know how to share the Good News with their comrades. The Nortons were praying for an opportunity to visit the front in order to meet them.
Excerpt from Edith Norton’s journal March 2, 1916, the Nortons left England for their first visit to the Belgian front. Their obtaining this permission was itself a manifest working of God on their behalf, as because of the spy peril, civilians were carefully excluded from the war zone. They have often remarked that God raised up for them a true Cyrus, from amongst the high officials of the Belgian government, in the person of Emile Vandervelde, the internationally known socialist. Emile Vandervelde (see picture) arranged their permit.Thus armed with military authorization Mr. and Mrs. Norton set out for their first visit to the front. From Folkstone a military Channel boat conveyed them to Boulogne, and thence they journeyed to Calais by train. To be continued...
JOB OFFERS French-speaking Belgium
Dutch-speaking Belgium
► two managers for Camp Limauges
► bookseller in Ghent (M/F)
► booksellers (M/F)
► volunteer (M/F): automation system management for the Flemish bookshops
► co-worker (M/F) for La Courte Echelle, our children’s department ► church-planters/pastors Belgian Evangelical Mission
► coordinator (M/F) for the Flemish Bible exhibition ► church-planters/pastors
BEMOrgOnline
Belgian Evangelical Mission - UK Enterprise number: 0410.278.623 Bld. Lambermont, 158 - 1030 Brussels
+32 (0)2/241.30.15 - information@b-e-m.org
www.b-e-m.org
PO Box 617 Epsom KT17 9JQ BEMUK@b-e-m.org
♦ More info: www.b-e-m.org ♦
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