News from the Belgian Evangelical Mission
2
April - May 2016 Bimonthly newsletter Issue 59 The Belgian Evangelical Mission Bld. Lambermont, 158 1030 Brussels - Belgium
BEM Info Disturbed by His word? by Luc Salsac
My friends know full well how often I ask myself questions –‘Too often!’ I hear some of them say. But I would like to share one of these questions with you – how long is it since your reading of God’s Word deeply disturbed you? When did it last shake you up, trouble you, surprise you, change you? When I dive into it, when I read the teachings of Jesus I am continually disturbed by them. Jesus, by His words and His way of life, turned upside down the established religious, social and economic systems. And today? If I take the Word seriously, it challenges me in how I think and speak, how I see and live, how I manage my time and my money and so forth. How can we fail to be challenged when Jesus tells us that he who would follow Him must ‘deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’ (Mark 8 v.34)? Or when I read: ‘But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’ (Luke 6 v.27-28) or ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.’ (Ephesians 4 v.29) ‘These are hard words, radical words and, if I take them seriously, they cannot leave me unmoved. When it comes to fizzy drink, we can choose between original, diet, or zero. I wonder if I do the same thing with the Bible. The ‘original’ version (i.e. - what Jesus said,
He really said it like that) disturbs, shakes up, troubles and invites change. Or, as with the fizzy drinks, to ‘avoid putting on weight’, to be changed too much, I might prefer a ‘diet’ version of the Word, to make it easier, more ‘acceptable’ with regard to the reality of today or what is convenient for me. And then some fall into the ‘zero’ version where the Bible is just an interesting book that has zero influence on the way in which I lead my life. For my own life, for all our lives, I long to see the Word shake us up, disturb us, challenge us, and change us more and more. May God in His grace, lift us up and help us to live a life that glorifies Him more and more. May we be so disturbed by His Word that we will be transformed by it.
Support pastoral work Please help with financial support for the BEM mission posts and their leaders (if appropriate, please indicate the name) Send us a cheque to see bank info on the back
MATTHIAS VALENTA
I left Holland for Belgium in 1978, just after my marriage to Elly. We have five children. Whilst we were the pastoral couple in Oostrozebeke, we opened the B.E.M. bookshop in Courtrai and I taught R.E. in schools for a year. In 1985, I took on responsibility for all the B.E.M. bookshops in Flanders. From 1991 to 2002, I was leading the Public Relations Department for B.E.M. Since 2002, I have been pastor/elder of the B.E.M. church in Brasschaat, began at Schoten in 1988 by the Evangelical Free Church of Antwerp with Tom and Lynn Swanson. We now have our own building in Brasschaat. The Sunday services bring together about 80 people, mostly Flemish. We are a very united fellowship where members share their lives with each other. Visitors are warmly welcomed; new people are soon integrated into the fellowship. Every year we organise evangelistic efforts. My greatest challenge in the ministry is to maintain the two pillars of reading the Bible together and caring for each other as a church. My greatest joy is seeing the good relationships and mutual support that we have in the fellowship. In 2016, we’ll have our usual activities such as the shoe-box collection and our Christmas market. We want to invite more people to the services, at Easter, for example. We might also repeat last year’s exhibition of pottery models of Bible scenes.
7
97
I am German and a missionary with B.E.M. since 1997. On our arrival in Belgium, Sabine and I did a placement in Saint-Trond, and then I was pastor of the B.E.M. church in Diksmuide for 10 years. In 2009, we joined the B.E.M. mission post in Deinze, planted in 1980 by Dieter and Berthy Schleppi, followed by Barend and Gerrie Stravers. We have about 70 people at the Sunday services. We also have 7 home groups meeting every two weeks. My greatest challenge in the ministry is to enable the different personalities present in the church to work together in unity. My greatest joy is to see folk come to Christ. I am equally very encouraged when I see Christians eager to grow in the faith, and when I see their lives changing as they experience the truths of the Word of God. In 2016, we’re organising several activities as part of the 3-16 campaign – distribution of tracts, showing of the film ‘Young Messiah’, ‘Open Doors’ services and an Easter breakfast. In the autumn, we’ll have the shoe-box collection (Aktie4Kids), a special event for children, …
19
ANDRÉ COOLS 6
19
19
8
19
7
TEO KAMP
I am Belgian and have worked for B.E.M. since September 1st 1976. I married my wife, Annie, in 1979 and we have four children. After a placement at Quiévrain, I received a clear call to the Belgian province of Luxembourg and, in particular, to the church of Arlon which had been without a pastor since the war. Motivated by this call, I was ready and willing to serve the Master as pastor of the church and as an R.E. teacher in schools. I also serve as a prison chaplain. My greatest challenge in the ministry is to remain faithful, whatever the cost, to God’s call and to my vocation as pastor. My greatest joy is regularly seeing people born again, and helping our brothers and sisters in the Lord grow in faith. This year, apart from our Easter Service broadcast on Eurovision, Arlon church is organising two weekends. The first one, in June, is part of the national event ‘Open Churches’. The second one will be in September on the occasion of the national Heritage Days. Both will be ‘Open Doors’ weekends when visitors can look around, listen and ask questions…
92
CHARLES DE ROEMER
I am British, a former electronics engineer, a B.E.M. missionary since 1992 and father of three children. On arrival in Belgium, Frances and I undertook a first placement with Christian Piette in Chapelle, and a second in La Louvière with Michel Piron. Church-planting activities began in Binche in 1997; the current church started officially in 2005.Today we are happy to welcome about twenty folks to our Sunday services.
Une Aéq te uaip me odfem misissio ionnan riaeisrecsoe mnm gaitgté esd àto
I am German and have worked with B.E.M. since the year 2000. However, my first period of missionary work in Belgium goes back to 1995 in Knokke-Heist. In 1997, I married Ingrid and we have two boys. At the end of 1999, we joined the B.E.M. church in Eupen, planted in 1990 by Klaus and Angela Kazda. We worked with Thomas and Helga Goldsche till 2007. At the moment we have about 40 participating in church services, but we can count about 70 coming to services in homes and to the home groups. My greatest challenge in the ministry is being confronted with certain persons refusing to make the right choice, or seeing Christians refusing to grow in their Christian life. My greatest joy is to be able to speak about the gospel to someone! In 2016, we’ll continue to hold our literature stand at the weekly market in Eupen and we’ll also be participating in the ‘car boot-sale’ in our street, by opening the church and offering coffee and pastries to the passers-by. Six times a year, I broadcast a short meditation on the BRF (the German language radio in Eupen.) This year we also want to work on the church’s vision and to consolidate the team of local leaders. My greatest challenge in the ministry is to ensure a future for the work that has been carried out in Binche up to now. My greatest joy is seeing our church friends (and those who are not yet disciples) making progress in the faith.
I am British, married to Ruth, father of four children and a missionary with B.E.M. since August 1987. When we arrived in Belgium, we lived at first in the Liege region (attending the church of Ans-Alleur and the B.E.M. mission post of Chénée). From 19902005, I was pastor of the B.E.M. church in Libramont. After two years as pastor in Ottignies and two years as interim director of French-speaking Belgium for B.E.M., we returned to England for three years. When we came back in 2012 we spent a year in Binche. Since 2013 we have been at Philippeville and I am at present ‘consultant pastor’ at Libramont.The church in Philippeville, planted by Clive Every-Clayton, began in 1981 and the building was inaugurated in May 1996. Before us, three pastors had succeeded each other- Jean Léon Braive, Germain Herrmann and Steve Pitt. Our Sunday services bring together about 25 adults. My greatest challenge in the ministry is the ‘fight the good fight of faith’ in a society which is more and more secular. My greatest joy is to pray and to work with the new generation of mission workers. In 2016 we will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of our church and the 20th anniversary of the building. We’re organising an ‘Open Doors’ service for Easter and a gospel concert with the church choir for the autumn.
In 2016, we plan to restart the young people’s work and to study the gospel of Luke with the church.
gique ulm ie B g l n e e B t n s i r h h c C r u s h u s C é hrdiset’Js se l’iEnggliC btuiirld obâ
8
HILDE DELEEBEECK 198
7
00
STEPHEN TRUMP 198
20
ANDREAS SEIDLITZ
I am Belgian and, after five years in teaching, I joined B.E.M. in 1988. I spent four years as an accountant in the office before I joined a church-planting team (in Westerlo and Brakel). Brakel is a daughter-church of Geraardsbergen. We started meeting once a month in January 2001, moving to weekly meetings from September of the same year. We are a ‘patchwork’ fellowship bringing together people from very different backgrounds, with very different interests and characters, but united by their love and care for each other. From the very beginning, we’ve had a real desire to reach out to non-believers and God has opened doors for us with our annual open air event for children and SportQuest for the young people. About two years ago the church passed a milestone – new people are joining us and, as a fellowship, we have a real desire to grow in our relationship with God. Being single is a challenge in the ministry. I thank the Lord for regular discussions with my mentor and for the way in which I’m so well supported in the BEM. I love to see people come to Christ, but my greatest joy is seeing the believers walking faithfully with the Lord. As part of the 3-16 campaign, a sand artist will be ‘drawing’ an Easter message during our Easter breakfast. In the summer there will be our annual open air event for children and a SportQuest week for the young people. At Christmas, we hope to repeat our ‘Open Doors’ service.
Every second month a new episode of the Nortons’ saga on www.b-e-m.org
Summary of the preceding chapters On March 2, 1916, the Nortons left England for their first visit to the Belgian front. From Folkestone a military Channel boat conveyed them to Boulogne, and thence they journeyed to Calais by train.
Excerpt from Edith Norton’s journal The next day their train arrived at Dunkerque very near the front line, which was under intense surveillance. The Nortons were subjected to severe and protracted questioning with the result that they missed the only train and had to remain there overnight.The following day they were permitted to resume their journey to the Belgian headquarters behind the front line, the small seaside resort of De Panne where the King and Queen of the Belgians lived in their simple villa. Mr. and Mrs. Norton being somewhat unsophisticated in military matters and not adept in French, had assumed that their stay at the front would be of unlimited duration and had read their authorization papers only superficially. It eventually turned out they were only permitted to stay for two days. But in any case, they both gave themselves to prayer that through Divine intervention, their stay might be prolonged, even to the limit of two weeks, so that the hundreds of boys looking forward to seeing them might not be disappointed. How blessedly God answered this prayer, and the thrill of those days when miracles seemed to be a constant occurrence, sweeps over the soul today, as one bows in adoration and praise. 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 ♦
BEM, Inc. PO Box 2255 Buford, GA 30515 678-408-2361 usbem@bellsouth.com