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February - March 2017 Bimonthly newsletter Issue 64 The Belgian Evangelical Mission Bld. Lambermont, 158 1030 Brussels - Belgium
BEM Info NEWS FROM THE BELGIAN EVANGELICAL MISSION
Where are you going Luc Salsac, Director of French-speaking ministries Many years ago, a missionary visited the church I was attending
pauses and events that occur on the
at the time. He shared with us something that had happened to
way, He has a clear objective: to go
him somewhere in Africa where he was working. Years have gone
to Jerusalem for the appointed time,
by but I’ve never forgotten his story. I think it has something to
and this objective will lead Him to the
teach us not only as individuals, but also as a Mission, the BEM
cross. He could have stayed longer here
which, now is nearing its centenary.
or there, it wasn’t as though there was no work to be done. But, in coming to earth, He’d
The missionary in question went out one morning for a walk. On
said “YES” to a well-defined mission. It was this “yes” that
the way he met one of the villagers who asked him where he was
directed the whole of His life here and which allowed Him to say
going. He replied that he wasn’t going anywhere in particular:
“no” to so many other potentially good things. If I don’t know
he was just going for a walk. Intrigued by this reply, the villager
what I’ve said “yes” to, I will live my life trying harder and harder
asked him again where he was going. The answer was the same
to juggle everything that comes up. But if I’ve said “yes” to God,
:“I’m just going for a walk; I’m not going anywhere in particular.”
then I can look at my choices again from that perspective : the
At this, the villager retorted ‘’But how will you know when
use of my possessions, my time, my energy, my passion… Often
you’ve arrived, if you don’t know where you’re going?”
we can find we’re just going for a walk instead of knowing where we’re going.
“How will you know when you’ve arrived, if you don’t know where you’re going?” A pertinent question: we live or we just
For the Belgian Evangelical Mission, our original vision, our “yes”
get by, trying to manage our daily round as best we can. There’s
is still quite clear – to reach Belgium with the Gospel. But the
so much to do, to finish, to get ready, to manage…. We try our
world has changed so much over the last few years, and we
best to deal with whatever comes up. And perhaps we forget
don’t want to be found just going for a walk, keeping things the
why we’re doing what we’re doing. We’ve lost our vision... the
way they’ve always been. It’s time for us to redefine our “yes”, to
sense of what we’re here for.
reflect, and to embrace change, so that we can continue to carry out the task God has given us in the most effective way, for the
Luke’s gospel often tells us that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem
years to come. Thank you for praying with us for this new phase
(9 v.51;13 v.22; 17 v.11; 18 v.31; 19 v.28, 37). Despite the different
in the life of our Mission.
In the commercial world every new year of activity means a new annual plan. The BEM is nothing like a commercial enterprise: however, in order to operate effectively in its own field, any organisation needs to think about its strategy. Whereas in the past we’ve been content to confirm our existing strategy, this year it’s a little different. While still maintaining our primary vision of reaching every generation in Belgium with the Gospel, we want to redefine our strategy and approach. And who more qualified to tell us about this than Kurt Maeyens and Luc Salsac, the two directors of the Mission.
“Yes, we’ve experienced the same thing. The BEM had a big part in the start of evangelical Christianity in Belgium and we thank God that the MisC.S. Lewis
sion has been used over the decades to reach people
There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there’s never more than one.
with the Gospel. Out of the BEM have sprung up Bible schools, evangelistic
organisations,
and dozens of churches. However, we have to realise that we’ve slowly moved away from our original vision. The BEM has increasingly taken on the character of an evangelical denomination instead of
“
a vibrant missionary organisation. When we take an honest look at ourselves, we realise that of recent years, the organisation has not developed as it should and hasn’t really grown. We’ve often just carried on in the same way as before. If this continues we risk stagnation. This situation is reflected among other things by a fall in the number of missionary candidates, and a decrease in the
Together, we want to take a step into the unknown R enewal in the b e m
number of new evangelistic efforts. It’s certainly true that we’re more involved in church development and less in evangelistic projects. So we’ve asked the question, where do we go from here? We recognise that change is necessary. And we want now to go forward in faith, fully persuaded that it is right to do so and wholly dependent on the Lord. We’re excited; because this is at the same time both a wonderful opportunity and a very challenging adventure of faith. This year, as BEM, we’re developing a new trajectory. Our dream for the BEM is that, as a Mission, we might once more be passionately committed to reaching Belgium with the Good News in a contemporary way, while also serving the churches and society around us.”
A team of m itittetd A teamisosfio mn isasiroie nasrcieosm com mm edttoo
“ W e b e it’s
Albert Einstein
ofof
that
we
tion
that
to see. We by
a
the
double
one
hand
“This sentence summarises our objective perfectly. Perhaps we
lieve that
sometimes forget that, as Christians, we’re called to be
ten in the
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
heat
firmly
the
battle
find the solu-
salt and light in the world. We’re sometimes saddened to see how, in our evangelical world, we’re so taken up with our own com-
God wants us
fort, adapting our spirituality
were confronted
to our own preferences. This
challenge. we
were
On losing
our relevance, on
the other, we didn’t
have the vision to
want to make a differ-
is not the way to go. Today the Christian voice is heard so little in soci-
Abraham Lincoln (allegedly)
Don’t worry if you are not recognised, but strive to be worthy of recognition.
ety because, as believers, we no longer dare to stand up and speak out. That is why, as BEM, we
ence in the world. In facing the first challenge
want to show that we can be relevant to society around
we began discussions with Jan Willem and
us, and that we can show compassion in a practical way through
Kathy Vink. We’d met them during the Op-
social action.”
wekking 2015-conference. They are consultants, advising Christian organisations in the
“In the next four years 40% of our missionaries will retire. So, in
areas of strategy and fund-raising. In regards
the BEM, we’re facing quite a problem! Although a Chris-
to the second aspect, Fokkeline, (Kurt’s wife), has recently at her own initiative followed an Operation Mobilisation course entitled, ‘How to develop a pastoral culture in a missionary organisation.’ One thing we want to do in BEM is to put in place a well thought-out pastoral support team to whom our co-workers can
tian will remain God’s servant all his or her life,
Rick Warren
we think it’s right that there is an age
Faithful servants never retire. They serve faithfully as long as they live. You can retire from your career but not from serving God.
put their questions, and with whom they can share their doubts and spiritual struggles.”
at which missionaries should stop working full-time in ministries such as church-planting, church development or evangelistic projects.
That is the moment to hand on the baton to the next generation. We see a role for these newly retired missionaries as for example, BEM ambassadors, mentors
“Of course, any director needs a
or counsellors. And so now we’re looking for a new generation who
team to support him; and
feel called to our mission. We see many competent young people
the strength of that team be
will the
strength of the organisation. I
Ray Kroc ‘You’re only as good as the people you work with.
think that the Mission leadership at present is lacking ideas for
who have the potential to make a big difference to this country. We long for them to find their way to an organisation such as the BEM.”
We’ll continue to keep you up to date with the process of renewal in the BEM. In the coming days there will opportunities to participate in vision days and other such events.
vision and strategy. That’s why we’ve asked for outside help. But this doesn’t mean we’re lacking in faith. Nor do we feel it’s all down to us; no, God will show us the way. Luc and I are convinced that, together with the missionaries serving on our team, we can begin this new
How to support work in Belgium If you believe in the vision of B.E.M (to preach, to plant, to inspire) you can contribute to the work by sending your gift to:
adventure and step out into the unknown.”
BEM UK PO Box 617 Epsom, Surrey KT17 9 JQ with (if applicable) an indication of the ministry or project you wish to support
elgium hhuirncBheligniuB C s ’ t s i r h C g n i d l i u oo b m building Christ’s Churc
rton
Left:Edith No
The Nortons received letters from many Belgian soldiers who had turned to them in their great suffering. Edith Norton quotes one such letter in full: the soldier addresses her as his mother.
Dear mother I was deeply touched to receive your honoured letter and your kind proposal to fulfil the office of mother to me. I was born into the catholic religion, but as I was cruelly deceived in it, I always, even from childhood, had a liking and admiration for your proud and noble faith, whose members were scattered and martyred. And now that my soul is in distress, now that my courage is failing from day to day because I have no friends or family, and never even get a card from a friend, which would cheer me up a little, I trust myself to you, dear mother. If you could only know how forsaken I feel at times, so that I must often weep; but that is weakness. However, what can you expect, - my unhappy childhood will weigh on me all my life, and if I had not faith in our Saviour, who knows what I might have become? For my part, I am going to try to win all the lost souls I can, for there is much to do here at the front, especially with men whose faith is very weak and who are led astray by bad companions. Perhaps I shall find comfort in so doing, and it will help to strengthen me. How good it is to have been given a second mother who has given me a new life, for it seems to me that I have just been born again, since there is someone now to take an interest in my joys and sufferings. Now I think I shall have the strength to endure suffering and sorrow without complaint, now that I have found someone who will give affection to a poor banished soldier, who will do all in his power to show himself worthy of his new parents. Your faithful son before God Georges Van Der Cruyssen
To be continued...
JOB OFFERS French-speaking Belgium
Dutch-speaking Belgium
► two managers for Camp Limauges
► coordinator (M/F) for the Flemish Bible exhibition ► bookseller (M/F) in Genk ► bookseller (M/F) in Leuven ► church-planters/pastors
► church-planters/pastors
► accountant (M/F) for our Brussels headquarters Belgian Evangelical Mission
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