Halfway through my 40 years with the B.E.M., I wrote an article exhorting God’s servants to seek after excellence in their ministry and in their preaching, so that the church of Jesus Christ might be as God wants it to be. Today at the ‘end of my career’ I would like to recall six points that apply to every Christian:

1. Let divine love govern all that we do. Love of God first, to please Him and be faithful to Him – this is the first commandment. Then love of our neighbour, for ‘If I…have not love, I am nothing’ (1 Corinthians 13 v.3). ‘Do everything in love.’ (1 Corinthians 16 v.14).

2. Rekindle the passion for the saving of souls. He who brings a sinner to Christ ‘will save him from death.’ (James 5 v.20) Woe to us if we do not proclaim the Gospel! (1 Corinthians 9 v, 16) A church that does not evangelise will wither away.

3. Set a high standard with regard to holiness. ‘Be holy,’ says God. (1 Peter 1 v.15) If He gives us His Holy Spirit, it is to make us holy, as we ‘live by the Spirit.’ (Galatians 5 v.16)

4. Nurture spiritual maturity in the church, in an atmosphere not of legalism, but of grace, having received ‘the whole will of God’ (Acts 20 v.27). Aim at growing in spiritual wisdom, which begins with the ‘fear of the Lord.’ (Proverbs 1 v.7)

5. Take great care to maintain unity in the fellowship especially among the leadership. The understanding that comes from brotherly love will enable us to defeat the devil’s tactic of sowing discord and division. Never forget that it is Christ’s will that His disciples be one. (John17 v.21)

6. Make sure that you keep to sound doctrine, for it is truth that saves (2 Thessalonians 2 v.13), that sanctifies (John 17 v.17) and that sets us free (John 8 v.32). So ‘that the truth of the gospel might remain with you’ (Galatians 2 v.5)

Belgian Church, that Dorothy and I love and have sought to serve, I leave you this charge, in imitation of Paul, ‘Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.’(Philippians 1 v.27)

Clive Every-Clayton

The theme for the year is taken from 2 Corinthians 8 v.7: “But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

The churches of Arlon and Virton are places of worship included in annual directories, in tourist guides, and enjoy recognition by the civil and religious authorities. They are well-situated and the appearance of the sites, the buildings themselves, the cleanliness, the well-tended lawns and the general aesthetic aspect – all this may draw a first glance from a passer-by. Their curiosity may then be stirred by the vitality of the fellowship. Holiness, purity, truth, a living faith, persevering and sincere – these make an impact on our contacts, neighbours and friends. And, in particular, our brothers and sisters are enthusiastic about sharing their faith in Christ, about inviting their friends to Sunday services, or suggesting the reading of the Bible and taking the time for discussion.

Bridges enable us to make contact, to make friends, and to communicate on different levels. The risen Christ has spanned the gulf by taking human form, by sharing the lives of His disciples even while He taught them, by dying and restoring our relationship with God. In the Antwerp suburb of Borgerhout, where nearly 36% of the population are of Moroccan origin, the bridges need to be built. ‘Taaloor’ (community organised Dutch conversation groups encouraging immigrants to speak Dutch), woman’s afternoons and teaching someone to read and write provide wonderful opportunities for building trust and friendship, for sharing our day-to-day lives and for proclaiming the Gospel. By distributing resources (gospels, Christian literature and DVDs), we take Christ to the local population.

In order to carry out this pioneer project, we more than need volunteers and colleagues. Jeanne will be joining us for the month of May to participate in the ladies’ afternoons and in organising the Bible exhibition. Kees van Lindt will faithfully continue to distribute the Wegwijzer magazine. We also use the ‘Sharing the lives’ course developed by Bert de Ruiter to train and encourage Christians to reach out to their Moslem neighbours. Borgerhout will welcome the Bijbel-Expo from September 27th to October 7th and we will have the help of a team from South Africa. Will you pray with us that a work of God will take place in the town? Do you feel called to join us on the mission field? Contact us!

Ruben and Priscilla Kamps are on a two-year placement at the mission post of Gistel under the guidance of Herman and Adrie Spaargaren. They want to use this time of training in order to better understand how a church functions (teaching, pastoral ministry, administration, etc.)

Although he has Dutch nationality, Ruben was born and grew up in Belgium following the arrival of his missionary parents, whose ministry brought them to Bruges and Ichtegem. At 18, he decided to study at the ETF (Evangelical Faculty of Louvain) where he only stayed for one year preferring the more practical training which he followed at IBV. When he was offered a position as teacher of protestant religion classes he realised that he would probably never be able to have a pastoral ministry unless he had undertaken full-time theological studies. It was then that Herman Spaargaren (BEM worker in Gistel) offered him a two-year placement. Priscilla – a real life-partner for Ruben –is Belgian. She was born in Ostend and grew up in Ichtegem, where she met her future husband at the evangelical church. She is a nurse in a rest home in Eernegem and as she is gradually discovering the gifts God has given her, she is seeking to use them for the benefit of those around her. At present Ruben is teaching some protestant religious education classes in a secondary school, but he would like to have the opportunity of consecrating himself 100% to church life, feeling that this is his place.

It was in 2011 that the mission post in Herstal first organised an Easter breakfast event for friends who do not usually come to the church. The breakfast (paid) was accompanied by songs, sketches and an Easter bible meditation. They were surprised to welcome a hundred individuals! Unfortunately, this year it will not be possible to repeat the experience as there is nowhere suitable for it to take place – but this is only a postponement! In August, for the second consecutive year, the church will be organising a week of children’s evangelism on a neighbouring estate. Last year this was slow to get going -only one participant at the beginning- but there were ten on the final day. Their manifest enthusiasm and the encouragement of the locals persuaded the church to re-embark on the venture this year. The team had also made contact with someone working with children and young people there during the rest of the year and their ideas fused. However, a collaborative effort planned for Christmas had to be cancelled as the premises had been vandalised. Praise the Lord for current opportunities to witness and to get involved in local life. Pray for new doors to open.

By the grace of God, new folk are joining the fellowship and progressing with the Lord. What an encouragement to see some of these putting their faith in God in spite of the trials they are undergoing! And we are all joyfully looking forward to September when Thomas and Rosie Geronazzo, at present in Binche, will be coming to Herstal for their second year of placement . God is building His church and caring for each one of us.

In our December 2011 issue , we invited you to help us replace the old generator on one of our barges. The total cost , including installation, will be 15.000 Euros. As of today a total of 7.453 Euros has been received. Thank you so much! If you would like to support this project further, please send your gifts marked ‘For the new generator on the barges’.

Please send your gifts by cheque to the following address:

UK
Belgian Evangelical Mission UK
PO Box 617
EPSOM KT17 9JQ

US
BEM, Inc.
PO Box 2255
Buford, GA 30515

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” Philippians 1 v.12

There was really very little cause for rejoicing. Paul’s many adversaries had done all they could to silence him. With obstructions and false testimony, they had succeeded in discrediting him. Now he was in prison with little chance of ever coming out alive. Many believers and friends had abandoned him and others were using his imprisonment for their own ends. Clearly, Paul and the preaching of the Gospel had had better days, yet he writes that what has happened to him cannot hinder the Gospel. On the contrary it will open new doors, allowing the Good News to spread where it has never yet done so! ‘Everyone knows that I am in chains for the cause of Christ; even in the Roman G.H.Q. they have now heard the Gospel.’ He adds further, ‘Seeing my testimony, many believers are finding new courage to speak of Christ. There are those who, out of envy, are making my life difficult, but the Gospel is advancing in spite of everything!’ This is where Paul found his strength: he considered his personal circumstances as secondary to the advancement of the Gospel.

“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.” Philippians 1 v.25

Paul not only longs for the Gospel be proclaimed, he wants the believers to grow in their relationship with Christ. His attitude to his own circumstances shows how he feels about the church. He sees two ways out of his difficult situation. On the one hand he could die and be with Christ- which for him would be by far the best. On the other hand God could send him back to the believers – which is more needful for them. Whatever happens, he will win, because he sees his personal circumstances as less important than the progress or growth of the believers.

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1 v.20

His final concern underlies all the rest. His circumstances are less important to him than his desire to serve Christ and to obey Him. In doing that, the Gospel is proclaimed, the faith of believers is strengthened and Christ glorified in his life.

Wilfried Goossens

 From its 25 years of existence the fellowship already has a great history. In 1989 Klaus and Angela Kazda laid the first stone of what would become the MEB mission post in Eupen, but six years later, the death of Klaus and of another church member constituted a hard time of testing for the little group. In 1997, Thomas and Helga Goldsche joined the project as pastoral leaders, soon to be assisted by Andreas and Inge Seidlitz at the end of 1999. In the meantime, Angela married Reiner Jursch: they are currently serving at Westerlo (in Flanders).

Since that time the fellowship has continued to grow and has found many opportunities of presenting the Gospel to a local population that holds on to its religious traditions. Ladies’ meetings are organised several times a year, we broadcast short bi-monthly meditations on the BRF (German-speaking Belgian Radio) and from April to December our van is installed on Eupen market offering Christian literature to passers-by. About 35 adults and 10 0-15 young people and children participate in the Sunday services and the different house groups. In 2004 the fellowship was able to buy the larger building which they have occupied since 2007 – a real gift from God! In the future we want to reach out to more of the folk of the East Cantons, to reinforce our young people’s team, to find new ways of reaching young people and to enable the believers to take on more responsibilities so that the mission post can move towards autonomy. We wish this church a future worthy of its past!

 From 1988 on, on the initiative of two German missionary organisations, several evangelistic campaigns took place in the Eifel region. In 1993, the Schilp family arrived in Sankt Vith to join the little nucleus already there, five adults and eight children. Over the following years the emphasis was put upon evangelisation in different forms – two bible exhibitions, the distribution of the Jesus film, lectures on science and faith, a charity concert in aid of cancer sufferers, a nursery, etc. Little by little, the fellowship grew; they met in rented commercial premises with house groups during the week. In 2006 the church moved into a building of 600sq.m.which welcomed about 100 participants. Today there are six community groups. The scout group ‘Royal Rangers’ includes 40 children and young people and the fellowship is led by a team of six including a couple sent by the Allianz Mission to take over from the Schilp family. With 20 years on the clock and between 160 and 180 present at the Sunday services, the mission post of Sankt Vith became autonomous in 2011. We wish them many more years under the blessing and leading of God!

 The fellowship in Sankt Vith has always looked to the future. In August 2008, Matthias and Vera Schilp were already envisaging the possibility of planting a daughter church in the north of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. By means of various contacts and many pastoral visits over the course of the last years some small groups have been developed over the border. In Fischbach, seven people meet for a bible study entitled ‘Rediscover the Bible’. In Heinerscheid we have opened an office where those interested can obtain information about the project – Frai evangelisch Kiirch Norden (The North Free Evangelical Church). Finally, in Mersch, at monthly meetings for businessmen, we have the opportunity of speaking of the Lord and His love. Several new contacts have already been established.