Today we now focus on three individual stories from Europe missionaries who are working to engage with the refugee movement. As we continue to follow the Great Commission, we remember the words of Christ, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (Matthew 25:35-36 NIV)
Due to the sensitive nature of these stories, certain names and locations have been changed.
Belgium
Missionaries Sam and Naomi are working with those who speak Arabic in the Brussels, Belguim area. Naomi has had the privilege of praying and counseling with a young Agfhani m*slim woman who related this testimony: “Bahoz was once incurably ill declared by his doctors. For twelve years, he suffered severe seizures every day. Exhausted and emaciated I found him in November....treatment costs and other problems put him on the street. One prayer in the name of Jesus Christ and he was healed completely. He's been attack-free for three months and shares this miracle that God has done in his life with the people around him. His brain scans don't show any trace of the epilepsy.”
Sam also says: “We have had the privilege of helping to plant a new Pentecostal Arabic/Flemish speaking church in a city north of Brussels. We just heard recently that this new church plant (a little over a year old) which is bursting at the seams has decided to plant another new church about 10 miles away where 4 or 5 families are now attending and being taught! They are also active in street evangelism in other places.”
France
In France, God has led one of our missionaries to create an economic opportunity for those affected by the migration. God has given a clear vision to open a café serving Middle Eastern dishes, run by refugees. It will offer catering, sandwiches and preparation of food for distributing to those still on the streets. AGWM personnel are currently taking classes on health and food safety in order to meet the French standards. A portion of the profits from the café will finance meals to be distributed once or twice a week to migrant camps in the Paris region by teams of volunteers. The café will also host migrant support workshops, including French classes, lessons on Parisian culture, job skills classes, and also continue to hold women's events.
Austria
In Austria, one of our workers has planted a “refugee church” with several different nationalities, including Iranians, Afghanis, and Kurds. On average, around 70 refugees attend every Sunday, with several different discipleship classes leading them into a deeper relationship with Christ. Five people are in an advanced discipleship course which is meant for those who feel called into the ministry. Throughout 2018, AGWM personnel report that 14 have been taken the step of water baptism, while 7 have been filled with the Holy Spirit. God has and will continue to do great things in this church!
“Easter evening was a jam-packed explosion of joy as five people took the important step of water baptism,” say Mark and Dalene Good, AGWM personnel planting a church in Grenoble, France. The room overflowed with friends and family of those getting baptized as Mark preached on the power over sin that identifying with Christ in his death and resurrection brings. Huddled outside around the inflatable spa, the congregation laughed, cried and prayed together with these that they had journeyed with and in whose lives there has been great change. One older woman who had previously embraced Buddhism, accepted Christ this last year. “After I prayed to Jesus, it was the first time I slept peacefully in years,” she testified.
Believers in Troyes, France are uniting to pray for their city and country! These meetings, called “Brûle en moi” (Burn in me), began in September. The “Brûle en moi” prayer meetings began with a dual-purpose.