God's Orchestration in Belgium

A wonderful illustration of God at work, orchestrating and designing divine encounters is shared by Blair Bonin, AGWM personnel who is the European Director of Students for Christ, a ministry focusing on university students. “Quentin, a new friend of mine, one of five young men I am mentoring, was explaining how he had made the acquaintance of another Belgian student, David, whom I have yet to meet personally, but whom I directed to the Students for Christ group in Brussels (led by some of our SFC colleagues) while I was still in the USA over a year ago.

“During a state-wide ministers meeting in Louisiana, a missions leader asked if we were the missionaries to Belgium working with students. I replied affirmatively and she then recounted the story of David: his arrival in Louisiana for a year's exchange program with an international organization, his placement in a Christian home, his church attendance with his host family and his personal experience with Jesus resulting in his baptism before returning to Brussels where he subsequently connected with the SFC group.

“David and Quentin, both Belgians and both former exchange students, found themselves in contact with each other upon their return to Europe. Through a joint meeting of their organization and an online chat, they each discovered that they had experienced God encounters while abroad, they were both back in Belgium now and both attending SFC groups, albeit in different cities. As I listened to the way these connections had come to pass, I marveled at the sovereign hand of God using Christians in Louisiana (where David was for his exchange year) and in Australia (where Quentin was placed) and in Belgium (where we live and have helped create a network of ministry to university students) for the grand design of each one embarking on a Spirit-led life of faith!

“But there's more...another very encouraging, God-directed connection occurred two years ago when we ordered something from an online Christian ministry based in the USA. The person receiving the order saw that our physical address was in Belgium and asked if we ministered there. When I confirmed, he mentioned that members of his family, a young couple, were also ministering in Belgium (the husband's home country) and proceeded to give me the online presence of Guillaume and Abi Hoc.

“Believing that God often has plans that tend to surpass our meager human orchestrations, I wrote to colleagues of mine in Brussels who were reaching out to students. They in turn contacted the Hocs and a collaboration was born which resulted in the replanting of an SFC group at the university in Namur, a city we had been targeting for many years.

“To our continued amazement of God connections, Quentin, (mentioned above), joined that SFC group in Namur. He has participated in the annual Students for Christ-Europe training conference and is becoming a student leader in his own right. Meanwhile, we have had the great pleasure of finally meeting and beginning to foster deeper relationship with Guillaume and Abi, who lead that group in Namur, Belgium.

“Indeed, the fruit of long-term presence here in Europe is being borne out as the sphere of influence broadens and deepens. To God be the glory!”

A wonderful illustration of God at work, orchestrating and designing divine encounters is shared by Blair Bonin, AGWM personnel who is the European Director of Students for Christ, a ministry focusing on university students.

“Quentin, a new friend of mine, one of five young men I am mentoring, was explaining how he had made the acquaintance of another Belgian student, David, whom I have yet to meet personally, but whom I directed to the Students for Christ group in Brussels (led by some of our SFC colleagues) while I was still in the USA over a year ago.

“During a state-wide ministers meeting in Louisiana, a missions leader asked if we were the missionaries to Belgium working with students. I replied affirmatively and she then recounted the story of David: his arrival in Louisiana for a year's exchange program with an international organization, his placement in a Christian home, his church attendance with his host family and his personal experience with Jesus resulting in his baptism before returning to Brussels where he subsequently connected with the SFC group.

“David and Quentin, both Belgians and both former exchange students, found themselves in contact with each other upon their return to Europe. Through a joint meeting of their organization and an online chat, they each discovered that they had experienced God encounters while abroad, they were both back in Belgium now and both attending SFC groups, albeit in different cities. As I listened to the way these connections had come to pass, I marveled at the sovereign hand of God using Christians in Louisiana (where David was for his exchange year) and in Australia (where Quentin was placed) and in Belgium (where we live and have helped create a network of ministry to university students) for the grand design of each one embarking on a Spirit-led life of faith!

“But there's more...another very encouraging, God-directed connection occurred two years ago when we ordered something from an online Christian ministry based in the USA. The person receiving the order saw that our physical address was in Belgium and asked if we ministered there. When I confirmed, he mentioned that members of his family, a young couple, were also ministering in Belgium (the husband's home country) and proceeded to give me the online presence of Guillaume and Abi Hoc.

“Believing that God often has plans that tend to surpass our meager human orchestrations, I wrote to colleagues of mine in Brussels who were reaching out to students. They in turn contacted the Hocs and a collaboration was born which resulted in the replanting of an SFC group at the university in Namur, a city we had been targeting for many years.

“To our continued amazement of God connections, Quentin, (mentioned above), joined that SFC group in Namur. He has participated in the annual Students for Christ-Europe training conference and is becoming a student leader in his own right. Meanwhile, we have had the great pleasure of finally meeting and beginning to foster deeper relationship with Guillaume and Abi, who lead that group in Namur, Belgium.

“Indeed, the fruit of long-term presence here in Europe is being borne out as the sphere of influence broadens and deepens. To God be the glory!”

Pentecostal Revival among the Gypsies across Europe

One of the most dynamic and powerful works of the Holy Spirit in our day certainly is the Pentecostal revival among the Gypsies Streams of this revival started in the decade of the 1950s. God began to pour out His Spirit upon the diverse ethnic groups of Gypsies in Europe and around the world. Because of prejudice and ill reputation, many leaders were skeptical about the conversion of Gypsies, but over time, these leaders recognized that God is no respecter of persons. France has more than 150 000 baptized Gypsy adults. There are some 2150 preachers trained in their own Bible school with almost 300 students studying every year. The French missionary work, called ‘Life and Light’ (founded by Pastor Clément Le Cossec), reaches into 30 countries, supporting over 30 missionaries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and India. The French Gypsies brought the Gospel to neighboring countries such as Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.

Spain has also experienced phenomenal growth as today there are over 200 000 baptized believers, some 600 Gypsy churches and 2500 preachers. The “Gitanos ” have evangelized Portugal and South America as well. England has been marked by the same kind of development since 1975. Today there are over 15 000 born-again Gypsies and Travellers, many of whom were instrumental in reaching Ireland, Canada, and the USA. . In Eastern Europe, we see similar growth. In Romania, there are some 110 000 converts and hundreds of Gypsy churches with about 200 preachers. Bulgaria has some 70 000 Gypsy believers and over 120 Gypsy churches and preachers. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are currently experiencing a mighty move of the Holy Spirit. There are over 10 million Gypsies in Eastern Europe. Only 3% have knowledge of the Gospel.

There is also a growing work in the Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Finland. TV programs are broadcast in the Gypsy language in more than 15 cities throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. There are some 40 million Gypsies in the world, half of whom are in India. To this day, 700 to 800 000 Gypsies from various ethnic groups know Jesus Christ as their Savior, with a total of 6 500 preachers and pastors. The task to reach this vast mission field is still unfinished. Gypsies have their own language, mindset and traditions. Please pray the Lord of the harvest to send many more workers to these people for whom Jesus died!

One of the most dynamic and powerful works of the Holy Spirit in our day certainly is the Pentecostal revival among the Gypsies Streams of this revival started in the decade of the 1950s. God began to pour out His Spirit upon the diverse ethnic groups of Gypsies in Europe and around the world. Because of prejudice and ill reputation, many leaders were skeptical about the conversion of Gypsies, but over time, these leaders recognized that God is no respecter of persons.

France has more than 150 000 baptized Gypsy adults. There are some 2150 preachers trained in their own Bible school with almost 300 students studying every year.
The French missionary work, called ‘Life and Light’ (founded by Pastor Clément Le Cossec), reaches into 30 countries, supporting over 30 missionaries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and India. The French Gypsies brought the Gospel to neighboring countries such as Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.

Spain has also experienced phenomenal growth as today there are over 200 000 baptized believers, some 600 Gypsy churches and 2500 preachers. The “Gitanos ” have evangelized Portugal and South America as well.
England has been marked by the same kind of development since 1975. Today there are over 15 000 born-again Gypsies and Travellers, many of whom were instrumental in reaching Ireland, Canada, and the USA.
.
In Eastern Europe, we see similar growth. In Romania, there are some 110 000 converts and hundreds of Gypsy churches with about 200 preachers. Bulgaria has some 70 000 Gypsy believers and over 120 Gypsy churches and preachers. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are currently experiencing a mighty move of the Holy Spirit. There are over 10 million Gypsies in Eastern Europe. Only 3% have knowledge of the Gospel.

There is also a growing work in the Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Finland.
TV programs are broadcast in the Gypsy language in more than 15 cities throughout Russia and Eastern Europe.
There are some 40 million Gypsies in the world, half of whom are in India. To this day, 700 to 800 000 Gypsies from various ethnic groups know Jesus Christ as their Savior, with a total of 6 500 preachers and pastors.
The task to reach this vast mission field is still unfinished. Gypsies have their own language, mindset and traditions. Please pray the Lord of the harvest to send many more workers to these people for whom Jesus died!

Daring Intercession and Divine Appointments in Poland

Leaders in the various university ministries of Students for Christ-Europe gathered for a weekend of prayer in Poland. Many encouraging things occurred. Briefly, God spoke specifically to several from His Word or from a word shared by a colleague. There was great unity of purpose in the vision to reach students on the continent. Participants were jubilant to hear of the advances that had occurred over the last year. There was intercession for the particular challenges facing each one on the horizon of 2015 and for the launch of new projects. Blair Bonin, AGWM personnel and director of Students for Christ-Europe also reports how the Lord helped him to speak into the lives of several colleagues at their request. The active work of the Holy Spirit was also evident to Blair in that as he was sharing with the group from a Scripture portion, his wife Dina was at home praying through that same passage without prior knowledge of it. God gives similar thoughts by His Spirit!

Blair also tells of how God never ceases to amaze in the journey of life with divine appointments. He relates, “During some down time in Krakow, I was able to share my faith with a young Polish man whom I unexpectedly encountered in the city square. After considerable dialogue, he allowed my colleagues and I to pray for him that God's Spirit would continue speaking to his spirit.”

Another instance of a divine appointment occurred on the trans-Atlantic flight back to the USA. Blair tells that, “My seat assignment was right next to a university student from Lebanon; our conversation inevitably turned to faith along with accompanied prayer at our parting.”

Leaders in the various university ministries of Students for Christ-Europe gathered for a weekend of prayer in Poland. Many encouraging things occurred. Briefly, God spoke specifically to several from His Word or from a word shared by a colleague. There was great unity of purpose in the vision to reach students on the continent. Participants were jubilant to hear of the advances that had occurred over the last year. There was intercession for the particular challenges facing each one on the horizon of 2015 and for the launch of new projects.

Blair Bonin, AGWM personnel and director of Students for Christ-Europe also reports how the Lord helped him to speak into the lives of several colleagues at their request. The active work of the Holy Spirit was also evident to Blair in that as he was sharing with the group from a Scripture portion, his wife Dina was at home praying through that same passage without prior knowledge of it. God gives similar thoughts by His Spirit!

Blair also tells of how God never ceases to amaze in the journey of life with divine appointments. He relates, “During some down time in Krakow, I was able to share my faith with a young Polish man whom I unexpectedly encountered in the city square. After considerable dialogue, he allowed my colleagues and I to pray for him that God's Spirit would continue speaking to his spirit.”

Another instance of a divine appointment occurred on the trans-Atlantic flight back to the USA. Blair tells that, “My seat assignment was right next to a university student from Lebanon; our conversation inevitably turned to faith along with accompanied prayer at our parting.”