Short Time Success in Belgium

How do you start a Kid’s Ministry in a place where religion and ‘church’ are not welcome? That was the question on the mind of AGWM personnel, Kay Farmer. The answer for her? Step outside of the box and find out what are the needs in your community. And now, after the start of this ministry, Kay is hearing the moms saying, “We don’t have anything like this here. We needed something like this!” Story Time is held on Wednesday afternoons. The kids come, play a bit, sings songs, and Kay reads a ‘moral-themed’ story! Then they play games and have activities that go along with the theme. The first book that Kay read to the kids was The Boy and The Ocean by Max Lucado. She says, “We were able to talk about God’s love because of this book. All of the moms left asking if they could take some flyers and tell their friends.” Well…of course!!!

Kay goes on to relate, “I wasn’t sure how to start. How to reach parents when I didn’t have a child myself. I follow a local blogger here who posts events. One day the idea came to me to send her a message about Story Time. She said she would love to blog about it and did so for three weeks! I had two parents sign up. One mom was part of our city’s Parent and Child Group. She asked if she could share this event with the group. Of course! She brought five moms with her. The best part was all of the hugs I got when the kids left. I already felt like these were “My Kids!”

How do you start a Kid’s Ministry in a place where religion and ‘church’ are not welcome? That was the question on the mind of AGWM personnel, Kay Farmer. The answer for her? Step outside of the box and find out what are the needs in your community.

And now, after the start of this ministry, Kay is hearing the moms saying, “We don’t have anything like this here. We needed something like this!” Story Time is held on Wednesday afternoons. The kids come, play a bit, sings songs, and Kay reads a ‘moral-themed’ story! Then they play games and have activities that go along with the theme. The first book that Kay read to the kids was The Boy and The Ocean by Max Lucado. She says, “We were able to talk about God’s love because of this book. All of the moms left asking if they could take some flyers and tell their friends.” Well…of course!!!

Kay goes on to relate, “I wasn’t sure how to start. How to reach parents when I didn’t have a child myself. I follow a local blogger here who posts events. One day the idea came to me to send her a message about Story Time. She said she would love to blog about it and did so for three weeks! I had two parents sign up. One mom was part of our city’s Parent and Child Group. She asked if she could share this event with the group. Of course! She brought five moms with her. The best part was all of the hugs I got when the kids left. I already felt like these were “My Kids!”

Historical Gathering of Christians in Namur, Belgium

HISTORICAL GATHERING OF CHRISTIANS IN NAMUR, BELGIUM On Saturday, April 9th, 2016, some 2000 Evangelical believers participated in a rally called "Christians in Celebration" held in the city of Namur, the capital of Wallonia (French-speaking area of Belgium), featuring the ministry of Claude Houde, senior pastor of the Nouvelle Vie Church in Montreal, Québec, Canada. The purpose of this gathering was to affirm spiritual unity in Christ as reflected by the participation of leaders and believers from some 10 Evangelical denominations, including the French-speaking Assemblies of God and AGWM missionaries serving in Belgium. It was organized by an inter-denominational committee chaired by Rev. Daniel Costanza (PEF executive director), under the auspices of the regional pastoral associations.

In an atmosphere of joyful worship, the Spirit of God was at work in bringing healing to the Body of Christ in this part of Belgium. The day before, an outreach "ACTION NAMUR", coordinated by Rev. Kerby Rials (AGWM personnel in Belgium) took place in the heart of the city, mobilizing some 60 believers who engaged in various forms of evangelism. Local churches felt encouraged and all the participants expressed enthusiasm over the entire weekend. The believers are praying that the seeds planted throughout this weekend will usher in an abundant harvest of blessings on a country in need of spiritual revival.

Daniel Costanza, Executive Director Pentecostal European Fellowship

On Saturday, April 9th, 2016, some 2000 Evangelical believers participated in a rally called "Christians in Celebration" held in the city of Namur, the capital of Wallonia (French-speaking area of Belgium), featuring the ministry of Claude Houde, senior pastor of the Nouvelle Vie Church in Montreal, Québec, Canada.

The purpose of this gathering was to affirm spiritual unity in Christ as reflected by the participation of leaders and believers from some 10 Evangelical denominations, including the French-speaking Assemblies of God and AGWM missionaries serving in Belgium. It was organized by an inter-denominational committee chaired by Rev. Daniel Costanza (PEF executive director), under the auspices of the regional pastoral associations.

In an atmosphere of joyful worship, the Spirit of God was at work in bringing healing to the Body of Christ in this part of Belgium. The day before, an outreach "ACTION NAMUR", coordinated by Rev. Kerby Rials (AGWM personnel in Belgium) took place in the heart of the city, mobilizing some 60 believers who engaged in various forms of evangelism. Local churches felt encouraged and all the participants expressed enthusiasm over the entire weekend. The believers are praying that the seeds planted throughout this weekend will usher in an abundant harvest of blessings on a country in need of spiritual revival.

Submitted by Daniel Costanza,
Executive Director,
Pentecostal European Fellowship

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!”

Reaching Out in Belgium

From April 19 to the 21st, the Hope for Wallonia team, led by Daniel Costanza, conducted an outreach in Marchienne Docherie (Charleroi), a socially and spiritually poor area in the south of Belgium. This event in the French-speaking region of Belgium, was held in cooperation with Convoy of Hope Europe.Hosted by the AG "Voice of the Gospel' Church, this outreach brought different teams together from Norway, USA and Belgium. Some 8000 tracts on the meaning of Easter were given out, preparing the way for the final community open-air event that featured testimonies, music, dances, kids' activities, BBQ and the preaching of the Gospel. God favored this outreach through exceptional sunny weather, (not to be taken for granted in Belgium!) as 300 plus first-time visitors filled the church parking lot. Many first-time contacts were made and a number of people asked for prayer, including Muslim residents. The local church was overwhelmed by such response and recognized this as a first spiritual breakthrough. There is hope for Wallonia through Jesus.

From April 19 to the 21st, the Hope for Wallonia team, led by Daniel Costanza, conducted an outreach in Marchienne Docherie (Charleroi), a socially and spiritually poor area in the south of Belgium.  This event in the French-speaking region of Belgium, was held in cooperation with Convoy of Hope Europe.

Hosted by the AG "Voice of the Gospel' Church, this outreach brought different teams togetherfrom Norway, USA and Belgium. Some 8000 tracts on the meaning of Easter were given out, preparing the way for the final community open-air event that featured testimonies, music, dances, kids' activities, BBQ and the preaching of the Gospel.

God favored this outreach through exceptional sunny weather, (not to be taken for granted in Belgium!) as 300 plus first-time visitors filled the church parking lot. Many first-time contacts were made and a number of people asked for prayer, including Muslim residents. The local church was overwhelmed by such response and recognized this as a first spiritual breakthrough.  There is hope for Wallonia through Jesus.