Nr.144 ended with: “Until now the workers had come from outside of Belgium, but now God had something else in mind! Exciting…………..!: (See richardandmarina.net).

Let me re-introduce you to a couple, Martin and Lydie Symons, the first ones in Peer, Limburg to accept the Lord and be born again, see nr.99. They opened their home for Bible studies and I had many wonderful times with them and a number of people, especially youth became Christians in their home. After the Peer assembly had been started Martin became one of the leaders. He had a job in a meteorological office and had quite a flexible schedule, so that he was able to do a lot of studying. Both he and Lydie were (and still are) very active and together with another couple started a drug rehabilitation program which would eventually lead to a ministry called Bethesda, which is still going except that someone else is leading it.

In 1979 I talked to them about going full-time in the Lord’s work, but they were not ready for that yet. We kept praying for this and in 1981 they took the step. Martin quit his job and started working full-time for the Lord, trusting Him to supply their needs, as we missionaries were doing. This was a real step of faith, as one can well imagine, and family and friends had their doubts about this. This was really unheard off, to leave a good job and start doing this “religious work” without a salary?! But the Lord was faithful and provided for them, even though they had some difficult moments. But they are now able to say with the apostle Paul, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Phil.4:11-12.

I must say that I have an awful lot of respect for them and I can’t stop thanking the Lord for them and their faithfulness in the ministry. It is a tremendous joy when people come to know the Lord. It is also a joy to see them grow in the Lord and become mature Christians who take on responsibilities, such as teaching Sunday school or Bible studies, becoming youth and camp leaders or church leaders, etc. But then to see some of them answering the call of God and going full-time into His service is an even greater joy. And Martin and Lydie would not be the only Flemish people who would answer God’s call, others would follow, in fact there are now more Flemish workers than outsiders, praise the Lord.

But let’s now go back to East Flanders, and yes, also West Flanders (Flanders Fields) where amazing things were happening……………..! (Go to Musings).