Nr.101 ended with: “A lot of work would have to be done to the house part of the mill before we would be able to move in during July or August. However, there was one real problem……! (See richardandmarina.net)

Our house in Antwerp was rented with a 3 year contract. If we got out before the 3 years were , we would have to pay at least 3 months’ rent. This is 42 years ago, contracts may be different now. That was a real problem for us as we did not have much money, and we needed every cent to fix up the house in Beerse. What to do? After praying about this and talking it over with our co-worker, he and his wife decided to rent our house. So together we went to see the landlord to talk with him about our move. We told him that we had a couple who would like to rent the house and take over the contract. It took some talking, but after some time he decided to let us go, since we had been very nice to him and kept the house in a very good condition. Thank God, what a relief, not having to pay anything, praise the Lord!

And so we started getting things ready to move. Two youths, from our home church in Canada and just out of high school came over towards the end of June. The girls stayed with us for about 3 months. They were a tremendous help in getting ready for the move and then, after we had moved, they scraped off and cleaned the outside walls of the mill and repainted the whole place, what a job! How thankful we were for them. They slept high up in the round tower, going up two narrow stairs to their “bedroom.” Other people helped us fix up the house, painting, wall papering, putting in central heating, etc. Finally the place was ready and we moved in. One of the first services was the wedding of a young couple from Beerse, right in our living room. It went real well but caused a lot of talk in the town. However when the wedding and the feast were over and people went home, something very tragic happened…….! (Go to Musings).

Nr.100 ended with: “And so we sought the Lord as to a possible move and the starting of a new church in Beerse! How would He lead? Excitement was growing.!” (See richardandmarina.net).

We prayed, but at the same time we worked hard, not only holding Bible studies and visiting people, but also fixing up the mill in Beerse so as to get it ready to start a new church. And work there was, beginning with fixing some of the places where the water was coming in. We did not start with the large flat roof above the hall, but worked on the round tower first, and we soon had the place dry. Then there was the painting, putting in a decent floor and floor covering and we were pretty well ready to start meeting there. It was exciting indeed! Several people from Antwerp helped and also some from in and around Beerse and from even further away.

The inner conviction for a move increased, as did the need, because of all the driving I did to Beerse and Limburg for studies and visitation. And because of the growing interest in Limburg, I already was praying and planning for a church there. We prayed much, alone and with others, and confirmation from others also strengthened our conviction. We read God’s word and nothing came up that seem to indicate that we were on the wrong path. The more we read the Word, the greater the inner peace. All the while praying the words of Exodus 33:15, “If Thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence.” We really meant that, it wasn’t an easy way of saying, “Oh well, if the Lord doesn’t want us to move He’ll stop us.” No, it was the constant cry of our hearts. We discussed it time and again with our co-worker and some of the people of the Antwerp church and they were all in agreement and so the decision was made to move to Beerse after the children finished the school year in June. A lot of work would have to be done to the house part of the mill before we would be able to move in during July or August. However, there was one real problem……! (Go to Musings).

Nr.99 ended with: “It was late when we left their apartment and drove to Beerse and then on to Antwerp where a very important decision was going to be made……….!” (See richardandmarina.net).

But before I say anything more about this important decision, let me tell you about the next visit with Martin and Lydie in Peer. This time there was a Catholic priest present. I liked the man and found him very sympathetic and honest. But we discovered that he knew very little about the Bible. I asked him for example whether he knew that Jesus had brothers and sisters. He didn’t and I showed him several scriptures which he had never seen before. I also asked him whether he knew that Peter, according to his belief, the first Pope, was married. He was very surprised and I showed him Mark chapter 1 where Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law, which of course meant that he was married. We went on like that for a while and then he admitted that in seminary they had never really studied the Bible that much, but rather books about the Bible. I really appreciated his honesty. It was late again when I left the house. Sometime later a Bible study was started in the Peer area and also one a bit further south in Zolder.

Because of these studies in Limburg and in the Beerse area, I had to do a lot of driving. This, plus the fact that the work in Antwerp was doing great, the question arose as to whether we should not be moving. We believed the Lord had brought us to Belgium to start churches. In fact, when my future co-worker from Canada, Henk Gelling was visiting us, he came along to a prayer meeting where we prayed and asked the Lord to start 10 churches in 10 years. Henk couldn’t believe what he heard, but the reality is that not 10 churches were started in 10 years, but 20 in 15 years! God was at work and we were privileged to be part of that. And so we sought the Lord as to a possible move and the starting of a new church in Beerse! How would He lead? Excitement was growing……..! (Go to Musings).

Nr.98 ended with: “Sometime later I visited the couple in Peer and that visit was just as interesting, maybe even more……!” (See richardandmarina.net).

When I left the home where I had met the two couples, the lady, let’s call her Leen, who later told me she had accepted the Lord that night, asked me to come to their home and they would invite relatives and friends. I will come back to this later. But that night I drove home almost all the way with tears in my eyes just praising and thanking the Lord that He had called me into this ministry. What a joy to teach and preach His word to people who had never seen a Bible and had never heard the true gospel, and to be able to present such a wonderful message. I felt so privileged! I came home much after midnight, as I often did, hardly ever before 12 o’clock and most of the time at 1, 2, 3 and a few times even at 4 and 5 o’clock in the morning. But it was worth it! In the years to come I would see so many come to know Him, so many transformations, so many happy faces, what a joy, not only for me but also in heaven, see Luke 15.

Sometime later I went with the young couple from close to Beerse to their friends in Peer. The names of these friends? I have permission to use them and I will tell you in a moment why, they were Martin and Lydie Symons. What an evening it was! They were good Catholic people, but as so many others, a bit confused as there were so many changes taking place in the Catholic Church, while this Church had always claimed to be the one and only true unchanging Church. The questions kept coming, while I showed them the answers in the Bible. I had no idea at that time that I was in the home of a couple, two wonderful people, who in time to come, would become our first Flemish full-time workers, that’s why I am allowed to use their names. It was late when we left their apartment and drove to Beerse and then on to Antwerp where a very important decision was going to be made……….! (Go to Musings)

Nr.97 ended with: “You may not see it that way, that’s o.k. We have our convictions and respect others who have different views.” (See richardandmarina.net).

We must now go back a bit, to the winter of ‘73/’74. We were still living in Edegem, a suburb of Antwerp. The church in Antwerp was growing and doing well. My co-worker was doing a great job, while I was still active in that assembly too, but at the same time turning my attention eastwards towards Beerse and even further. I now had two Bible studies in the Beerse area and I had also started two studies in the eastern province of Limburg. These had come about through contacts of a young couple close to Beerse. The man had a friend in a town called Peer, to which he introduced me and he also had an older brother a bit further south. The brother and his wife invited me to their home and when I arrived, there was another couple, friends whom they had invited to be present.

It turned out to be a very interesting evening, as I explained the Bible to them. We actually had sort of a mini Bible study, which was totally new to them. It must have lasted about 3 hours, and then I mentioned that I needed to go home as I had at least an 1½ hour drive home. I asked permission to close the evening with prayer, as I did in every home I was invited to. Never has that been refused! I prayed and when I was finished it was very quiet and they looked at me not knowing what to say. I believe the Holy Spirit had touched their hearts, in fact I know He did, because the lady friend told me later that as I was praying she knew this was it, this is what she needed and that same evening she accepted the Lord. I wanted to get up, but all at once the questions came, why did you not make the sign of the cross, and why did you not pray the “Lord’s Prayer” and  “Hail Mary”? It took another hour to explain all that.

Sometime later I visited the couple in Peer and that visit was just as interesting, maybe even more……! (See richardandmarina.net).

Nr.96 ended with: “But some strange things also happened at times at those baptisms……..! (See richardandmarina.net).

I’m fast forwarding for a moment. When these baptisms took place, the strangest stories were told by some of the town’s people. I heard that it was going around that we were baptizing people naked behind a sheet that was being held up. Imagine! Well, I can assure you, that, of course, never happened. The closest we ever came to that was when someone had forgotten to tell a young man who recently had become a Christian what to wear when baptized. We did not use special gowns but told folk that they were saved in plain clothes and that we would baptize them in plain clothes. But someone had slipped up, and imagine my surprise when this young man came out of the dressing room in his swimming trunks. I looked at my co-worker with a question mark all over my face, but he was in the water already being baptized. I’m quite sure the angels in heaven smiled.

Another time, an elderly man who had been gloriously saved after leaving the RC Church totally disillusioned, came to be baptized. And again, someone had not instructed him and he came out of the dressing room in beautiful striped pajamas! No problem, again, I believe, the angels smiled, rejoicing in the fact that an old sinner had been saved and was being obedient to the Lord. But when he started coming up out of the water, I noticed that the elastic in his pajama pants was not really tight enough and I saw his wet pants slowly going down. I jumped over and grabbed him with one hand and his pants with my other and everything was fine, we all rejoiced. Oh those baptisms were wonderful times. The most we ever baptized in one afternoon was 34, praise the Lord. They were feasts, with buns and coffee afterwards, and what a “buzzing”, just as I had been told. We believe that the Bible teaches that baptism is a picture of us being buried with Christ and resurrected to new life, and that immersion is the best picture of this. You may not see it that way, that’s o.k. We have our convictions and respect others who have different views. (Go to Musings).

Nr.95 ended with: “I went to the mill feeling excited that this was now ours. With a happy heart I walked into the building but became suddenly utterly shocked……!” (See richardandmarina.net).

The times we had looked at the mill before had been nice days, or at least dry days, but today it was pouring rain. It seemed to come down with buckets. I parked the car and ran in so as to not get too wet. Once inside I looked around and could hardly believe what I saw, there was water almost everywhere. In the large hall there were small puddles, while water dripped from the ceiling. In the round room, the water was running down the walls. I went into the house and there the water wasn’t coming from above, but from below. Groundwater was slowly creeping up the walls. It all looked sickening! I walked around and took another look. My happiness was gone in no time and a terrible sadness and discouragement settled in. I had no desire to see anymore, left the building and drove home, in a very down mood, wondering whether we had made a mistake in renting this place.

Once home I told my wife about it and she was shocked too. I went upstairs to my study and sat down in sort of a daze. But then the thought came to take God’s word. I was reading in the Dutch Bible in Micah and came to chapter 2, where the last sentence of verse 12 hit me right on. It looked like it was written in bold, “Het zal er gonzen van mensen.” The English Bible says, ““The place will throng with people.” The Dutch word “Gonzen,” means “Buzz” or “Hum”, actually, like the sound one hears standing close to a beehive. I instinctively knew this was for me; this was God’s word for me at this time. You may wonder how I knew that, well I just knew, there was that inner witness of the Spirit. And sure enough, in the years to come this word would be fulfilled as hundreds of people again and again were present to see many, many new Christians baptized in that mill. But some strange things also happened at times at those baptisms……..! (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.94 ended with: “We had a time of prayer and then someone mentioned that the old Windmill, close to the center of the town, was for rent. An old dilapidated Windmill as church building,,,,,,?”

A new church in Beerse? It had been on my heart for some time; don’t forget we believed that the Lord had led us to Belgium to build churches, not buildings, even though they became necessary too, but gatherings or assemblies of true born again believers. The words of Jesus in Matthew 16:18b, were always on my mind, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” My constant prayer was, “Lord, build your church.” I firmly believed that this was the purpose for our being in this country. I was also convinced that planting churches was the best and fastest way of evangelizing the world, notice the apostle Paul’s ministry, and also the best way to change the world, as Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Matt.5:13-14, and are built up in local churches. So my heart was thrilled when people in and around Beerse became Christians. And through these Christians I came in contact with people further east in the province of Limburg, but that is for later.

We went to talk to the owner of the mill, who gave us the key to go and look at it. The sails/blades had been taken off, but the large round tower was still there. There were several stories with a good size round room on the main floor and also a large hall, which could seat close to 200 people. There were also living quarters, a house with two bedrooms. But the whole place was in bad shape and a lot of fixing would have to be done, yet we saw it had tremendous potential. We looked at the place a couple of times and then after much prayer we agreed to rent it. The next Monday morning I drove from Antwerp to sign the contract and get the key from the owner. I went to the mill feeling excited that this was now ours. With a happy heart I walked into the building but became suddenly utterly shocked……! (Go to Musings).

Nr.93 ended with: “I said to her very quietly, “When you don’t read God’s word to listen to Him, He will not listen to you, in fact your prayers offend Him.” I saw her face turn white as the Holy Spirit pricked her heart…………..!”

Two weeks later after some Bible studies and serious talks, she accepted the Lord Jesus into her heart and became a true born again Christian! Yes, the word of God is powerful! Jeremiah 23:29 says, “Is not My word like a fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.” I have seen hardened hearts broken before the Lord and coming to Jesus. I have seen God’s word burning up arguments and hearts humbled and bowed before Him. In Ephesians 6:17 it says that the word of God is like a sword and it cuts into hearts, as it did on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached in the power of the Holy Spirit that God had raised up the Jesus whom they had crucified. People were “cut to the heart” and came to repentance and faith. I saw this happen with this woman, how wonderful to experience the power of God’s word. And I have witnessed this happen again and again.

Many a time when talking to some, I have asked them whether they were Christians. When they answered with “yes”, I then asked them whether they read the Bible. Almost always the answer would be “no.” I would then show them John 8:47 where Jesus says, “He that is of God hears (reads) God’s word. Therefore you do not hear (read), because you are not of God.” Many a time I have seen the Holy Spirit “cutting these folk to the heart.”

But now back to Beerse. As a number people started becoming Christians, it became evident that a church should be started here. One evening when we were together with a good group of young believers, we talked about this and the need for a building to meet in. We had a time of prayer and then someone mentioned that the old Windmill, close to the centre of the town, was for rent. An old dilapidated Windmill as church building……? (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.92 ended with: “How is it with you, has there been a revolution in your heart?” (See richardandmarina.net).

Besides the church in Antwerp, there were now also two weekly Bible studies, one in Beerse and one in a town about 8 km east. It was amazing how more and more people came to know the Lord, especially family members and friends of the people in the second study. Yet, we did not do any “evangelism” as it is usually done. We did not go from door to door; we did not have tent meetings or campaigns, except a couple film evenings. How then did people come? Through the ones who had come to know the Lord. Let me put it this way, the changed lives of the truly converted people drew the attention of others who then became interested. The most powerful testimony on earth and the most powerful witness is the changed life of a truly converted person, someone who has surrendered to the Lord Jesus and is filled with His Spirit and joy.

How does that come to pass? Through the power of the Word of God and the Spirit of God, who works in answer to prayer. My wife and I had been praying for years and I had also spent many, many hours with a friend praying. Besides that, we had a wonderful home church in Canada with many praying people. We also travelled through a large part of Canada, everywhere visiting churches and encouraging people to pray for our upcoming ministry in Europe. Once in Belgium we started preaching the Word of God and I discovered again the power of God’s Word, not only in meetings, but also in speaking personally to people. I remember visiting a Catholic lady and asking her whether she read the Bible. She said she didn’t but she prayed a lot all day. I showed her Proverbs 28:9, “One who turns away his ear from hearing (reading) the law (God’s word)), even his prayer is an abomination.” I said to her very quietly, “When you don’t read God’s word to listen to Him, He will not listen to you, in fact your prayers offend Him.” I saw her face turn white as the Holy Spirit pricked her heart…………..!. (Go to Musings).