Nr.71 ended with: “But talk about preaching to large groups in Belgium……..!?” (See Musings)

There were no large groups in Belgium to speak to, with a hundred, or even ten people. But I would like to clear up something first. In episode 70 I wrote, “I asked the Lord why in heaven’s name He had brought me to Belgium, it was so difficult there. I was just not the right person for that kind of country and people.” In Dutch it was “For that kind of country and “such” people.” I received a couple comments asking, “Are we such terrible people?” But that is not what I meant, of course not; every nationality has its positive and negative sides. What I meant with “such” people was the fact that they were catholic and that I had never worked with such. I hope this will set things straight. We have really come to love the Belgian people and especially, all our brothers and sisters in Christ, whom we miss very much!

So, because there were no groups to speak to I had to learn to speak on a one to one basis, which wasn’t easy, but I learned, even though it never became easy for me. At the same time our little church started growing and our living room started filling up, especially when the children hadn’t gone to the bedrooms yet for Sunday school. Operation Mobilization was active in Belgium and held open air meetings. They gave us the names of people who seemed to show an interest. We would go and visit these, but how does one get them interested in a Book they had never seen and of which some were afraid because they had been told that it was a Protestant and dangerous book. But people are curious beings and so we followed Jesus’ example and worked on their curiosity. I would ask them, did you know that Jesus had brothers and sister? Quite shocked they would reply, where does it say that? I would show them Mark 6 where it talks about Jesus’ four brothers, and sisters in plural, so that Mary had at least 7 children. It was very interesting to see the expression on their faces. The next question was about ……the Pope……….! (Go to Musings)

Nr.70 ended with: “You see, I had three things against me……!” (See richardandmarina.net)

This is actually something personal but I want to share it with you to give you an idea of why I was feeling so discouraged on the way home from Northern Ireland where I had such a wonderful time. You see, I had three things against me,

One, I was a Dutchman, “nen Hollander”, they say in Belgium. And the Belgians and Hollanders are not really in love with each other. Most jokes in Holland are about the Belgians and most in Belgium about the Dutch. I am having a hard time withstanding the temptation to tell you some, ha! So I always felt self conscious about being Dutch. Often I carried my Canadian passport with me and when people asked me where I was from, as they could hear on my accent that I was not from Belgium, I would tell them, that I came from Canada. Their reply would usually be, “You speak good Dutch”, to which I would reply, “Well yes, thank you.” But then the question would come “Have you maybe lived in Holland?” And then I would have to come out with the truth, “I was born in Holland, but I had nothing to do with that.” That would sort of break the ice and they would smile. However, I never got over the feeling of being a stranger there, except when people became Christians, then it changed.

Secondly, I had never worked with Roman Catholics in Canada and Belgium was more than 90% Catholic, why the Lord sent me there, only heaven knows. I knew very little about the Catholic faith and what they believed, but I learned pretty fast.

In the third place, I had never done personal work, I am a preacher, the larger the group, the better it goes, but give me one person and I hardly know what to say. The Bible talks about the gift of evangelism and both my wife and I have that gift, but while I present the Good News to groups, she does it on a one to one basis. My co-worker Herb was also that way and that’s why we teamed up so good. But talk about preaching to large groups in Belgium……….?! (Go to Musings)

 

Nr.69 ended with: “And then came April 1, 1972……!” (See richardandmarina.net)

Yes, on Saturday, April 1 we had our first baptism with three people obeying the Lord. Hundreds and hundreds upon hundreds were to follow. The next day, Sunday, April 2, we started the first little church with 16 people, children included in our living room. Fifteen years later there would be 20 churches all over Flemish speaking Belgium, some small ones, some large, that is, according to European standards. The Lord blessed in a wonderful way and I was asked to come and speak at conferences in at least 12 other European countries, as people were so amazed at what was happening in Belgium, it was just unheard of and they wanted to know what our “secret” was. But we had no secret, it was the work of the Lord and we were there just at the right time. The only things we had were the Bible, prayer and above all, the Holy Spirit who did the work, using weak and frail instruments. Had Jesus not said, “I will build my church?” Psalm 118:23, “This was the Lord’s doing, it is marvellous in our eyes!”

But that didn’t mean that it was easy, in fact I had such a difficult time during the first year that I wondered why the Lord had brought me to Belgium. Thank God, some time during that year, a friend who had been in Bible College with me in Canada was working with a youth movement in Northern Ireland and he asked me to come and speak at a youth weekend with about 300 young people. What a time we had, it was just wonderful to be able to preach in English again to a large group of people. I was overjoyed and the Lord really worked and many lives were touched. Even an IRA terrorist was converted, who had to go into hiding after that. But on the flight home I literally wept, so discouraged I was, and I asked the Lord why in heaven’s name He had brought me to Belgium, it was so difficult there. I was just not the right person for that kind of country and people. You see, I had three things against me……! (Go to Musings)

Nr.68 ended with: “These dear people needed to hear the wonderful gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a mission field…….!” (See richardandmarina.net)

We moved from Holland to Belgium on December 23, 1971. Our two oldest girls, Rosa, 7 and Lily, 5 had started to get adjusted to school in Holland where they attended 4 months and seemed to enjoy it. They were quite excited to see Saint Nicholas riding by our house on a horse on December 5, with black Peters throwing nuts around. In Canada Santa Claus comes at Christmas from the North Pole riding a sled pulled by reindeer. In Holland, Saint Nicolas comes on a boat from Spain and then rides around on a horse. Gifts are given on December 5 and not on Christmas.
Moving from Canada to Holland was quite an adjustment, but the same was true about moving to Belgium. So many things were different, the mentality, the currency, the stores, the schools, even the language. And even though about 6 million Belgians speak Dutch, there are French words mixed in and almost every town or area has a different accent. One can often tell from which part of Belgium a person comes. The two main school systems are the Catholic and the State schools. Our girls went to a State school as it was so close to where we lived. Even our youngest, Renee, though she was only 3 had to go to school, as children in Belgium start at age 2½.

Speaking of children, Antwerp had about a half a million people and we found out that there was only one Sunday school in the whole city. We went to see one of the teachers, remarking that they must have a lot of children. Oh yes, she answered, we have 26 children! Marina, with a heart for children cried, how is that possible? Talk about a mission field! And what a challenge! You can well imagine that there would soon be a second Sunday school, and guess where? Our daughters would be getting up early on Sunday mornings and make up their beds and fix up their bedrooms so that they could be used as classes. What a thrill. And then came April 1, 1972……! (Go to Musings)

Nr.67 ended with: “But there was something else that really shocked us………!”

As mentioned before Herb and I went from door to door to find out what people believed. As we talked to many, many people we discovered that people did not know why Jesus died on the cross. Now this may seem very strange to you, as Belgium is a catholic (Christian) country, it may be hard to believe but it is true. I remember sitting in the living room of an elderly lady, she told me she was 75. And she also told me that she had gone to mass every day of her life, except the last year as she was not well. Behind her on the wall hung a crucifix and so I asked her whether she believed that Jesus died on the cross. Of course, she answered. I then asked her why Jesus had died on the cross. She looked at me and said that she didn’t know. I looked at her in utter amazement and said, you have gone to church every day of your life and you don’t know why Jesus died on the cross? No, she said. I said, every time you go to mass you hear the words: “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” Yes, she agreed with that. I then asked what those words meant, she had no idea and became a bit perturbed with me and said, I haven’t studied theology, how should I know? I was absolutely dumbfounded and felt like crying. How was this possible? A dear soul having gone to a “Christian” church every day of her life for almost 75 years and not knowing why Jesus died on the cross, it was just unbelievable. I met people who told me they believed more in Mary than in Jesus. What a need, and not just in Belgium, but in much of so called Christian Europe. The light had gone out. I felt once again very confirmed in the fact that God had brought us here. These dear people needed to hear the wonderful gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a mission field…….! (Go to Musings)

Nr.66 ended with: “It may surprise or shock you what a catholic seminary professor, who later became a bishop told me……!” (See richardandmarina.net)

It happened at a home Bible study. About 25 catholic people were present, as also the local priest who had brought this seminary professor along. The priest was upset because some of his people were leaving the Catholic Church. I taught my Bible study and then after having answered some questions, I asked the professor whether he believed the Bible to be the word of God. No, he said, I believe the Bible contains the word of God. In other words there are things in there from God but there are also many historical mistakes and there is a lot of scientific nonsense in the Bible, especially in the O.T. I was quiet for a moment and then answered him by saying that Jesus accepted the Bible as the word of God, Jesus believed in Adam and Eve, in Noah and the flood and so on. You know what he answered?

He said, oh yes, but Jesus didn’t know any better either, He was a child of his times, a first century man and in those days they didn’t know much about history or science. I can tell you, I became upset and I told him that I found it hard to believe that God the Father would allow His perfect Son to teach all kinds of historical mistakes and scientific nonsense. It became very quiet in the room as these catholic people were shocked at what their professor, who some time later became bishop, believed. I realized then what a mission field Belgium was. However, much good came out of this meeting, as a number of these folk became true born again Christians.

How different is my faith, I believe the Bible to be the word of God from cover to cover and I take it as literal as possible. Be careful, I said, as literal as possible, but lots of times it is not possible, such as some of the statements of Jesus, “I am the door” or “I am the true vine” and other. But thus, the Bible is living and powerful, able to change lives.

But there was something else that really shocked us………! (Go to Musings)

 

Nr.65 ended with: “Herb and I started going from door to door to find out how people in Belgium thought about God and Jesus and so on. Two things really surprised us, or should I say shocked us……..!” (See richardandmarina.net)

But before I tell you about this, I first want to mention how surprised we were at the Lord’s undertaking and provisions. We had left Canada without a salary or promise of full support. Our home assembly supported us monthly, but that was always less than half of what we needed. Where was the rest going to come from? We had no idea, but we knew we were in the will of God and that He would provide. And now after having been in Europe for 6 months, we could truly say that every month enough gifts came in for us, some from people we didn’t even know, how wonderful, praise the Lord. He is faithful and can be counted on!

So now, what were the things that shocked us? The first one was the fact that at least 90 to 95% of the people had never seen a Bible. This was to us unbelievable for a “Christian” country. One of our neighbors told us that her father used to have a Bible, but the local priest had come and taken it. I heard the same thing several times. We were told that the Bible was a forbidden book. I looked this up and found this: The Council of Trent (1545-1564) placed the Bible on its list of prohibited books, and forbade any person to read the Bible without a license from a Roman Catholic bishop or inquisitor. The Council added these words: “That if any one shall dare to read or keep in his possession that book, without such a license, he shall not receive absolution till he has given it up to his ordinary.” Previous councils had also taken that stand. Of course, this has changed and now in catholic schools the children have a Bible, but they are told right from the beginning that the Bible is full of mistakes, so how can one trust it? It may surprise or shock you what a seminary professor, who later became a bishop told me……! (Go to musings)

Nr.64 ended with: “After they had settled in, we visited them a number of times praying and talking together and we started to slowly sense God’s leading……..!” (See richardandmarina.net)

It became clear to the four of us that the Lord was leading us to work together in church planting in Belgium. And yes, we now had the three things we had wanted and prayed for: 1. A strong home church, Wallenstein Bible Chapel. 2. Many people all over Canada praying for us. And 3, Gifted co-workers.

So, we were now ready to move to Belgium, our hearts were thrilled, this was the place God wanted us to be. Belgium, in Western Europe, in so-called Christian Europe. We knew of people back in Canada who wondered why we had gone to Europe to be missionaries. Africa needed missionaries, and Asia and Latin America, but Europe? Had the gospel not come from Europe? Had not many good preachers in North America come from Europe? But someone said once, “No country is as dark as where the light has gone out.” Try it out for yourself, a room seems much darker once the light has been on and turned off.  And in Europe the light has gone out, at least in much of Europe, especially the Catholic part.

It didn’t take long to find a house to rent in Edegem, a suburb of Antwerp and so, on Dec.23, 1971 we moved from Holland to Belgium. Again it was quite an adjustment. Our co-workers, the Schindelka’s lived about 20 minutes drive from us on the other side of Antwerp. We had gotten in touch with a small assembly in Mechelen, south of Antwerp and for several months we attended there, but at the same time we started evangelizing in and around Antwerp. Because Lillian Schindelka was born in Belgium, she had contact with her family and a nephew and his wife became Christians. Herb and I started going from door to door to find out how people in Belgium thought about God and Jesus and so on. Two things really surprised us, or should I say shocked us……..! (Go to Musings)

Nr.63 ended with: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out….., and he went, not knowing where he was going.” He took one step at a time, and so did we. It was exciting, to say the least…….!”

My family came to get us from the airport close to Amsterdam and took us to the farm of an aunt and uncle in eastern Holland where we stayed one week. Amazingly, there were three small bikes there for our girls. Even though I had been born in Holland, it all felt strange for me, and even more for Marina and the girls. They were starting to learn the language and we had many laughs with that. Praying in Dutch also seemed strange, but the Lord heard us anyway! 🙂

We then traveled to our apartment in a town south of Amsterdam and lived there for about 6 months. Besides ministering in the small church, we also continued with a children’s Bible club. One morning Marina woke up with a terrible swollen knee and could not walk. I had lost my voice after having had three couples in our home from Friday night until Sunday night, having Bible studies with them and continually talking, with little sleep. The next day we had Bible club, but Marina couldn’t walk and I couldn’t talk, so with my good legs I carried Marina to the club, and she, with her good voice and in simple Dutch taught the children, and playing her accordion and singing with them. We had a great time!

A niece invited me back to her parent’s farm in eastern Holland, where we had stayed before and we held a youth weekend there. I held three Bible studies a day, which was far too much for the youth and so, the next time we did things differently.

In August the family I had stayed with while holding special meetings in Edmonton, Alberta, Herb and Lillian Schindelka and their four children, arrived in Holland on their way to Belgium. We picked them up at the airport and drove them to Antwerp in Belgium. Lillian was from Belgium originally. After they had settled in, we visited them a number of times praying and talking together and slowly we started to sense God’s leading……..! (Go to Musings)

Nr.62 ended with: “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places.” And the Lord did give us many, many precious souls in Belgium, “treasures of darkness”, who came into the Light……!” (See richardandmarina.net)

On Sunday, June 6, a number of families drove with us to the Toronto airport to see us off, which was a great encouragement and blessing. We were stepping out in faith, trusting God to guide us and to meet our every need, and we can testify that He has truly been faithful in providing during the 38 years that we were in Belgium. It already started before we left. Marina’s old accordion was worn out and there was no use taking it along. About a week before we left, we received a phone call from Toronto. A missionary couple was on their way back to South America, but the dear brother had a stroke which made them stay in Canada. They had a beautiful new accordion, but he was not able to play it anymore. They gave it to us, a gift from God. And how it was used in Belgium, as there were no other musical instruments at that time and so Marina would play it at all meetings.

So we saw God being real in knowing our needs and at the right time providing for us. Who says believing in God and serving Him is boring? It is the most exciting life to live, even though it is not always easy. We not only saw God providing but also changing the hearts and lives of hundreds and hundreds of people all over Belgium and Europe, as I spoke at many conferences in at least 12 different European countries and saw God at work again and again!

We were now on our way to Holland, but had Belgium on our hearts; however, we were just letting the Lord lead us step by step. The Lord impressed the words of Hebr.11:8 on our hearts, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out….., and he went, not knowing where he was going.” He took one step at a time, and so did we. It was exciting, to say the least…….! (Go to Musings)