Nr.180 ended with, “We were happy to be back in the country to which the Lord had called us, but the enemy was not so happy and 1994 became quite the year, starting with a serious accident………..!” (See richardandmarina.net).

At the beginning of February, coming from a prayer meeting, we were driving home on a three lane road on the outskirts of Ghent. It was miserable weather, with temperatures close to zero and some wet snow. There was quite a bit of traffic and we were going 50 km an hour in a long line of cars. Marina was reading a letter and I just looked over to see it, but as I turned my eyes back on the road I saw red brake lights right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but because of some snow or ice the car kept sliding and hit the one ahead of us quite hard. That car in turn hit the one in front of him, which hit the next car. That one had all at once decided to turn left, braked quite hard causing others to hit their brakes and a crash occurred. I felt awful, but the police was very nice and told me not to worry, things like that happen so quick. Besides, everyone was in the wrong, following too close. We had our safety belts on, but Marina was really hurting. We phoned friends who took us to the hospital where x-rays were taken and it showed a broken breast bone. Nothing could be done about it, it would have to heal on its own, it was quite painful for Marina for some time. We thanked God, as it could have all been much worse.

We continued with the ministry God had given us, thanking Him for the privilege of serving Him and seeing lives changed. We helped to build up the new church in Mariakerke, in the north part of Ghent, holding evangelistic Bible studies, helping elders and leaders in other assemblies, seeking to solve problems here and there, and so on. There was never a dull moment. After a very busy and stressful week in May, we drove to church on a Sunday morning, but having gone only a little ways, I told Marina that I needed some fresh air. I stopped the car and got out and did some deep breathing, which did not make me feel any better. I also started having a headache, so we turned around and went home and called the doctor, who came to our house, in Belgium doctors make house calls. He examined me and figured I was hyperventilating. He said to lie down and call him in an hour if things did not improve. And things did not improve, so he came back, wrote a note and told us to go to emergency…………..! (Go to Musings).

r.179 ended with, “Towards the end of ’92, Marina and I returned to Canada for a home assignment and also to see how things would go with Rosa, as Burt and Elaine felt that their time was up and they needed to move on. How would the Lord lead this time………………..?” (See richardandmarina.net).

We had planned to be in Canada for a short time, to be with Rosa and to be in touch with our home church and other supporters, but because Burt and Elaine moved away and because Rosa still needed some help, we stayed longer. After Rosa was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Elaine helped her get a disability pension. I went back to Belgium on the 23rd of December and stayed for more than two months helping believers and churches, and dealing with problems in some places. I also spoke at conferences in France, Germany and Belarus. There I stayed in Gomel, the second largest city of the country, with friends who worked for World Vision. I was invited to speak to the doctors and nurses of a large hospital. I also had the privilege of speaking to the staff members of the largest women prison in the country and Bibles were handed out to all who attended the meeting. The head of the prison was very moved and I think that she may have accepted the Lord. What struck me most in that country was the absolute poverty, just unbelievable and it made me realize how rich and privileged we are in the West, and how thankful we ought to be!

I flew back to Canada the end of February, but in April I was back in the Netherlands for the funeral of my mother. Because of all the travelling, the meetings, the problems, the emotions and so on, I was exhausted. I talked to our elders and asked them whether I could have a six months sabbatical, to which they wholeheartedly agreed. Jesus told his disciples after a very busy time, to come apart for a while. Someone has said, “Yes, come apart or else you will come apart.” We had been going pretty steady from 1971 until now, 1993 and it was good to be able to let go of everything for a while.

In December Marina and I traveled back to Belgium. Rosa received help from the elders for a while, then from the Red Cross and then from an organization, ILC, Independent Living Center for people with disabilities. She has different ladies come in five days a week for two hours to cook, clean and give help and personal care, they are called “attendants.” For the rest she is on her own and looks after herself.

We were happy to be back in the country to which the Lord had called us, but the enemy was not so happy and 1994 became quite the year, starting with a serious accident….! (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.178 ended with, “But just as God is real, so is the enemy and we had experienced his opposition many a time already in different ways, and now unknowing to us, he was attacking again and we were to soon find that out……………….!” (See richardandmarina.net).

The devil, Satan, is the source of discouragement, confusion and division. We experienced these things in our own lives and saw it in the lives of other believers and churches. I have written about people becoming Christians and churches being started, much to praise the Lord for, but there were also disappointments and discouragements. Division would come in due to differences of opinion about doctrines and church practices. This was now happening in one of our assemblies and without going into detail, it resulted in a church split, a group of believers leaving the church. It was heartbreaking and very painful. There was heart searching, sleepless nights and much prayer, but ultimately the Lord gave victory and after quite some time the two groups came together, confessed wrong attitudes and were re-united, praise God. Satan lost this one!

We continued to work with the new assembly in Mariakerke and I gave Bible studies in some of the other churches. I also continued with evangelistic home Bible studies especially in the province of West Flanders. There had been a real moving of the Spirit in that part of Belgium with many coming to the Lord, however things seemed to be changing. We still had full living rooms, but it wasn’t quite the same. After the study we always had a time for questions and answers, but that seemed to change. As a few years ago I would get one question after another and we would go on until midnight or even later, now there were few questions and meetings ended much earlier. Strange!

It seemed that during the period ’72 until about ’92 there was a special moving of God’s Spirit and people seemed to be really interested in the Bible and had many questions. Every week, at times almost every day some would come to the Lord, but that had really slowed down now. Other evangelical workers noticed that too. Strange. However, when we look at the work of God through the years all over the world, we find that the Spirit seems to work at certain times and in certain area’s in special ways. Why that is, I don’t know, has it something to do with God’s sovereignty?

Towards the end of ’92, Marina and I returned to Canada for a home assignment and also to see how things would go with Rosa, as Burt and Elaine felt that their time was up and they needed to move on. How would the Lord lead this time……..? (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.177 ended with, “We signed and had ourselves a house, but……………..!” (See richardandmarina.net)

Yes, we had just bought our first house, thanks to the two Belgian couples who gave us interest free loans. When years later we sold the house, we had enough money to buy the condo we are living in now here in Elmira, Canada, and we still thank the Lord for the love and kindness of these brothers and sisters in Christ who made this possible.

And yes, we had just bought a house for quite a reasonable price, but……., it was an old house and needed an awful lot of renovations. And so for almost three months, besides holding Bible studies, preaching and visitation, we worked on the house. Thank God for our co-worker Henk Gelling, who came from Limburg quite a number of Saturdays, bringing along two or three other men, to help us with the work. And then in January 1991 we were able to move into it. That same month on the 16th, our first grandchild was born to our second daughter Lily and her husband Bart. Little Emma Vanhyfte was a bundle of joy and we thanked God for her. And now, in 2016, she is married to an Englishmen and they are together involved in missions.

I had been holding home Bible studies in the northern part of Ghent and a number of people had become true born again Christians. Baptisms took place and these folk joined the Ghent church which was located in the south of the city. But this caused the assembly there to become so large that the building was filled to overflowing. Something needed to be done. To find a larger building was pretty well impossible and not affordable. So a group of believers, many from the north side of Ghent, hived off and we started a new church in Mariakerke, a northern suburb of Ghent. This assembly became known as the travelling church, as for different reasons we had to change buildings a number of times. We even met for some time in an old castle in Ghent.

In the east of Belgium, the work had continued to grow too and there were now 12 assemblies. In East Flanders four, also four in West Flanders and in the Antwerp region four. All praise to God, how wonderful had the Spirit of God moved, amazing, 24 churches in less than 20 years, and that in such a difficult West European country, unbelievable! All we can say is, look what the Lord has done! And what a privilege to have been allowed a part in that all. But just as God is real, so is the enemy and we had experienced his opposition many a time already in different ways, and now unknowing to us, he was attacking again and we were to soon find that out…………..! (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.176 ended with, “The next day a woman, a relative who was counseling Rosa, called them and asked whether they would be willing to look after a young woman for two weeks while her parents went out West. Burt asked where that would be, she answered, in Elmira, downtown….!”

Yes, God is real and He does speak, in many different ways, sometimes putting some words on our hearts, like Burt experienced. Other times with a clear impression on our minds, like I had in the fall of 2014 when I met with the elders to arrange the speaking schedule for 2015. Eight Sundays were assigned to me and even though I accepted them, there was an uneasiness inside of me, what we sometimes call, “a check.” Something said, “no, you won’t be here.” I felt very uncomfortable, but didn’t know what to say to the elders, tell them that I was I going to die? And no, I didn’t die, but I had such a serious breakdown in February that I did not speak the rest of the year. We need to learn to recognize and listen to God’s voice, He speaks to us a lot more than we realize.

When Marina and I returned from our brief family visit out West, Burt and Elaine told us they felt led off the Lord to stay with Rosa for an indefinite period, as He would lead, which eventually became 2 1/2 years. We were very thankful knowing that Rosa was in good hands and that the Lord had arranged this! And so, in September we returned to Belgium. We were able for the time being to live upstairs in the building owned by the church in Eeklo, where all our stuff was stored too. Two couples from an assembly told us that they would give us an interest free loan if we wanted to buy a house, what an offer! Again God was looking after us.

So we started house hunting, which was not easy, but we finally found something in Sint Martens Latem, a very well to do town south of Ghent. However, we did not live in the nice part of the town, but in the lower class area. Like things are usually done in Belgium, the owner wanted part of the money “in black” as they say, in Canada they might say, “under the table.” This is done so that tax is paid only on the amount on the bill of sale. I told the man that I was a Christian and wouldn’t do that. He really swore and said “xxxx” I’m a Christian too.” Ha, he sure just proved that. I told him I would pay him a certain amount extra if we could do everything honestly, and he agreed. We signed and had ourselves a house, but……………………! (Go to Musings).

Nr.175 ended with, “Now back in Elmira, I became so desperate that I finally took a note to one of the elders telling that I was quitting as a missionary and that I was going to get a job here in Canada and stay with Rosa………………!” (See richardandmarina.net).

Marina and I prayed and talked a lot about what to do. We couldn’t find any medical help for Rosa and because we didn’t know what to do or to whom to turn, we decided to go God’s way and talk to the elders of our church. We believe that God has instituted authority, in the government, in the church and in the family. And even though our political leaders are imperfect, as well as our spiritual leaders and the fathers of the families, we are to still obey them and submit to them. It is in the human heart to reject authority, think of the first pair of humans in the garden of Eden, what was their sin? They rejected God’s authority and chose to go their own way and we all know what the outcome was!

Two of the elders and their wives, representing all the elders of our assembly, met with us and told us that they did not accept our “resignation”, but felt very strongly that we were to return to Belgium and continue our God-given ministry there. They offered to take turns in caring for Rosa. We prayed together, and then Marina and I, respecting their spiritual place and leadership, felt we should follow their suggestion, trusting God to work things out. It was very wonderful of these two couples to be willing to do what they had offered. And we felt that as long as we followed God’s way, He would guide. And He certainly did, in fact He had an even better plan. It was decided that we would return to Belgium during September and that in August we would make a brief trip out West to see Marina’s relatives.

There was a fine retired Christian couple, Burt and Elaine McCollum living in Montreal. They had for years been involved in the Lord’s work as missionaries with the Union of French Baptist Churches in Canada and Burt had just resigned from his position. Now they were looking to the Lord as to where He would have them go. She had prayed but gotten no direction. He went to his room and sought the Lord and God put two words on his heart, “Elmira, downtown.” He didn’t know what to think of that. The next day a woman, a relative who was counseling Rosa, called them and asked whether they would be willing to look after a young woman for two weeks while her parents went out West. Burt asked where that would be, she answered, in Elmira, downtown…………….! (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.174 ended with, “On Easter Sunday, March 26, 1989, we held our first Sunday service in the gym of the Alma public school, a new church had been started, Jesus must have rejoiced………..!” (See richardandmarina.net).

The church continued to meet in the school until the end of June, then arrangements were made with the Presbyterian Church to rent their building. This continued for 7 1/2 years, but because the school had made a major addition, the church went back there for 3 1/2 years. In November of ’92, land was purchased and, to make a long story short, on September 10, 2000, the first Sunday service was held in the new building. Every time I drive through Alma now and pass this building I thank God for all He has done. There are now about 150 – 200 people belonging to this church. Of course, we were there only for the first two years. During the summer of ’89 we held a summer lawn club on one of the farms. Marina, with help from others organized this and it was a great time, with a wonderful closing meeting to which many parents and others came.

The greatest joy on earth is to serve the One who loved us and gave Himself for us, and so, even though we couldn’t be in Belgium, the Lord gave us plenty of opportunities to serve Him. Besides working with the new church, I spoke at a number of conferences, in Canada and the US and in different churches. I also made two more trips to Belgium and other European countries to speak at conferences, staying each time for almost two months.

Coming back to Canada was so different than when we used to come “home” on furlough and we would stay with our friends, Len and Vi Bearinger on the farm, where our children enjoyed the little black and white piglets and we all feasted on strawberries, peaches and cream and sweet corn. After they had moved into town we stayed with them there. We thanked God for their hospitality. But now I came back to our own apartment where Marina and Rosa were waiting for me. Rosa’s physical condition was deteriorating and we couldn’t find the right kind of help. It was very difficult and frustrating! At one time when I had been alone in Belgium, I had phoned Marina and she told me how weak Rosa was and she started crying and saying, “Why do we have to be missionaries?” It almost tore my heart out. Now back in Elmira, I became so desperate that I finally took a note to one of the elders telling that I was quitting as a missionary and that I was going to get a job here in Canada and stay with Rosa………………! (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.173 ended with, “Towards the end of 1988 and into ’89, we started meeting on Monday evenings in a hall in Alma and I led a study on church doctrines and practices, and after the study we would discuss these. It was an exciting time, what would come of this and was this really of the Lord……….?” (See richardandmarina.net).

You may wonder why I almost seem to be obsessed with starting new churches? Not hard to guess, Jesus had said, “I will build my church” and on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to do just that. And reading on in Acts we see the planting of churches all over the then known world.

What is the importance of the church? 1. It is God’s dwelling place on earth, Eph.2:22. 2. It is God’s home and training ground for the believer, Eph.5:11-16, and 3. It is God’s testimony on earth, 1Tim.3:14,15. Or as Dr. Jay Kesler has put it so well:

1. The church is the only institution dealing with ultimate issues, such as: death, judgment, relationships, purpose, lasting priorities, meaning in life, identity, heaven and hell.
2. The church provides perspective that gives dignity to mankind. We live in a day in which man has become a means rather than an end. This creates a desperate sense of inner worthlessness. The church counteracts this insidious message.
3. The church provides a moral and ethical compass in the midst of relativism. Like a swamp of murky, slimy water, our society has either rethought, resisted or completely rejected absolutes. Not the church! It still stands on the timeless bedrock of Scripture.
4. The church is the only place to find true community, healing, compassion and love. It is here people care, really care, not because of status or money, but because the Spirit of God is at work, weaving together the lives within the body.
5. The church (like no other institution) has provided motivation for the most lasting, unselfish, essential, courage’s ministries on earth. Schools, hospitals, halfway houses, orphanages, leprosariums, missions, etc.…………

Stephen Olford, a famous English/American preacher said this: “The gospel is the most powerful means to change society.” And it is the church that has the gospel.

Bill Hybels has said: “The local church is the hope of the world and its future rests primarily in the hands of its leaders.” And also, “Strong, growing fellowships can change the course of history.” And that has happened and still is happening all over the world, praise God. So, don’t you get excited after reading all this? Every Christian ought to be involved in serving in the church in some way.

The work in Alma continued to grow. We held home Bible studies where I taught the adults and Marina the children in a separate room. On Easter Sunday, March 26, 1989, we held our first Sunday service in the gym of the Alma public school, a new church had been started, Jesus must have rejoiced…………………..! (Go to Musings).

 

Nr.172 ended with, “ Scripture mentions about 25 gifts of the Spirit, do you know yours and are you using yours? What are you living for and what are you really here for…………? (See richardandmarina.net).

“But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I came forth.” Mark 1:38. Jesus knew why He was here, He knew what His purpose was. What about you, do you know why you are here, do you know what your, or rather, God’s purpose is for you? “Let us go into the next towns” Jesus said, and in Matt.9:35 we read, “Then Jesus went about ALL the cities and villages,” teaching, preaching and healing! Wow! What a missionary He was. When we went to Belgium it was our desire to see a church started in every city and town. I still have that desire, and oh, how I wish I could be back in Belgium, preaching in cities and towns, but that is not possible and we have to leave it to others to do that. And they are. We have heard of more people being saved, baptized and added to the churches in Belgium, and we have also heard of new workers coming in and new assemblies being started, praise God. It showed that it was not our work, but His, and it would carry on without us, praise God!

Even though I was happy to preach and hold Bible studies in assemblies in different places, our hearts were burdened for church planting as we believed the Lord had called us to that. And I was, and still am, firmly convinced that the planting of churches the best and fastest way is to evangelize the world and therefore it was a joy to help some established churches grow. The full-time worker at Woodside Bible Chapel here in Elmira left and I was able to assist the elders in visitation and preaching. But what about a new church? Would the Lord use us here to start a new church as we had done in Belgium? It was my constant prayer. I talked to one of the elders at our home church, a dear brother, Abner Frey, who is now, after a battle with cancer, with the Lord, and he had a vision for that too. We talked and prayed together and I started visiting people in and around Alma, Ontario, not far from Elmira. After some time there were a number of people interested in starting up a new work. Towards the end of 1988 and into ’89, we started meeting on Monday evenings in a hall in Alma and I led a study on church doctrines and practices, and after the study we would discuss these. It was an exciting time, what would come of this and was this really of the Lord……….?

Computer crashed due to virus, very annoying. Our story continues next week.