"People were willing to talk... They're searching, and
they're wanting that conversation because of this [event]. I see part
of this as being the seed starting to sprout..."
[BillyGraham.org] Revival is coming to Belgium. (Photo via BillyGraham.org)
It's a gradual process, but revival is coming. Pastor Chris Zickmund is claiming it.
"We always say that we know a revival is
going to happen, and I feel that's why we're there [in Belgium]," Chris
said. He explained that he, along with his wife Robyn, sensed a call
from God more than a decade ago, which prompted them to move to
Europe.Eleven years later, the family is still there, and Chris pastors
The Well church in Brussels.
The Zickmunds, originally from Concord, North
Carolina, visited the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on Tuesday.
They recently worked alongside Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
chaplains who just completed a deployment to Brussels after terrorist
attacks there on March 22.
Chris, Robyn and daughter Madison have been
in Belgium for five years. During that time, they have come to
understand the private nature of the Belgian residents. Sometimes just
getting a "hello" can seem like a victory, so when it comes to talking
about faith, Chris said it's pretty hard, especially if you don't know
the person well.
Being mission-oriented is still new to
Belgian Christians, although acts of service aren't rare. The Well, a
collection of five neighborhood churches, offers the faith-based side,
and the community aspect is achieved by working with a group that helps
much of the city's marginalized population—including the homeless,
elderly and disabled. This type of mission work is common, but striking
up a conversation in a place where people tend to stay quiet if they
don't know you presents a greater challenge.
"You have a spiritual poverty in Europe," Robyn said. "People don't even realize that exists."
Chris and Robyn didn't realize the depth of
the spiritual darkness either when they dedicated their lives to mission
work over a decade ago. Now they have a firm grasp, so after the
terrorist attacks, they were at a loss how to help a group of people
known for keeping to themselves.
In
the days following the March 22 attacks, Chris and Robyn were walking
the memorial site, praying over messages, when they noticed the Rapid
Response Team (RRT) chaplains. Watching the crisis-trained chaplains
talk and pray with Belgians unlocked something in Chris. (Photo via BillyGraham.org)
Chris noticed something was different. These
intensely private people were softening. They were opening up. Even
adamant atheists were willing to pray, he later learned while talking to
Jeff Naber, RRT manager of chaplain development and ministry relations.
"People were willing to talk. People aren't
willing to talk about faith and religion in this culture," Chris said.
"They're searching, and they're wanting that conversation because of
this [event]. I see part of this as being the seed starting to sprout.
"... It's slow, but we're seeing more
discussion," Chris added. "That's the revival from that standpoint
because it's been so dark and it's been so hard to communicate with
people. Some of the revival that we're seeing is the breaking down of
those walls and doors and more conversation happening."
Chris credits the chaplains for making
themselves available to be used by God, and he's looking forward to
working with the ministry in future training events. Chris said he and
his church pastors became more comfortable seizing the opportunity to
share the Gospel after spending time ministering alongside the
chaplains.
"This is exactly what we should be doing, not
just when there's an event but on a more regular basis," Chris said. "If
we're being chaplains, if we're going out and being part of the
neighborhoods in this aspect, then it's going to change things."
Link>
Source: www.breakingchristiannews.com/
Topic: Brussels: Pastor Envisions Revival Amid ’Spiritual Poverty’ in Belgium
