Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Ifm-
Clu-ist
/MdS
ykvnacTV
JULY 1990
NEWS REPORT
KEA-, HER MOTHER HAD made a flowered archway and rolled out the red
runner. The church had recently been painted and windows washed. Now,
all things were ready...for the wedding. Natalie Boonaerts was to join
her life with Bart Put and everyone was excited getting ready for the
big day. The Simday before, Natalie decided to make a public choice in
following Christ and was immersed. What better way to prepare for her
marriage.
Henki made the necessary preperations and had practice with the couple
and organist then came July 7th. It was exactly one year since the
Several non-Christians
present, including the grooms parents, were quite impressed with the
"mass" as the Catholics call it, held in the church of Christ building.
The crowning touch was a trio by the three Boonaerts sisters, since
Kina was also able to join the festavities from Peachtree City, Gao
The weather was awful since it rained off and on ctII day, but the
wedding and feast that evening were perfect,
MAY THE THIRD BROUGHT some unusual guests to our home. You may remember
back in 198? we'd reported about r.iarco Iif?ndazabal coming to live with
us from Columbia.
from his since.
from Denmark. -They had met in Germany and planned to get married on
L4ay 12 'in her home town, with wedding invitations almost ready to mail
Marco's passport had expired and he had to leave the country immediatly.
They came to Belgium to try and get married here, but try as we might,
in neither Belgium or Holland could it be done sim.ply or quickly,
'//hen they left our home more than a month later, they'd gotten infor
mation of a pla.ce in Scotland where they could be married but we've
had no news yet confirming that. V/hat a shame tha.t young people wanting
to get married have such a time of it, in a time v;hen so many just
We certainly
hope youll pray for IViarco and Ulia's future together and especially
that what she experienced with us 'may help lead her to a saving rela
tion wi-ch Jesus as ferco trys to teach and lead her in the Scriptures.
OP COURSE ALL GOOD THINGS come in 'threes, and there's one more marriage
to report a.bout,
Sonia has
So many doors have closed for them',and they've really had a lot of
disapointments and set-backs the past few months while trying to find
God's leading for their lives together. (The factory where John Maxk
v;orked and hoped maybe Sonia could get office work at, as well as him
a permanent job had a fire burning his depaj:'tment to the ground ... just
to mention ONE!!)
share news of their plans but you'll probably be hearing more details
at
later date
Our prayer is
that each of you that is married may also enjoy the blessings intended
by our loving and caring Father for,his married children and you Gair'
come to a greater understanding of this great mystery."
EPHESIANS
LOOK
to the
Sor
K.
iHaJii 'Boonaew
Opoemtn
ROLLER
AUGUST 1990
NEWS REPORT
FOR MANY OP YOU this will be the first news of Melvin's goin^? home to be with
our Lord, We realize some of you iaiow about it even before we did, but v/e
want to take this opportunity to share .some news and thoughts on our dear
brother and partner in the mission work.
phone from Louella she was so calm. It was evident God had graciously
strengthened her in this hard time through the ministering of many friends
ana lar.iiy.
greatly
fcom reports we discovered Melvin had been ill for about b. month. We got
KELVIN K. ROLLER, b. former all his life and active as chairman aiid director
in
Burnettsville, Indieiia.
He lived
County since
1943 nndThey
m-nrried
Louella
Gay ofBrockway
December 25. IQ49
in St. IPetersburg,
Florida.
are the
parents
two children,
responded to our plea for fowaxding agents they
n
^edaryville
Chriotirm
over 1^76)
30 miles
feno\v..-:-.ip
pno worship.
Reference
letterschurch,
assuredtraveling:
us then"(in
that for'
continually involved in youth sind mission proArcms, teaching Sundoy
bchool classes and were generally re-^^dy to serve whenever asked, Helvln was'
Doxn cecon and elder curing their years with the r.'.edaryville church, i'hey
have proven to be everything and more then friends assured us they would be
as the vital link between the U.S. supporters and the mission work in Belgium.
can confidently say their efficiency and conscientious, considerate Christ
ian chsracter has been nothing but an asset to God's kingdom. r.:elvin's
partnership in a h\imble, dynan.ic, o.uiet manner stands out: partnership with
God, his wife and family, with local and fellow Christians, and with us as
great'mission of, Christ's church have also been evident throughout the years.
MELVIK AND LOUELLA have hurt with us so m^ny times, and now we feel pjid share--
attended the church in Burnettsville als6 having an active p?>rt in church and
community. We taiow you will rejoice with us and be glad in Louella's decision
to continue at least a year as our fowarding agent, ^She.jfelt: "I will need
something to keep me busy at times and whit better vty to use your time than
serving the Lord," In the sacrificial silirit of Christ whom MeIvin served and
lived for we look foward to another yenr of partnership with louella.
Because of his love and deep concern for j^ouls being won to and nurtured in
His
There's a lot of turn over of shops ih the shopping center where Henki
had hifl office. Because of this, Menki has had a lot of opportunities
as owner and member of the united merchants association of the build
ing to meet a lot of people. About 6 months ago a new realtors office
was opened, Henki made friends with tlie three young owners: Jos, Ludo
and Gene, Sometimes when he'd go into| [their office, especially Gene
would joke and make fun of Henki for being a Christian, Henki didn't
mind, in fact found it good I He'd givp an answer to their (jesting and
i t would turn around
Henki also had several opportunities tp talk with Ludo, and found out
he'd had some bad experiences with (Peptecostal) Christians in his home
town, as well as in a buisness deal since their move to Genk,
He'd also
worked 3 years for a Pentecostal tha.t didn't make him.very positive when
Henki tried to talk Spiritual matters, Henki pointed out not all Christ
ians are that way, and we all sin and ihake misteaks, and probably the man
Then on one occasion Ludo and Henki weijit to eat together, A few months
before someone Henki had talked to on -(ihe phone and knew only from a
Hb
'
really had a good, long talk explaining to him that Jesus died for our.
sins and that v/e need a Savior and other matters found in the Bible ,
Then about 14 days later Ludo and Gene [were in a terrible traffic ac
cident, About a week later when Henki heard about it, he.went to visit
Ludo who'd been hurt the worst, and wagn't expected to live. He was
still in intensive care and the nurse Wjirned sometimes he was saying
things he didn't mean because he was confused from the accident, but
he recoganized Henki right away, Hcnkil wasn't able to stay.very long
because of his serious condition but they did again talk about the
three men in your URGENT PRAYERS end wejll try to share more of Henki's
experiences with them as God works in their lives,
AS WE LOOK BACK over Kelvin's fruitful lif^e on earth we c?Ji but look to fruitfulness in the vast vineyard of His kingdom present and future as well.
As
each of us labors let's remember the words recorded in John 6:27,40, 51, "Do
not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which
the Son 'of Man will give you. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks
to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him
up at the last day, I am the living brendl tha.t. came down from heaven.
anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever,"
If. *
May Melvin's memory end kind continue to inhabit the earth until Jesus returns!
Mist is typical
-Hfe<
<
Here end
f{mSii'SoenaertsRamify
SEPTEMBER 1990
.NEWS REPORT
.NET/S
the longest
It wasn't unusual then for the sun to be up byVjOO and not set
until around 10 so there v^ere many day light hours for all ones activities.
By-
winter time it isn't unusual for school children to leave and arrive home in semi-
ffe can already see these days well on their v/ay as typ
ical for September, it's still dark around 7 in the morninf; and again by 8 in the
evening!
But in many ways this year has been anything but typical.
and early summer that^lasted long and was very hot and dry, ,Fortunately there were
Occasional showers and cooler periods but crops have suffered due to draught so
prices are unusually high. The Golf crisis has caused, the dollar to take a.plimge "
in exchange rates while oil prices have gone up several times already.
But there^
are other news worthy things we'd like to sharo at this time, usual and imusual.^Ha.
HEKKI WAS ABLE TO VISIT LUDO again in the hospital. The pins in his dislocated shoulder were "to be removed as it was healing well. Something was
done to his skull to remove fluids, but that was looking better according ,
to Henki. One leg wasn't healing as well though, so pins were still in
place.
He encouraged lu(3o to read the Bible and search there for the
truth.
At one point in their conversation Ludo -commented, "It's hnxd just to up and believe
isn't it?
read the witnesses accounts, and carefully consider what was written, it would stir
up faith in his heart.
what the eye witnesses have to tell, but he's only heard .-differing things from
people. Henki challenged him to investigate it himself to see if it is reasonable.
Ludo agreed to have someone bring a Bible he has at home so he can begin!
GENE, LUDO'S PARTNER WHO was also in the accident, was also still in the hospital
so must have been injured worse than first suspected. He called Ludo while Henki
was visiting, since they are in different hospitals and had buisness to discuss.
With them both being incapacitated the third partner is keeping awfully busy so
prayers on their behalf would be appropriate.
THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER IMMERSION in the Genk church and Hilda was also married
shortly thereafter. Natalie (re Boonaerts reported about in "love Birds") has
since her honeymoon. Since neither husbands a|re Christians both brides will need
lots of strength to remain faithful, so keep them in your prs^ers, won't you?!?
ROBERT, THB FIRST YOUNG KAN that came to our home from Ghana, has been working.so
hard and waiting so patiently -^o get necessar^ papers to be adopted. ...This seems
the only way to keep him from being returned to Ghana, wrtiere he would .probably be
put in jail and executed. One of the Christi^ families that used to attend services
in otjur home here in Opglabbeek has agreed to do this legal formality. Ve have
been involved in helping get the neicessery documents translated, etc. and
the last papers'* She thinks it shouldn't take more than 6. months now!
Fray that the Lord will work out all things according to ^s will as
Robert re^^Hy seems to be a Gofl-fearing, faithful young man who has
already suffered so much.
AT LONG LAST WB HAVE FINALLY had news from Abbas, one of the irien that
Hopefully we'll be
able to make contact with him and*renew frien^iships and see if God*a planted word
SEPTEMBER IS TRADITIONALLY the month that schools begin again in Belgium . ' Since James
didn't pass his repeat exams he's flunked the| 'freshman year" jj^ain. We'via decided
to send him to another school. It's the first time in 4 years he comes home from
school enjoying his classes and he seems to be .adjusting to new teachers and classiology, health and hygiene
mates. There's a larger variety of subjects \ icluding Diol
with first aid, art and music in which he excells better end has more interest, in than
!l
OP COURSE HAVING OUR FIRST CHILD get married i^n't on everyday experience
The civil ceremony Sept.1 in the City Hall in Tienen was different.
There were three
parties seated behind eachother and ours was the .
last..Mln a matter of 10 minutes John Mark and Sonia were pronounced-iiusband
and wife and signed .all the necessary, docmenxk. It was a rainy, drearyr day but
that didn't dampen our joy for the happy;.occasfon* The closest-family and'witnesses
enjoyed a Chinese meal in a nearby restaxurant#,! Then bright and early ..Sunday morning
(Sept. 2) with lots better weather, we gather^^ in the Culturfrl Center in Leuven for
the church service. Probably over 250 guests came in tKe course of the.vday to con
gratulate them and share in the festavities* Ipost were present.for the church ser
lijf^t salad-sandwich meal with wedding cake refreshments were served while God's love
and the: gospel were witnessed by all presents All in all it was a unique wedding ^d
we're glad it was documented on video so maybe' somedajr we. can share some* of.it with
our supporters and U.S. Christians!
j
.i
SOMEONE CAME TO LOOK AT THE water heater in-Jolto and Sonia'.s home., Ht said it could
not be fixed, didn't tell what was wrong withh^t, then charged several dollars for
the trip. Henki happened to ask the/advice of, a bike repairman who said a small
part that
wouldnV
*
wouldn't
cost .but about 1/2 of the first man's charges would put the heater
confronted with the meanness and dishonesty oi^^ sees around you everywhere.^ Not ,
unusual, 'just disheartening. Henki has also had some simillar experiences in buis-
ness deals that caused much hardship and pain because of lying and dieating recently#
The ways of the world and those living in dcfflmess must be reminders- to us that we _
must let our lights shine so men will be convQirted and praise God#. How herd it is
sometimes to honor James li'27b to "keep oneseXx from being poluted by the^.world.
efforts in Belgium and want to express this tl^ipks to you once again.p praying for us,
; h-
aos'i
InFluencGS
THE SKIES ABE CLEAR over
9(mlUiBoomats'.
all aroimd us
lVy9^0pomm6
J60
OCTOBER 1990
NEWS REPORT
>
? house
a bulldozer,
can'tonwait
for usintoGenk
leave
Much
still needsastoifbehedone
our home
so'
almost5 scooping
us out.with
we look to God for strength and all necessary to make the move in the allotted
time.
-^
car accident when Maria was living with us^in Eisdenway back
in the
70 s.
Pino comes from a large SicxHan family v/ith almost a dozen chil-
first wife abandoned him and.>is two sons who were then brought up
children's homes and with foster families. As a young man Henki rememb^s
Pino was imusually' strong physically but has been mentally handicapped to some
degree being under dokters care for this on many occasions. He's \)een called
"Crazy Pino" by many but we've been trying to find the inroads into his spiritual
life these many years. Often he's come to'us Jjegging for help. We've felt so
pray. Henki explained that you pray by talking to God like he was talking to
Henki, to confess your sins and ask for God's help. Then and there Pino began
what he thou^t was prayer; "Hail Mary, full of grace..." Henki stopped him and
pointed out that that was a greeting, not a prayer. (In iHitch it's more obvious
as It begins, "Be greeted...") So Pino began again: "Our Father, which art in
heaven..." and Henki joined him praying the "L^d's prayer"'together. Then Pino
poured out his heart in such a way that-Henki"was i^Hy-touched. He prayed to
be a good example to his children, and for advice concerning a problem he'd also
talked with Henki about previously. He prayed that others wouldn't laugh at him,
and that he could become steadfast enough to convince friends and others to be
It may not seem like much, but we hope you realize with us that this is a GREAT
VICTORY. Keep Pino and his present wife Illianne in your prayers.
0, that God
may indeed grant his requests and bring the healing Pino so desperately needs
and is searching for.
E HAVE ALSO RECENTLY HAD CONTACT with Antoinette again. She's the young lady who
lived v/ith us in over apartment in Genk for a while. She had K.S. seemingly
in an arrested stage, but it is getting worse lately. She had been
in the hospital (not in connection with her M.S.) and had sotae
COMM^^N
certain.
the careful and simple explination of remembering Christ's death and forgiveness
through His blood. Since he's not a Christisn and doesn't support her much in her
faith, she has a weak spiritual life- Yet we're convinced God knows her heart and
is working with her as well.
The following
^ ^
"Then Jesus said to his disciples: 'The harvest is indeed great but the worker:
are few,'"
The farmer looked around and sa.w tha.t his fields, several acres l?rge, were
ready to harvest. There were large, ripe heads of grpin everywhere. The
farmer looked also at his large barns that he had built, and was content.
He
opened the large iron doors and thanked God, his Father for everything he had
For several days he prayed and looked joyfully at his beautiful barns. He
began to sing cheerfully, glorifying God and praising Him for the beautiful
hcrvest. Lacn.song.was
harvest.
Each sons was more
m^^^ beautiful
^
than the other. He even had faith lirm
3t rotted..,no harvest.
sat.
Maybe
(By the time you read this we'll probably have had
enty again in Belgium! Weather has a way of ch^ging
Some-
this report will help, you be more effective prayer warriors . The spiritual
harvest is" truly great and more workers could always be used in the fields of
Belgium. Also we thank you again for your every support as we rely on your
encouragement in our labors here. We hope you'll keep up this good influence.
CP
' 3600
nc6
'A-i IV..'
^iVft
^'y* children,
my instruction?
a'fc'tention
II
s-nd gain understanding,
^ give you sound .learning so do not
forsake my teaching.
(Adopted from
Proverbs 4:1,2)
fin^?+
" Tq
srjhf
Th?.rfn
work-she is able
*"
Belgium
=<=============================
pisfji5S5'.h?EfcS's'T" s*
from the quarterly school pauer sent ma-iniv +
4.
""
Gen^"^effor^mI^/y^Sf!^Yo^"J[l
(no) but he had studied from kinderearden throiJrr^
aer living
the
? +S*' 5 Russian
word: i
'njet"
the Bible and knew Dutch. His "grafStioJ^^^S sixth^ade at the School wife
W
keep uptothis
language. With
KferflafL
S
from toGenesis
Eevelation.
tL upcomiS^pe^st^oiki
In
ly
he.read
and mailing contact with the former principal^^hi^dre^ childhood. Saving up funds,
reality. This
^d
Llieve^in^thf^IoJd^God^a^d^Jesus^his'
to keep
up his languase abilitv Ho via/^ ^+Son^tLou^
4 ^^ough his reading the
=f =
Dutch Bible
of o?hS
but without
' satisfied with one boSk, His
ever be
impact of
someone
known two
of the
Christian
school but^it^wS^t
ministry.
Children to so their
oldest
childref
l^^Al '(Tortrrlt^h'^sltlol.
9^."^^ children
came home rather
battered
ui}theofresiii+
nf
^Protestant discrimination'
in a predominant
Catholic
l^d.^One
the LSLt
with the Bible's nursery teachers lived a few streets farther Ld she waf
approached to taJce these two children along to school. That worked for a while
Por a while a truck was used to pick up children for the school until another
solution could be found. In the mornings the nursery teacher's husband could
drive, but who could drive the children back home in the evenings? Since her
husband was a mine worker who worked the shift that finished at 3 pm he was able
to drive the vehicle. By then the first second hand "school bus" had been
purchased!
"
As time passed more and more children went to the school by bus, since we all know
that once the Lord begins a work. He just keeps on. And so it is that now 7 busses
are bringing around 300 students to schooland Eva Boonaerts (Henki's vounffest
sister) drives one of those busses and is the teacher at the school where Miss
Boonaerts
and most
of their pandchildren have since attended this school. Isn't
it a great
heritage
and privilege to be a living part of the bus ministry that began so ILSe Ind ^
sm^l and has grown to bring children from such a far flung area around Genk? We
join in and are part of the enthusiasm that 11a Boonaerts shared with the nrinci-nai
ILI ^tSlcf^o%hffu?gref
bLssinIs'
A3 MENTIONED EARLIER THERE ARE BUT four such schools in Dutch speaking Belgium.
Here is another area where we can see that the Lord is at work as more and more
Evangelical Christians and congregations are being born and growing rapidlv The
need is being felt over and over for education that is grounded in theorv and
practices of principles set forth in the Bible. The constitution and articles for
pother such school have already been drawn up this spring. Kaxy Esther is one of
the board members. It has been exciting how one hurdle after another has been over
come as God opens-doors and leads the way. Last school year one bus brought chil
dren from the prospective area of the new Korth-Limburg School with the Bible
They are temporarily part of the Genk school until students, personnel and facil
ities can be realized for the new, school. A second bus has been purchased and is
helping bring the more than 40 children for this school year! Families are really
exerting.themselves, sacrificing and praying to help see such a school in their
area become a reality.
One of the mothers has been coming to Genk to help in the office ^ekly. She was
very active in helping recruit children for the second bus-. It is with great sadness that we came to hear that she and her family will be returning to Eindhoven.
Holland where her husband works. Her help in Genk will be missed, but God used Aer
the short while she was in Belgiumand so God uses all who are willing to put their
work...and we all bask in the glory of His success.
And you know
what?
Calls have been made asking how can we start a School with the Bible in...
Tongeren, V/ervink, and West Flanders...? The present principal, Miss Vanpoecke is
hopes to help in this area since her experience
" "
M
"
of it:
joy to the
.
"^^toi*i*iiififf<
^""- fin Tr'h ViiVii TtViii ffiiii1^
ji p'jit j
5for
(Dhdst
"s'.V
-||CAP
InH
AND__yp_DATE
OF
1990
to come to a close
fha
to about
bringthroughout
you up tothedate
of
the fh4
things like
reported
year.on Wesome
started
off by explaining Henkis method of studying with the helo
^rnf;jift7nTt7am^^X^^
Peperhofstraat.
75
*
-'3600 "
- --
folks have
study was a real^hese
confrontation
n? fh ^
opportunity to witness to
'="tacts with
n,.r 9"9'^9ation in Antwerp but
were fruitful and a mutual blessing! We wish them Gnri ^hppA =nH fn ^'^P^'^iences with them
ShM^areaf %airnaSn" ri
s?s;=sTlillssi&W
sept.
n%
mother stayed away for several years. We've still to meet Hilda's husband, but hope even
more one day he may be introduced to Jesus, the lover of souls.
~
John Mark and Sonla have settled in well to their new home and lives together. Her studies
to be nursary teacher demand lots of time and exertion so John helps with those preDerations
plus housework while working full time in nearby Houthalen. His factory is to be movind to
Beringen (where Dennis and Linda Messimer lived before going to South Africa! r)-so thev are
looking
for;,a;home there,
to his'work^ahd
her school'inwhoLeuveh.-'
They 3ls^^^
take, closer
this-opportunity,
to thank":everyonfe
seht.-tto^;-gift&-fot
their^iwedding.^; Wi^'the-complicatibns of cashing dollar checks in Belgium iVs taking some
longer, but they appreciate every gift.
with the Treaty Christians in Wabash, Indiana several times, and keeps busy babysitting
granddaughters. We continue to benefit from her expertise as our fowarding agent and praise
IT'S A REAL DELIGHT to see how James is developing and doing so much better
3600
Genk, Belgium
once a week on crutches but isn't working full time yet. With the
pressures of our move, Henki hasn't been able to study with them
that they may experience freedom from the bondage Satan has:caused. Continue to keep them
in your, prayers as we try to continue to cultivate and water the seed planted in their
nooiTCS*
IN CLOSING WE HOPE you will again be assured of our gratefulness for your
partnership.
Your prayers and support are used of God to help make us more
powerful and effective in His mission in Belgium. Accept our family
picture as a small token of our thanks. May our cheerful looks bring joy
to your hearts and the good news of the advance of His kingdom give health
to your bones (Prov. 15:30) as you read of it now and continue to uphold
us into.the coming year.
jfjM