AG Missionaries Expelled from Belgium

The formal crackdown on Christian activity in Europe has officially begun. When the Belgium government deported several Assemblies of God missionaries last week (Feb. 11) based on them having short term visas and "few permanent ties to the country," it was obvious to more than a few observers that this was just the beginning.

Following that initial governmental action, a broader sweep has taken place, with fully appointed Assemblies of God missionaries who have been there for years and had planned to be there for years to come, were told to pack up and leave the country.

According to an e-mail report from Belgium AG Missionaries, Alan and Tricia Baker, the Christian Center, which is the Assemblies of God International Church in Brussels - the one where a police sweep occurred last week, has had to immediately close its Christian School for at least the remainder of this school year.

There appears to be little chance of it ever re-opening. Their Bible School, which has been in Belgium for forty plus years is also in a grave situation. It's president, Roland Dudley has been given 8 days to permanently leave the country.

The legal status of all professors and staff is in serious question. Missionaries working with ministries such as International Media Ministries, International Correspondence Institute, Students for Christ, and others are all facing great uncertainty at best and possible deportation at worst.

For the moment it appears that only those missionaries working in pastoral ministry are not being challenged.

Missionaries are being challenged, however, on their right to stay, as the government has, without any warning of any kind, decided to clean the country of those whom have been suddenly deemed "undesirables."

That this is true is clear from the press and media reports that continue to come out. On Feb. 14, one of Belgium's largest TV channels showed a special 30-minute program on the AG Missionaries. Psychologists were used to portray them as "a danger to the population, and are cultic in their doctrine and practice.."

Citizens of Belgium readily believe their government and media, therefore the attacks on the missionaries are very effective. And what is curious about the cult label put on the Assemblies of God by them, the Belgium government itself ruled several years ago, that the AG church is not a cult.

It is conceivable that Belgium will expel most if not all missionaries from its shores. And events are showing that this will become European policy as well, as the EC becomes more and more unified, and its laws become more and more standardized across national borders.

The gradual shutting down of religious organizations had already begun in France and Germany. This of course marked the beginning of a strictly controlled, government approved-only religious organization. Especially targeted were evangelical churches.

To add to the fire, the Orthodox Church in other countries is playing a significant role in this religious cleansing operation, working with the various governments to declare them the only legally sanctioned church and all the rest, cultic.

Of special concern is the speculation of several groups that the seat of the eventual One World Government will be Belgium where the expulsion of Christianity is now out in the open cluing other countries to follow suit.

The Belgium Regional Director of The Assemblies of God, Greg Mundis, has flown to Brussels to attempt to deal with the situation. A meeting of all missionaries was scheduled Sunday afternoon with him.

Reports continue to circulate concerning recent Sunday services at Christian Center. It was clear that God had visited the congregants in a powerful way and people were filled with faith even in the midst of the current storms.

Prayer chains are desperately needed. Alan and Tricia Baker, the AG missionaries who alerted us to this story, have just wound up their meetings, and are on their way back to Brussels to help their fellow missionaries pack up as quickly as possible (as ordered) and to leave the country. That is, unless God intervenes.

Rev. Austin Miles is an interdenominational chaplain based in Northern California. He can be reached at: [email protected]