Ministry Anniversary #1
In just a few days, we will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of our arrival to Europe! So much has happened since we waved goodbye to our parents at Denver International Airport and departed for Belgium.
Our transition to Belgium, as we’re sure you remember, was riddled with red tape that held us back from diving into ministry right away in Brussels. After months of waiting in Germany for our contract to be resolved, we were finally allowed access to Belgium, and were at last able to build relationships with the military teens stationed in Brussels.
We settled into a house in July after living with many gracious host families, and there was nothing sweeter than the feeling of unpacking our suitcases. When we set up our wardrobe system from IKEA, we waited two weeks before attaching the doors just so we could enjoy seeing our clothes up on hangers!
At the start of the school year, we jumped into direct ministry with our middle and high school students. We started up High School Small Groups, our weekly co-ed bible study; Middle School Club, our weekly party with a purpose for MS students; High School Club, our monthly party with a purpose for HS students; and various special events along the way, like game nights and holiday parties.
In the fall, we began playing worship music for the Sunday Chapel service and dreamed with our Chaplain about opening a donation-based coffee shop as an extension of the Chapel. We attended a solitude retreat in England, staff conferences in Germany, were camp musicians and head leaders at a Club Beyond/Young Life combined camp in London, and in December, Meagan designed the camp logo, served on the program team, and served as a volunteer leader at our High School Winter Camp.
We’ve taken high school friends to a Christian youth conference in the Netherlands, middle school friends to camp in Austria, high school friends to a service project in the Czech Republic, and high school friends to camp in Germany. We’ve attended athletic games, PTSO events, school plays, and driven six hours to cheer on our high school friends at sports championship tournaments around Europe.
Looking back over the past year, the Lord has filled our lives in more ways than we could have ever imagined. We’ve been stretched, challenged, and fulfilled over the many months of navigating both living in Europe and doing military youth ministry. Military ministry can be exhausting, exciting, discouraging, and life-giving all at the same time. For every frustration we’ve found a blessing, and we’ve learned to rely on God for guidance and provision more than ever. Jesus wasn’t kidding when He said He came to give life to the fullest!
We couldn’t be a part of these teens’ lives without the steady support of our friends and family. Thank you for your faithfulness in God’s work in Brussels. We are so blessed to have you in our lives, and we’re honored that you have chosen to be a part of this ministry with us. We can’t wait to see how God moves in the world of military kids over the next twelve months!
Prayer requests for the months ahead:
- Please pray for Club Beyond and its staff members around the world. There are some big changes happening in the world of military ministry that may affect the future of Kingdom work within the military world.
- Pray for the Lord to strengthen us and give us courage to continue pursuing overseas military kids.
- Pray for our family’s health in all aspects: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
- Pray for the U.S. Armed Forces; for the families both at home and abroad; for the soldiers serving their country on post and in the field; and for the U.S. Government’s decisions that affect military life.
- Pray for the teens and their families stationed at NATO, USAG Brussels, the U.S. Embassy, SHAPE, Chièvres AB, and beyond in Belgium.
SUPERLATIVES & STATISTICS 2015-2016
Longest camp bus ride: 21+ hours (Belgium to Czech Republic for Service Project)
Most popular Middle School club game: “Fastest Tag in the West”; in which everyone is ‘it’ and if tagged, you sit down where you were tagged and can still tag others but cannot move. Last one standing wins!
Smallest grade class at BAS: 11 students - Juniors, Class of 2017
Biggest ministry challenge: Increasingly restrictive Army regulations
Favorite care package item: Justin’s nut butter packets
Most intimidating cross-cultural challenge: Belgian mail system
Number of countries we’ve traveled to with teens: 5
Most popular pop culture topic at BAS: Marvel movies
Favorite Belgian foods: Flemish carbonnade, Liège waffles, Neuhaus chocolates
Most meaningful form of contact work: Attending sports games