Revival is coming to Belgium.
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.
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.”
