Antwerp was visibly touched last weekend by the love of Jesus. Nine ministries went into the city as one team to proclaim the gospel. The day ended with 518 people openly declaring they want to follow Jesus. “Everyone will know you are My disciples, if you have love for each other,” says one of the organisers, Annelies van Walsem. She came with a team of River Church Netherlands. “Together with various churches and ministries we were able to move as one team. The love and unity were tangible.” For her it is clear: when churches collaborate and walls come down, “we form a net to bring in the harvest.”
That unity was visible not only on the streets, but also beyond. In the bed & breakfast where Van Walsem stayed, an unexpected moment of grace occurred. “While I was talking to the owner, her five-year-old daughter suddenly ran towards me in her princess dress, arms wide open. She had never seen me before, yet she embraced me as if she knew me. That is the love of Jesus.”
It led to a conversation with the owner, who originally is Hindu. “I told her the gospel and asked if I could bless her before we left. She immediately called her husband and they wanted to hold hands with us. So we formed a circle.” In that circle, Van Walsem prayed with them. “That day they received the love of Jesus in their hearts. We gave them a Bible before we left.”
Before the outreach began, Van Walsem gave training to the group of about ninety participants. Immediately afterwards another intense moment followed. “A missionary woman came to us and said: ‘I brought my two children, and they do not know Jesus yet. They need Him.’” Both children decided on the spot to follow Jesus. With the girl, deeper healing happened. “She experienced deep liberation when she was able to forgive her father.” When asked whom she needed to forgive, she answered through tears: “My father.” According to Van Walsem, God made her visibly free at that moment.
Then the whole team went into the streets of Antwerp. “People were super open and received the gospel with joy,” says Van Walsem. Many team members experienced for the first time that someone came to faith through their testimony. “What a day. 518 people made a decision for Jesus. Antwerp will never be the same.” Revive
Surrender
Evangelist Symphor Bambi also met someone on the street who had long struggled with surrender. “I met a young man who immediately said that God had been warning him for a long time,” Bambi explains. “He already knew last year that he needed to give his life to Christ, but he kept postponing it, always saying: ‘tomorrow’.” Revive
The man told that he later ended up in a serious car accident. “He said that when he woke up in the hospital, he felt God speak to his heart: ‘The enemy wanted to take your life, but I give you another chance.’” Even then he kept postponing his surrender.
When Bambi spoke to him on Saturday, there was a sense of urgency. “I said: ‘Bro, today is the day. God calls you to repent from your sins — there will be no other chance after this conversation. He wants to save you now.’” On the street the man gave his life to Jesus. “He was deeply touched and grateful that someone finally stopped to talk to him about Christ.”
The organisers speak of a day where obedience was met with power. “Thank You, Lord,” says Van Walsem. “When we go in obedience, You always come in with power.”
