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I worked for the next 3 years and the church continued to meet in the building for 2 of those years before they official removed us. With this process came 2 sets of criminal charges against me personally and the city made it impossible to meet their unrealistic requirements. It brought a little comfort to know we were not alone in our battle as the mayor was rumored to have said that “God will be dead in Antwerp” and the city offices worked hard to close down many houses of worship.
After meeting with a building lawyer, we realized that the only way to remove the charges against me was to return the house back to a one family home. And feeling a bit cornered, we made the decision to move our family in the home, knowing that we could use the large living room for Bible studies and prayer meetings during the week, while living upstairs. And we have started to us our small home as a ministry house where those in need of a temporary place to stay are welcome. We have hosted 6 different groups already.
Hoping and praying this would all work out, a team from the States and some of the men in our church helped us to ready the building for our family. After our official move, we invited the city to do a final inspection. On June 24th, a different building inspector (which was actually a huge blessing in disguise) came and gave us his approval and has finally closed the city’s file against me. Having the criminal charges dropped and the police charges dropped has been a huge relief to me.
This is not the way we originally envisioned using the house for God, but we are sure that He still has great plans to use what is already His for His glory. We will keep following in obedience.
During this time of 3 and half years, many people around us in our community of ministry have contributed words of discouragement and criticism, not understanding the full weight of what was happening or even the spiritual warfare of it all. And yet God reminded me of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Surely those around her gossiped and whispered at her condition. I know there had to be talk…I work with Middle Easterners! And God led her to the position that put her in the center of this gossip. So we have been in good company…amid the gossip, following the Lord in obedience in the whole process.
Thank you for adding your prayers and support to bring about the closure our family needed! And now a new chapter begins…