As the time for our scheduled departure approaches, we are realizing just how fast these last fours years have literally flown by. So much has happened, and we are anxious to share it with you - in person!
We will be returning to Louisiana on June 14 for our itineration cycle. We will have an incredibly busy summer reconnecting with family, setting up house and attending Missionary Renewal in Springfield, MO, but hopefully by August we will be ready to reconnect with you. Please contact us soon if you would like to schedule a meeting or service with us.
In the meantime, we would ask you to please pray for the following:
We still need to find an affordable place to live in south Louisiana as well as a vehicle for our family to use. We have some housing issues here in Belgium that need to be resolved favorably. Our family’s adjustment to a new temporary life in America. It has been four years since we’ve been to the USA, and the changes can be overwhelming. Please pray for a smooth transition in all domains: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and cultural.
Thanks for praying for us during our move and throughout this next year.
In 1999, colleagues John and Anita Koeshall began meeting with 2 students at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, all the while praying for workers to come help with the overwhelming need on the campuses of Belgium. God answered that prayer by sending Steve and Deanne Turley to Brussels and us to Louvain-la-Neuve. Ten years later, we have MANY reasons to celebrate! We held the first ever SFC-Belgium Banquet on March 20 in the Chateau of Thieusies near the southern town of Mons. It was an exciting evening of good food, formal attire, and getting together with former students and other friends of SFC to look back at what the Lord has done and to look forward to the great things yet to come. It was also an evening of challenging them to help equip Students for Christ in the next level of campus ministry.
At this writing, 100-120 university students are currently active or affiliated with SFC. Additionally, there are about 150 former SFCers making an impact in the marketplace in many different nations of the world as bankers, lawyers, researchers, programmers, architects, doctors, managers, accountants, nurses, midwives, teachers, speech therapists and even a government minister. There are also those who are serving in their local churches as Sunday school teachers, youth group leaders, worship team members, deacons/elders, Bible teachers and one who has become a pastor. And of course, there are those who have found their spouses and have become parents now raising a new godly generation. Clearly, SFC is not what has made them the successes they are today, but SFC has without a doubt had a part in whom they have become. For this opportunity, we are very grateful.
From the crossroads of Europe, Brussels capital,
From industrial Liege and the Borinage of Mons,
From neo-Louvain and agricultural Gembloux,
God’s Spirit brought us.
To the thermal city of Spa,
To the Belgian Ardennes,
To the Salvation Army center, where,
God’s Spirit met us.
On a havened, forested hillside,
On a wintry run at new day’s dawn,
On a snowy walk with friends,
God’s Spirit inspired us.
By the warmth of an open fire,
By the light of His Word,
By the knowledge that Emmanuel,
God’s Spirit revived us.
With new hunger for things spiritual,
With connection amongst THE Family,
With a fresh challenge to seek Him,
God’s Spirit fed us.
During moments of liberating worship,
During instants of effectual prayer,
During flashes of healing laughter,
God’s Spirit animated us.
In the sweetness of Presence,
In the thunder of Commandment,
In surety and in confidence,
God’s Spirit commissioned us…to be His sent ones.
These were some of the highlights of the yearly Students for Christ-Belgium retreat. Hoping you’ll be able to understand them poetically, although you may not have been there. -Blair
Here is Blair with Bryan & Hélène Ost, the invited speakers for the weekend. Some of you may remember us spending the summer of 1990 helping in a church in Paris. It was Bryan’s parents, Mark and Denise, who hosted us. It is exciting to see how God is now using Bryan in music ministry and in the city of Dieppe, France, where they pastor a church.
It’s become our annual ritual. The last weekend of January each year is “connection time” for the Students for Christ -Europe family. The event rotates with a different member colleague(s) hosting the group in their country each time. This month we were hosted by national home missionaries to Toulouse, France, José & Sonia Ruiz.
What do we do during this gathering? Well, as is the case in most families, we reconnect and catch up on the happenings of all involved. As important as the wonderful fellowship we share together is the time in which we assemble to pray. This is the highlight of the weekend as every individual receives personal prayer as well as intercession for their country of service and the students who live there. The Spirit often speaks very precisely to us. After all, we are gathered in His name and He promised to be there.
Another highlight is the time we get to think and strategize together as to how we might more effectively reach the students with whom we have to do. The immense challenge of the task can be quite daunting but thinking together helps us build momentum and gives us a certain consensus.
Finally, the “hang time” we share is the proverbial “cherry on the top” whether it include visiting the city or sitting in a hotel room reminiscing. Kindred spirits always enjoy one another’s company.
Since September of 2008, and after a 20 year hiatus, I’ve officially become a student again…at the Katholiek Universiteit Leuven. The study program - theology; the language - English (whew!); the mode of travel - train (one hour’s ride from home). It’s been quite a challenge on various fronts, especially swimming in doctrinal waters that are not my own, but a joy to be able to think deeply again about what I believe. And one of the best by-products of it all is that I get to meet more students and strike up new friendships. I’m currently praying for a new acquaintance with whom I had to work on a joint presentation who is on a personal search for “the truth”. And then there’s a professor for whom I have a burden to pray. And there’s the international student who wants to know more about the particular theological movement to which I ascribe. Finally, I’ve sensed a unique connection with a teaching assistant who I hope will become a close personal friend. So many opportunities, and all the while, loving God with all my mind! -Blair
As we reflect on the many ways God has blessed us in 2008, immediately our thoughts turn to you and phrases like these: “Couldn’t do it without you!”, “We’ve got awesome partners!”, “The commitment of our team is inspiring!” We are so grateful for the encouragement you bring to our lives. Thank you!
In this holiday season we’re asking God to enable you, more than ever before, to portray the meaning of having the indwelling Spirit of Jesus. What a thought; what a responsibility; this is our joy!
Joy to our world, Jesus is here!
the Bonins
Blair, Dina, Callie, Claire, Evangeline, Christopher, David & Josiah
The bike race was a success! Thank you for praying. We had opportunities to plant seeds of the Gospel into students’ lives, water seeds that had been planted in earlier years, mobilize Christian students to share their faith openly and serve others in Christ’s name. The weather was beautiful and even though our first bike broke after only six rounds in the race, God sent two young guys to our aid with a replacement bike. A few hours later they had remounted the decorated structure on the new bike and we were rolling again with our traveling Jesus message. We will now be praying and following up on the personal contacts we made during this event. Thanks again for supporting this outreach in prayer.
