History
The land known today as Belgium was conquered by Julius Caesar in the first
century BC. Under the Roman Emperor Augustus, it was named Belgica. After
the Franks conquered it, Belgica was part of one country or another for
the next several hundred years. But in 1830, the people revolted and won
independence, naming their new country Belgium.
Today, two people groups, Flemings and Walloons, inhabit the land. French,
German, and Dutch are official languages. The government is comprised of
a monarchial head of state, two-house legislature and a prime minister.
Belgium is also a part of the European Union.
Church
History
The Pentecostal movement in Belgium began in 1931 with a young Englishman,
Douglas Scott. He was preaching near the Belgian border in Roubaix, France.
Several Belgians attended and were miraculously healed. Scott was invited
to Belgium to minister. After he arrived, several Protestant churches became
Pentecostal and the number of new churches grew steadily. The movement in
Belgium survived World War II and was named the Belgian Assemblies of God
in 1965.
The
Movement Today
The government allows freedom of worship and gives some financial assistance
to recognized religions. Most of the population is Roman Catholic, but only
about one third of those are active church attenders. Only one percent of
the population is Protestant, with five percent claiming to be atheistic.
The Fellowship of Flemish Pentecostal Churches and the Belgian Assemblies
of God report the following combined statistics: 45 churches, 80 ministers,
5,830 members and adherents, one Bible school with 75 students, and one
extension program serving another 80 students.
Additional
Facts About Belgium
Capital:
Brussels
Area:
11,787 square miles
Population:
10,249,000
Agriculture:
Wheat, fruit, sugar beets, potatoes
Industry: Metal products, glassware, automobiles, textiles,
chemicals |
