Mission District

• Organized Free Methodist Churches: 2
• FMC Membership: 64
• Ordained Ministers: 2
• Ministerial Candidates: 1

Origins

"Help us start a Free Methodist Church!" was the plea that came from Filipino women who had recently moved to Oostende, Belgium. This request soon turned into the formal organization of the church in Oostende. At the same time an immigrant group from Central Africa was organizing a church in Brussels. Missionaries Lucien and Molly Behar worked with these churches until their retirement.

The Filipino/Belgian group held their first morning service in Oostende on March 24, 2002. Maritess Janssens was instrumental in forming this group. Maritess is the sister-in-law of Jim Tuan, FM bishop to the Philippines.

The second group, Central Africans residing in Brussels, held their first public worship service and banquet on October 27, 2002, with United Kingdom Superintendent Allan Ellershaw and Lucien and Molly Behar. This church is being led by Rev. Siméon Rutazihana, an ordained elder from Rwanda.

The Free Methodist Church in Belgium is registered with the government. The work became an official FM Mission District in a celebration service on January 31, 2004.

Present Ministries

A new church plant in Oostende is in the development stages. In addition to reaching out to the Flemish people, work has been started among people of numerous ethnic groups, including Russian speakers, Africans and Iraqis.

Opportunities to support Belgium ministries

Learn more about Belgium