Belgium

Answer to Prayer

Unity and cooperation among the many Protestant and evangelical groups – with the government as well as toward each other – have made great strides in the last decade. What was once a major flaw in Belgian evangelicalism, i.e., lack of unity, can now arguably be seen as a major strength.

Challenge for Prayer

Catholicism is in rapid decline. Atheists and the non-religious now number 31%. Only 48% saw themselves as Catholic in 2010. Nominalism is pervasive; nationally, only 7% attend mass, and as low as 1% in some parts of Flanders and less than 0.5% in some Walloon cities. The Church faces five major crises – declining commitment, waning influence, a severe lack of students in seminaries, mass defections and, most of all, the pedophilia scandals that have destroyed Catholicism’s reputation. The number of priests today is less than half that of 1960; their average age is over 65. The charismatic movement brought some new life but remains quite small. Pray for revival in this materially prosperous but spiritually poor land.

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