Hello friends and family!

We hope you are doing well and trust you are enjoying all that springtime brings! We are very excited about what’s happening here in Belgium! We’d like to update you and also share some future plans, both personal and for the ministry. Sorry it is a bit lengthy. There is a lot to make you aware of at this time.

To begin with, here are a few recent photos!

We recently had the privilege of baptizing Fiona, a young woman in our church. And we have another baptism coming up!

Harmony Sieberhagen, the first of three babies due this spring, arrived on March 24th! Pictured here with big sister, Primrose.

And exactly one month later, to the day, Aaron Weil was born. 

Last weekend, we had the privilege of participating in the Art Of Faith Festival in the northern part of Belgium. David is pictured here leading a group of worship leaders and aspiring songwriters in a songwriting workshop.

In our last update, we mentioned that we were praying for a new space for our church and arts center that would relieve us of some challenges we are currently facing. God has heard and answered our prayers and has provided a space almost twice the size for the same rent! It will put us in a better location, give us greater visibility, more convenient access to parking and a new park is being built just across the street. God has given us great favor with the owner and she has been incredibly generous. In addition, the Belgian man who has been supporting our church planting effort by paying the rent for the past 2 ½ years has committed to continue covering this at the new property. 

Here is a picture of the new space in its current state. It would change, of course, but you get an idea of how much more space we will have to work with. 

With this move will come new expenses and we are already praying for God’s provision. Though we will retain everything we originally purchased for our current space, additional funds will be needed to cover minimal construction, staging, upgraded sound and lighting equipment and additional furnishings. We will begin a dedicated fundraising effort very soon so details will be coming your way as soon as next week. We pray that you will consider playing a part in bringing this space to life and making it all it can be for the people of Namur! 

Clearly, we are overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness! Yet, while there is much to celebrate concerning the church, we find ourselves needing to take new steps concerning Angie’s health. As you know, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis two years ago. What you may not know, is that for the past several months this has greatly limited her ability to participate in the ministry here. Though there are aspects of the disease and its triggers that are beyond our control, there are two things we do have some control over, climate and stress. Belgium, with its high humidity and barometric pressure aggravates the disease. And the underlying stress of living overseas is only increased when Angie is unable to do the very thing she moved here to do. Not to mention the added stress of not having a native English speaking doctor.

Needless to say, it's important that we do all we can to get this disease into remission and Angie feeling better. Therefore, this summer when we travel back to the states, our ministry will be taking on a different shape and we will begin spending more time stateside than here in Belgium. With the ministry here in Namur still in its infancy stages, there are many ways we will be able to continue to participate and make a significant contribution. God has done so much in such a short time. We find ourselves playing an integral part in a growing young church plant, directors of an arts center (Étincelle), and administrators of a Belgian non-profit, (Creative Arts Belgium).

Of course it is our heart's desire to see all of this continue to move forward. Thanks to technology, a committed team already on the ground in Belgium, and our ongoing relationship with ACT Intl, David will continue to handle much of the administrative work he currently does. Event planning, administration and publicity for the non profit and art center and even maintaining oversight of the worship team until God raises up a leader in Belgium are all things that can be done remotely. In addition, we are committed to spending significant time here each spring and fall to continue sowing into the ministry face to face. 

Being stateside more will also enable us to implement an exciting new phase of ministry with a focus on recruiting, training and sending interns and missionaries from the US to assist in the ministry. Remarkably, as a non-profit in Belgium, we find ourselves eligible to bring missionaries into the country at a time when the government is no longer issuing missionary visas. Incredible! We continue to be amazed at how God led us to form the non-profit well before we even knew we needed one or how it would even be used. Little did we know that it would enable us to lease our space for the art center and church, provide David with a work visa and now may prove to be a conduit for future missionaries! It is our prayer that we can play a part in seeing additional churches planted in other cities in the years to come. 

Please join us in praising God for all He is doing here in Belgium. And please continue to pray for Angie’s health and for wisdom and provision as we walk out these upcoming transitions, both personally and with the church and arts center. Thank you for your faithful support and encouragement. 

As always, we are able to minister in Belgium because many of you have given generously, sacrificially and faithfully. For this, we and many here in Belgium are forever grateful.If you would like to begin giving, increase your monthly gift or make a one-time donation you can do so with the link below.  As always, donations are tax deductible and can be given two ways: 

online at:  https://actintl.givingfuel.com/ebensberger

Or by check made payable to Artists In Christian Testimony, Intl

Please specify Ebensberger #5760 in the memo line and mail to:

ACT Intl
PO Box 1649
Brentwood TN 37024

To transfer or donate air miles, reach out to David at debensberger@gmail.com or Angie at aebensberger@gmail.com.

In Christ,

David and Angie