Ecumenical Gathering on Christian Unity in Namur, Belgium
“United by Christ”
4-7 December, 2009
Mrs. Emmanuelle Martin and her organizing team, inspired by our Lord’s desire to Unite His Church, organized a two day Ecumenical Gathering on the subject of Christian Unity. The meeting was held in Namur, Belgium. She invited speakers from four different Christian denominations (the Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical and the Pentecostal Church), to worship together and speak about the importance of Unity among Christians.
The Speakers, apart from Vassula who represented the Greek Orthodox Church, were Brother Remi Schappacher, a brother in the order of the Dominicans in the Convent of Nancy, Protestant Evangelical Pastor, Carlos Payan and Rev. Debbie Kendrick from the Pentecost Community in Ashland, Virginia, USA.
“I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (1 Cor 1:10)
December 4th, 2009
Early in the morning we departed from Athens and arrived around 12pm in Belgium where Magdalena Baeten (Wetteren) and Frank De Mulder warmly welcomed us and took us to our hotel. Magdalena who was also a member of the organizing committee gave a beautiful bouquet of flowers and chocolates to Vassula and thanked her for accepting the invitation.
It took us around an hour to arrive to our hotel – “Les Tanneurs” – a restored 17th-century building, with old stone walls, brick ceilings and stone archways.
Magdalene informed us that we would be able to check in only at 2.00pm and therefore she made arrangements for us to have lunch with her and Frank at the hotel’s restaurant.
She also informed us that around 4 o’clock a reporter would come to interview Vassula, and late in the afternoon we would go to the residence of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Namur, H.E. Msgr. Andre-Mutien Leonard, who invited all the speakers for dinner.
After a pleasant lunch with Magdalena and Frank we went to our rooms to rest for a while.
Obstacles and problems are always typical with Vassula’s missions because the evil forces cannot stand prophecy and especially any efforts for reconciliation and unity among Christians. So it was not unexpected that when Vassula settled into her room to prepare for the interview there was constant drilling and banging due to some construction in the room next door. After various efforts to find a quiet place, I finally encouraged Vassula to switch rooms with me.
At 4.00pm sharp, the reporter with a photographer and a video cameraman were at our Hotel. Both Vassula and I were already drained with the problem that we faced at the hotel, nevertheless, Vassula, with a welcome smile and always alert when she is called to witness about her mission, went with the reporters to have the interview.
The reporter, Mrs. Anick Benoist, was from an International News Agency called AFP TV, that broadcasts not only in Belgium, but collaborates with BBC and CNN and as well with other well known French TV channels.
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The interview lasted for at least 50 minutes and Vassula talked about her mission, how her guardian angel Daniel appeared to her. She talked about the purification she went through and how Jesus approached her. Vassula covered a wide range of topics of the messages and of course talked about our Lords desire for Unity in His Church. She explained why God speaks in our days, and that God intervenes every single time when things are not going right. She talked about our generation, how “fastidious” we have become and that we live in days of great apostasy. She discussed about the message she received 10 years before the shocking events in New York on 9/11 and about the Tsunami. She mentioned that people in our days during Christmas time promote a Happy Holiday Season instead of celebrating the birth of Christ. All afflictions, disasters, everything that the earth is suffering, come from us, from our sins.
To the reporter’s question whether Vassula is a healer, Vassula said that she is not, that she does not have the gift of healing, however, when God wants He uses her and there are people that have been healed. Vassula mentioned the story of Moses from India, and the story of a little girl in Africa who was named after Vassula.
I believe that the reporter and her companions were really impressed by what Vassula said. After her interview the photographer took some pictures of Vassula.
Around 6.00pm Pascal with Pierrere came and picked us up from the hotel to take us to the Bishop’s house. We were also very happy to meet many TLIG friends who traveled from France, Netherlands, Germany and England to come and hear Vassula.
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On our way to the Bishop’s residence, Vassula told me that it was not the first time that she was placed in a room that some kind of construction was “accidentally” taking place. This has happened to her at least on 4 different missions. Vassula told me that this was the devil who does anything to destruct her and the mission.
At the Bishops residence we were the first to arrive and Bishop Leonard welcomed us warmly. A few minutes later the other speakers also arrived and the Bishop with his pleasant personality and great hospitality made the atmosphere relaxing and joyful.
During dinner the speakers had the opportunity meet each other and share a few things about themselves. Carlos told us that he was a Catholic but as his parents where communists he also became a communist and later in his life he was converted through an Evangelical and since then he has been serving the Evangelical Church. The last two years he has been interested for the Unity of the Churches. Brother Remi Schappacher also shared his thoughts about Unity and Debbie shared the special relationship that she had with our Virgin Mary and her unique experience at Medjugorje. Vassula was quiet and started talking about her mission only when she was addressed. I had the impression that those who did not know much about Vassula were captured by what Vassula was saying and eagerly wanted to find out more about her and what God says in our days.
Msgr. Andre-Mutien Leonard informed Vassula that he had a lot of pressure from people not to go to this Ecumenical gathering because of her. The Bishop said that he was even threatened, and people warned him not to let Vassula speak.
Both Carlos and Rev. Remi also said that they were advised not to attend this conference because of Vassula. Carlos said that he ignored the people who pressured him not to be there even though he put his reputation at risk since he is very well known in the Evangelical community, especially in France.
It was so sad to know that there are people who do not want unity. The words of our Lord came into my mind:
I shall show you to the world as a sign of unity; you are contradicted and rejected but you know now why: because unity is unwelcomed, as Love is unwelcomed in many hearts; sincerity is missing (18 February 1993)
Our day ended pleasantly at the Bishop House, with lots of laughter and fruitful discussions about spiritual matters.
December 5th, 2009
Early in the morning Pascal and Pierre came by our hotel to pick us up and take us to the Namur Expo where the Ecumenical gathering took place.
The conference started with a warm welcome from the organizers. Then Msgr Leonard who blessed this gathering gave a wonderful speech that moved all of us.
He said “I do not know if you feel as I do, but I find that this is marvellous, simply marvellous that we are here today. And that we are here, comes from being reminded because of Someone, not by something. We are gathered together not by some ideas and not only by values, but by a Person absolutely unique in the history of the world. Nowhere is there to be found someone like Jesus.
And he goes on, ” today we are happy to be here in spite of our differences, thanks to our differences, united in Christ, united in Him who is the Saviour of the world”.
Msgr. Leonard ended his speech by telling us that he received letters by people telling him not to attend this Ecumenical Gathering. Nevertheless he was not only present but he thanked the Lord for bringing us together and he prayed that the Holy Spirit will open our hearts to welcome all that God wants to give us through this meeting.
After this wonderful introduction, our first speaker was Pastor, Carlos Payan who, with his vivid and pleasant personality, captured our attention. Very much touched by Msgr. Leonard’s speech he said that he is a Protestant Evangelical and since he became an Evangelical, he “was taught” not to “like” the Catholics. He was anti-Catholic and he said that sometimes Catholic bishops are difficult to be around, but today Bishop Leonard showed him what a Bishop he is. Pastor Carlos told us that about two years ago he decided to love the Catholics. Today, he said he will do the same for the Orthodox. Carlos said that he wants to love all his brothers without conditions. Jesus does not put conditions. God put us together to work for unity because none of us has the fullness of Christ because we have to bring Christ together. Love is a decision. Christ wants us to love each other and the problem is always the other. The others don’t pray like us, the others don’t do things like us. But Jesus said love one another, forgive one another. As his parents where communists he also became a communist, but at the age of 31 someone talked to him about Jesus and he gave his life to God. He didn’t choose the Church, it was Christ he chose.
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He talked about the conversion of the heart and that God loves us as we are, and the more we get to know God the more we will be captured by the simplicity that is in Christ. Anything that is complicated is from Satan. God loves everyone. He gave His one and only Son to save us. (John 3:16) Christianity is the gathering of people who follow Christ, and who do not do their own will but the will of Christ and this has costs.
Carlos said that Christ is calling us from all around, there are so many different denominations, and we are not only political power but spiritual power. “We are not here just to have a good day, we are here because we are Christocentric. We speak the same language and share the same love for Christ. Christ is calling us to detach ourselves; we have to know Christ who is love. The closer we get to Jesus He sees all our faults. We can get unity. We have to repent to be friends with Jesus, we have to love our neighbor and brothers as ourselves. Friends cannot be divided because of His mother. Carlos ended his speech by practicing the keys of unity which are love and humility. He said: “I love Catholics, Msgr Leonard you know you are bigger than me. By meeting Vassula I feel that I want to know more about the treasures in you. I want to know you because I know you have what I want. I am smaller, I want to learn.”
After this very touching speech the choir sang songs of praise and then Emmanuelle addressed to the public the greetings of the Mgr. Severios Hazail Soumi, from the Syriaque Orthodox Archbishop of Belgium, France and Luxembourg.
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He said that he was sorry that he was not able to be present due to some other obligations, but he was happy that his flock (he was referring to the children of the choir of his church) were amongst us to live unity together. “These children”, he said, “that you will hear sing songs in Syriaque Aramaic are the seed of my church and the future of my church. Unity is necessary to confront the battles in this world because Christ can shine upon them. We have to have the proof of unity and reconciliation. Today I am happy that you gather together because this is the building of unity. Let us not put barriers.”
The children from the Armenian Choir sang beautiful songs of praise, which moved all of us.
Vassula was the next speaker and she opened her speech with Christ’s question: “Which house is more important? Your house or My house? Vassula said that when Jesus first asked her this, she was devastated. She did not know what to do, she never went to catechism and knew nothing about theology. God told her to remain nothing so that He could show His glory and power through her. Vassula said that what Pastor Carlos mentioned in his speech, to die to yourself, is correct. We have to die to ourselves for the Holy Spirit to breath in us.
We cannot serve God without loving Him. We learn how to love God by being intimate with Him, we have to approach him with intimacy but not forget that He is Holy.
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Unity of the Churches is not a question of paper and it cannot be done in an intellectual way. Like signing a treaty. It can be done only with the grace of the Holy Spirit. If we really want Unity we have to bend. We have to die to our ego. Humility and love is the key to Unity. When we are not united it means we do not have humility and love.
Vassula said that the fist thing that the Lord wants from us is to unify the date of Easter. This is the will of the Lord. The Lord promised that if we unite the date of Easter He will bring unity in full power with the Holy Spirit.
…go now and meet your Brother and unite the dates of Easter, then I shall give you the gift of love and restore your sight. I do not want you to perish in your own folly; double indeed is My grief; double is My groaning. Go now and alleviate My pain, brother, go and glorify Me by unifying the dates of Easter.
(December 7, 1994)
The world is undertaking so many catastrophes because of our huge apostasy. Because of apostasy we get into natural distractions. These are the signs of the end of times. Apostasy, egoism, prejudice. We do not live the Bible we don’t know the Scriptures as the Lord wants us to know them.
The Lord sends people to change the world. Christ was persecuted and we have to take the same way as Christ. We are a scandal for the rest of the world.
Some will say, “but we try for Unity.” The Lord says it is not enough to observe. He needs humility and love.
Vassula also spoke about the devotion of the Sacred Heart. When she speaks to the Orthodox about the Sacred Heart they accuse her that she is Catholic, because the Orthodox Church does not have the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. God also said to Vassula that for His sake he wants her to learn to pray the rosary. Lately there is so much fanaticism Vassula said. She is an Orthodox but there is fanaticism among the churches. Jesus has a lot of patience but the Father will say “this is enough”. He is expecting that we will evangelize for Unity. We have to break down the barriers of intolerance and arrogance. We have to allow God to burn in our hearts anything that is not in accordance to His Will to take us to the desert and to remind us in the silence of the desert all our fears. This is the purification we have to go through, and it is called the “day of the Lord.” We have to repent, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us. Then He will be our master, our teacher and we will do the will of God and we will walk with God. Every step towards Unity the whole Church rejoices.
Jes