Belgiums Dwindling Churches To Be Converted Into Mosques
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 6-9-2008 | Bruno Waterfield
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2008 3:53:43 PM

This is a great great spiritual opportunity in Belgium as well in all the other European Nations for those who speak the language, who love the Lord with all their heart, and have been called of God to preach and teach to a lost and dying people. Here you have virtually empty churches, church properties and parsonages that are availible all over the european continant. Here is a vast vast mission field that 10,000 preachers and teachers would not get in each others way nor compete with each others for new members and converts. There is a cry arising from these nations peoples and tongues for those that will come unto them and fearlessly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Belgium's dwindling churches to be converted into mosques

By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Last Updated: 12:38AM BST 09/06/2008

Churches in Belgium are to be turned into mosques as Christian congregations decline while Muslims demand more places to worship. Philip Heylen, Antwerp's deputy mayor, has called on the city to "break the taboo" over the many empty and unused churches.

"It's a looming issue yet it seems impossible to have a debate about this," he said. "Churches were built as places of worship and they should not be used as shopping malls. We've had a positive response from members of the Muslim community, which is open to the idea of converting them."

Antwerp has 36 mosques but many are located in old buildings that are too small or lack emergency exits. Meanwhile, the building of new mosques is sensitive in terms of planning.

However, some Antwerp Muslims fear that the scheme could heighten ethnic and religious tensions. "This is dangerous and will only lead to resentment," said one. "It's better to keep places of worship strictly separate."

Many of Antwerp's 80 churches were built in the mid-19th century during attempts by the Roman Catholic Church to engineer a religious revival.

Father Jan, at the Sint-Willibrordus Church, conceded that the pews are "far emptier than 50 years ago", but rejected the argument that Antwerp Christians are a dying breed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/2095688/Belgium's-dwindling-churches-to-be-converted-into-mosques.html