Ministry FAQs

Why send missionaries to Europe?

Hundreds of years ago the Reformation transformed Europe. Excesses in the Catholic Church were confronted. The Bible was translated into the language of the common man. Missionaries were sent out around the world. But that was a long time ago. Now the church exists only as a structure, a form void of real substance. The only people in Europe’s churches are tourists. 24 countries in Europe are less than 1% evangelical Christian. In fact, Europe may be more Muslim than Christian. Islam is growing five times faster than Christianity in Europe. In Belgium, there are twice as many Muslims as evangelical Christians. In Europe, for the Gospel, it’s later than it’s ever been before. The clock chimes sound “A New Call to the Old Country.”

Why Brussels?

Brussels, as the headquarters for the European Union, is the capitol of Europe. What other cities in the world
could claim to be the capitol of a continent? Decisions made in Brussels affect the lives of Europeans
in its 25 member countries. Almost 20,000 European Union employees live or work in Brussels. They come to Brussels as representative of their countries. Could they leave Brussels as representatives of the kingdom of God? Brussels is also the headquarters for NATO and has a special relationship with its U.S. headquarters, located in Norfolk, Virginia – the same city that is home to the Deal’s sending church and other sister churches that are committed to this effort. Brussels is a city of 1 million, 30% of which are foreign. In this international city, the Deal’s would like to plant an international church-planting church that will sow seeds for the Gospel as far as the influence of Brussels can reach.

What is Christian Associates?

Christian Associates International (CAI) is the missions organization sending the Deals to Brussels. CAI plants churches that effectively reach out to unchurched postmodern people in a relevant way. Their aim is to start communities of faith that reproduce themselves again and again, and so start a grassroots movement. You can learn more about CAI at their website.