The DeNeui family (2005)
Mark and Lisa are trusting God to use them for His glory as church planters in Brussels, Belgium.
Lisa was born and raised in Glendora, California. Through the influence and example of godly parents, she committed her life to Christ at an early age.
Lisa attended Biola University, La Mirada, Califoirnia, and majored in inter-cultural studies. To gain further experience in missions, she left Biola to work with inner-city children in Los Angeles with World Impact. After returning to Biola to complete her degree, Lisa met Mark in a missions class.
As they got to know each other, Mark and Lisa discovered they had similar backgrounds. Mark also grew up in Southern California, in Redondo Beach. He too made a decision for Christ at an early age through the influence of godly parents.
Mark's interest in missions grew during his college years at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was an aerospace engineering major. Upon graduating in 1986, he decided to serve the Lord that summer doing evangelism work with Greater Europe Mission in Belgium.
Mark pursued his missions interest by taking evening classes at Biola's graduate school, Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California.
Lisa graduated from Biola with a bachelor of arts degree in intercultural studies in 1989. She also received a master's degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) from Azusa Pacific University, California, in May 1991.
Mark completed his master of divinity degree with an emphasis in missions at Talbot School of Theology in 1990.
Mark and Lisa were married in March 1991. They were appointed by CBFMS in June 1991. Lisa is currently a member of Grace Baptist Church, Glendora, California. Mark is a member of Community Baptist Church, Manhattan Beach, California, where the couple attends.
BelgiumBelgium's almost 10 million people are mainly Roman Catholic. Protestant witness is very small; about 0.4 percent of the population is considered evangelical. Approximately 140 towns of over 6,000 people are without an evangelical witness.
Led by Mel Bittner, CBFMS missionaries center their evangelism and church-planting ministries in the capital city of Brussels.
The traditional closed mindset of Belgians is changing rapidly. Belgium is becoming the central focus of Europe, with the European Common Market, NATO, and the World Bank all headquartered there.
As a result of the country's political and economic prominence, Belgians are increasingly open to new ideas. This openness can be used for the Lord's sake if believers translate their concern into action.
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