BRUSSELS, Belgium — In early February, Belgian police questioned 29 American volunteers working for the Assemblies of God (AOG) in the suburbs of Brussels for possibly violating a work permit law passed by the Belgian government in 1999. Four of the Christians were detained and then deported to the United States February 8 after being charged with being “illegal workers.”
For years, American Pentecostals have gone to Belgium as volunteers to take part in various activities of the AOG media department, the Bible correspondence education program or the ministry to universities.
They have never had visa problems before. While the AOG is on the list of religious movements suspected by the state of being “dangerous sects,” it is also a member of the Federal Synod of Protestant and Evangelical Churches in Belgium. The AOG numbers about 5,800 members among 70 congregations in Belgium.
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