Courcelles Christian Assembly was founded by Jacques Lemaire and Danièle Bracq, his wife. From Picardie in the North of France, Pastor Jacques Lemaire was aspiring to become a Benedictine monk after his studies at a Catholic Theology seminary. After his sudden conversion to Protestantism, he decided to immigrate to Belgium where he founded the Church with three major initial purposes: to preach the Good News, to teach Bible doctrine and to worship God according to the New Testament. The first service of the Assembly was held at his home in Courcelles on Sunday 3 February 1980. Seven adults and six children attended. Four months later, the Church decided to rent a first building because attendance had risen to 16 adults. In 1982, the Church became a non-profit organisation. In 1985, the numbers had doubled and the Church had to find a new building large enough to accommodate 100 people. Between 1985 and 1996, the Church went through a lot of change, some for the better, some not. But in 1996, something suddenly happened. Courcelles Christian Assembly began to experience a deeper spiritual awakening that has been increasing ever since. The Church now has a strong visitation of the Holy Spirit that has become a real blessing to its members and numerous visitors.

The Church strives to keep an open mind and to reach out to others. Many national and international preachers are regularly invited to minister. We often take part in major national events for revival in Belgium. The pastor, his wife and several other ministers are often sent by the Church in Belgium and abroad for conferences, revivals and gatherings. Since the middle of the 1980’s, the Church has been able financially support its pastor full-time and several other ministers. The Assembly also supports a pastor in Sighisoara, Romania who is currently ministering at our sister-church founded by Jacques Lemaire’s ministry in that country. Since 2003, the Church has also begun running a Bible school called Christian Training Centre.

The structure and organisation of Courcelles Christian Assembly is half-way between a Congregationalist and a Presbyterian system. Although the Church wants to keep its independent status and not join any denomination, it is an active member of the Belgian Synod of Evangelical Churches and the Belgian Federation of French-speaking Evangelical Churches. Since 2003, our Church has been recognized as an official Protestant Church by the Belgian government. We fundamentally believe in the priesthood of all believers. The members of the Church are very active and often lead services and organise their own events. Some of them are regularly invited to minister at other Churches, at youth meetings and spiritual retreats in Belgium and abroad (Argentina, Romania, Switzerland, Mexico and France). Courcelles Christian Assembly does not necessarily aspire to become a big Church but it seeks rather to found new Churches in areas where the message of Jesus hasn’t been sufficiently preached. And by the Grace and Power of God, the Church strives to fulfil those goals.