Showing Up Matters

The 2026 Belgium Vision Trip

Some of the most meaningful ministry begins with something as simple as showing up.

That defined the 2026 SportQuest Vision Trip to Bilzen, Belgium. Nineteen team members from Betenbough Homes traveled alongside leaders Jacob and Laura Susud and Rance and Stacy Bland to serve with longtime SportQuest Partner Kevin Verstraeten and the local church in Bilzen.

Much of the week centered on a neighborhood park, where sports and games created opportunities to meet children and families. Each afternoon, the team returned to the same park, built relationships, and invested in the community.

Building Relationships

Around 25 children came to the park on Monday. As the week continued, children invited friends, families returned, and attendance grew. By the final day, nearly 50 children participated in the sports camp, with many parents staying to watch and spend time with the team and members of the local church.

Sports, games, and activities brought children together and opened the door for conversations about faith.

After games and competitions, children gathered in small groups. Team members shared biblical truths, asked questions, and listened as the children talked about faith and what they were learning. As the week progressed, those conversations became more personal.

Parents also spent time engaging with the team and members of the local church.

Beyond the Park

While afternoons centered on the sports camp, mornings took the team into other parts of the Bilzen community. They worked alongside members of the local church on projects in church members' homes and at a local school, meeting practical needs while spending time with the people who serve there year-round.

Church families also opened their homes for meals and conversation. The team worshiped with the local church, explored Brussels and Bastogne, and learned more about the people and culture around them.

The team had not come to Belgium to create a new ministry. Kevin and the local church already knew the community, had established relationships, and continued investing in local families long after the Vision Trip ended.

The Betenbough team joined that work for the week. They led sports and games, shared their faith, prayed with others, completed service projects, and built relationships across cultural differences. Daily devotionals and debriefs helped them process those experiences together.

The Betenbough team returned home, while Kevin and the local church continued investing in the relationships built throughout the week.

Take the Next Step

SportQuest Vision Trips connect teams with established local Partners and give them a practical way to support ministry already underway.

Teams serve alongside local leaders, build relationships across cultures, and see how consistent, local ministry reaches people over time.

To learn more about hosting or joining an upcoming SportQuest Vision Trip, contact Jacob at jacob.susud@sportquest.org.