Patrick Scholman, 38, was involved in the Biker Church aimed at some 300,000 motorcyclists
in Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of predominantly Catholic Belgium.
"He was driving [a motorcycle] Monday, October 13, to a meeting of [church] elders when he was hit by a car," in Belgium, said the Netherlands-based foundation ‘Opdracht tot Wereldzending’, or ‘Mission to Worldevangelism,’ which supported his mission. "He did not survive this accident," the organization added.
Scholman, who was married and father of three young children, was an "example" for many missionary workers, Opdracht tot Wereldzending said.
WORKING AMONG BIKERS
Together with his wife Angelina Hartendorp, he began working among bikers in November last year, and their church had close contacts with Christian Motorcyclists Association, Bikers for Christ and the Soldiers for Christ motorclub organizations.
Scholman told BosNewsLife’s affiliate, Christian news Website manna-vandaag.nl, that they wanted to take bikers "away from satan and in the Kingdom of Jesus." However evangelizing remains difficult in Belgium, especially among bikers, noted Patrick Scholman.
"Slowly we begin to realize that we meet totally different people than before November last year," he told manna-vandaag.nl in July. Yet, "every first Sunday evening of the month we lead the Biker Church [where we meet] Christian bikers from across Flanders and from different clubs and Christian backgrounds. Together we want to be radical for Jesus and act and live according to God’s Word," he said at the time.
PRAYER NETWORK
Born in the town of Zwollen, the Netherlands, Scholman was also involved in other activities including a prayer network, Flemish ‘prayer nights’ and an evangelical congregation.
He and his and his wife have been living in Belgium since 1996, but it was not immediately clear when, and if, she will continue the Biker Church and other mission activities.
Christians were urged to send condolences to his family via Opwijksesteenweg 7, 9310 in Moorsel, Belgium or leave a note via Website http://www.wereldzending.nl/.
