Update October 4, 2023

We are grateful for your prayers and for the Lord’s help through the month of September.  At the beginning of the month, we sensed resistance from the enemy as we were given tough news on various fronts, one after another early in the month.  But we have found God’s grace sufficient as He strengthens and helps us move forward in our weakness. 

The afternoon services in French began September 10 and at the same time we began a discipleship Bible study in the 9:45 hour when we had been having our service previously.  We have been encouraged by the response to both initiatives and by a slight numerical increase each week at both meetings. The work load and the need is great so please continue to pray the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers into this harvest field in French New Brunswick.  We are thankful for God’s clear direction for our family to serve Him here and for the full support of our sending church and mission board. 

Last evening, Cherith hosted the first French Bible study for the ladies in our group.  Five women, from four different countries, came out for it.  The need for it is significant and Cherith is glad for the opportunity to invest in the lives of these women hungry for both Christian fellowship and biblical instruction.  

Praise for

• God’s blessing of the new 3:00 p.m. French service as well as the 9:45 Bible study time.  Praise for the good participation, the positive response and the gradual growth each week. Praise for a new couple from Madagascar and a man recently arrived from Haiti that have been attending.
• God’s direction in M’s life regarding future ministry in Quebec.  Praise too for God’s clear leading in our lives to bring us to NB to pioneer in this ministry, and for the support of our sending church and mission board.
• Opportunities to share the Gospel through door to door outreach and Saturday market outreach.
• The students God has brought to EBBI this year, including Caleb who is taking several dual credit classes and our nephew Gage who is staying with us this semester. 

• A good start to the Home school co-op and for the growth in the younger group (more than double last year!).
• The starting up of the French Bible study for the ladies, and for God’s help for Cherith.

Pray for

• God to send laborers to help us to reach the French speaking people of New Brunswick.
• Opportunities to share the Gospel with our French speaking neighbors, and for God to use the various outreach efforts. 

• Our family as we navigate ministry through this challenging period, with God’s help.
• The Home school co-op French classes as we work to help the kids learn the language of many of their neighbors. Pray too for Cherith as she teaches 5 piano students this year and as she leads the French Bible study for the ladies in our group.
• our friends, the R family, as they visit us from France for two weeks at the end of this month.  Pray that we will be a blessing to their family and that God will bless their time with us as well as their contact with Espérance Vivante.
• God to move our paperwork along for Canadian residency without long delays and without much greater cost.