Praise and Prayer for December 19, 2008

Friday, December 19, 2008
The Lord has answered your prayers this past week, and we can tell that you were praying! First of all, the Choir Christmas party here in our home on Saturday went very well. It was a time of encouragement and bonding as we ate, sang and prayed together before laughing through a gift exchange game. Everyone seemed to have a delightful time together. Secondly, the Christmas program at our church was well attended and the presentations were well done. We were proud of the great job done by the children as they recited their verse and sang two songs. The choir and the Sango Bible study group both presented and did well. Please continue to pray that those who attended who have yet to make a decision for Christ, will consider what they heard last Sunday and take that step of faith. This coming Sunday we will be hosting a Christmas party here in our home for the Sango Bible study group. There will be some guests attending, so pray that the Gospel will be made clear as we share a film about Christmas.

We have been able to hand out some of the goodies we made to Adrianna’s teachers and a few fellow parents. Included in the package was a Christmas card including a CD of Christmas stories read along with Scripture and the plan of salvation. Please pray as we continue to pass a few more out that people will be receptive to the Gospel and willing to discuss what they hear.

Praise for:
- good fellowship together with the choir last Saturday.
- good attendance for the Christmas Program at church.
- God’s Gift to the world! Praise God for gifts and tracts that have been given out to those in our community.
- Caleb’s recovery after acute bronchitis and an asthma attack last weekend.

Pray for:
- the Sango Bible study group Christmas party and that visitors’ hearts will be open to Christ.
- Jonathan as he was diagnosed with shingles this week and is suffering.
- receptiveness as we share with neighbors the true meaning of Christmas.

Praise and Prayer for December 12, 2008

Thank you for your prayers as we face many opportunities during these very busy days. Along with a piano lesson, Sunday school preparation, cleaning house, keeping Caleb profitably busy, and having a choir member and another family stop by to practice for Sunday’s Christmas program, today we are also preparing for the choir party tomorrow evening. The choir Christmas party will be here at our house Saturday evening for a dinner and time of celebration of God’s Gift. Sunday afternoon will be the annual Christmas program at church with refreshments to follow. Each group in the church will take part including our SS children, our choir and the Sango group. Many have been invited to this celebration, including teachers and friends from Adrianna’s school. As usual space will be a problem, so please pray the Lord will give special grace and help the message of the Savior born in Bethlehem to be clear to all. There has been 90 or more present each of the past 4 Sundays.

There are still several goodies to confection or bake for the Christmas parties and gifts that we are preparing to share with friends, students, neighbors and school contacts. Please pray that the Lord will open hearts to the Gift of Jesus this Christmas through these special opportunities and that He will give us grace, health and strength to keep up with all of these opportunities. Pray that God will use us and that we will ourselves be refreshed and blessed.

Praise for:
- good attendance at church these past four Sundays.
- God’s Gift to the world! Praise God for invitations that have been given to many to come to the church Christmas program.

Pray for:
- the Lord’s help to keep up with all of the special opportunities this month.
- God to bless each participant in the Christmas program on Sunday and that visitors’ hearts will be open to Christ.

Praise and Prayer for December 5, 2008

We hope all of the College students had a refreshing break last weekend. Reims has begun to celebrate the Christmas season with the opening of its annual Christmas Market (Marché de Noël), which ranks in France’s top 10. With the holiday spirit around us, we pray that God will help His children here and around the world to keep our focus on Christ and use us to help point others to Him.

This week we have been able to complete the Sango Hymnal (Bia ti Sepala Nzapa) project and get it shipped off to the printer in Ann Arbor, MI. Since the printed stock in the CAR ran out last year, we have been trying to fit this project in with our other ministries so that it can be reprinted. Praise God, it is finished and should be printed by the end of January. Then it will need to be shipped overseas. There are many in the CAR waiting eagerly for this tool for ministry. We too are looking forward to having it available for our Sango work with Central Africans here in Reims!

Praise for:
- good attendance at both the French and Sango services on Sunday.
- finishing up the corrections for the Sango hymnal.
- protection on the roads to and from Algrange on Wednesdays, especially as we face rain, snow and the return trip after dark.

Pray for:
- our church here as it prepares for the annual election of deacons in January. Pray for God’s will and guidance in this process.
- Sylvia Christy, our coworker in Bordeaux, France, who has just been diagnosed and is being treated for cancer.
- preparations as they are made for the Christmas program and special outreaches this month.
- the Lord’s financial provision for us as there are special expenses this month with the Christmas celebrations/outreaches and gifts.

Praise and Prayer for November 28, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving Day yesterday! Although France does not celebrate this American holiday, we have been able to celebrate with fellow Americans as well as with the students at the Institute. What a meaningful holiday in which to reflect on God’s goodness to us over this past year.

Thank you for praying for the ministry here this past Sunday. The Lord answered prayer! God gave special health and strength to all of the students from the Institute who did a great job despite colds, etc. that are going around. David C. did an excellent job leading the people in a time of worship to the Lord and Joel H. delivered a challenging message after the choir’s presentation. Our small auditorium was packed as 114 people squeezed in. God gave special grace to the church family, with members welcoming and seating, even giving their seats for guests. After the service and during the fellowship dinner, many of the folks shared that the students’ ministry among them Sunday had challenged them. Pray for our church choir members as we prepare for the Christmas program Dec. 14. Several told us that the Institute choir’s presentation was very motivating to them!

Praise for:
- answers to prayer for the special Sunday at our church with the Bible Institute here to minister.
- the opportunity to work with these students on a weekly basis.
- our gas prices which are now only about $6 per gallon (down from $10 this summer).

Pray for:
- the preparations for a special Christmas celebrations/outreach for the Sango Bible Study. The current BMM Advance publication contains a brief highlight of our outreach to Central Africans in Reims!
- wisdom as we work with the vocal groups at the institute with fluctuating numbers. Each of the wives who are students are expecting!
- additional financial support. We are currently at 80% of our monthly need.

Praise and Prayer for November 21, 2008

Sunday, November 23 is nearly here, a day for which we have long been praying and preparing. On October 17, our Praise and Prayer told about the Bible Institute in Algrange and our involvement there. This Sunday our two primary ministries will intersect as the student body of the Institute will come to minister in the Baptist Church of Reims. The students will minister through the entire service, including the preaching. Pray for the choir and ensemble as they present four songs before the message, that the Lord will give peace and recollection of what we’ve practiced. Pray for us as we lead and accompany.

Pray for grace and wisdom for seating in our small church building. Last week there were 92 in church with at least 15 absent. Sunday, there will be at least 20 from the Institute added to the number present from the church. Our building seats 80 comfortably. Pray! Pray too for each one attending, saved and unsaved, that hearts will be receptive to the message through testimony, song and preaching. We are praying that the Lord will call out from this congregation some who would prepare to serve Him vocationally.

Praise for:
- a conference/ministry forum Jonathan was able to attend with Emmanuel on Monday in the Paris area.
- the student body at Algrange, for opportunities for training and for ministry.
- the opportunity to work with these students on a weekly basis.
- a number of members who have volunteered to help with the nursery ministry this month and next.

Pray for:
- the Institute choir and ensemble as they minister in our church this Sunday.
- open hearts among those in attendance at church on Sunday.
- Good health as the cold and flu make their rampant advancement through the Institute and schools at this time of year.

Praise and Prayer for November 14, 2008

We are so thankful for our children and for the opportunities of outreach that God has given to us through them. Adrianna is our vibrant five year old. She has had the opportunity last year and this year to attend the local pre-school and kindergarten, helping her to learn the French language and develop friendships with children and adults in our neighborhood. We see in her developing a love for others and a burden for their salvation. Adrianna has talked to her friends at school about God and we have encouraged her to continue to share with them as she has opportunity. She is learning to be more thoughtful of others, desiring that they see Christ’s love in her. She has been invited to several Birthday parties where her gifts include some kind of Bible storybook. Through Adrianna, we have had opportunities to befriend teachers and some of the parents through daily contact and involvement in the parent-teacher meetings.

Please pray for us that God would give us wisdom in reaching these parents and their children for Him. We pray that some of the children will be allowed to come to Sunday school with Adrianna some day and that the Lord will use this to reach the parents as well. At Christmas, we have a special opportunity to share a gift with some of these families and our neighbors with a message of God’s Gift to the world. Our Christmas program at church is a celebration of Christ’s birth as well as an outreach to the community (though space is a problem!). Adrianna will be singing at church in our Christmas program, and we pray some of her friends will be able to attend.

Praise for:
- our children and the doors they have opened in our ministry.
- relationships God has given us with parents and teachers from Adrianna’s school.
- Caleb’s improved health after a bout with the flu last weekend.

Pray for:
- the spiritual needs of families with whom we have contact.
- wisdom in sharing and ability to communicate the Good News.
- our Christmas program at church and that some of Adrianna’s friends would come.

Prayer and Praise for November 7, 2008

Some of the less acclaimed aspects of our ministry are the administrative and office responsibilities that we have. Communicating with prayer partners is at the top of this list, and is vital so that you are able to pray more effectively for us. Time is set aside regularly to write prayer letters and updates. We need prayer for guidance so our ministry, needs and praises are represented clearly. We have created a blog to make current prayer requests and praises available and are in the process of creating a website with more information about us and our ministry. We appreciate your prayers, as this is fairly new territory to us.

Aside from keeping our prayer partners and supporters informed about our ministry, there are several other reports that we must work with. Monthly expense reports submitted to our mission agency include ministry mileage and expense records with receipts, and are used to figure our income tax for the IRS. Our home office, our BMM France team and some supporting churches require detailed ministry reports annually, all in different formats. Several documents must be prepared annually for our foreign residency permits which we must renew each year with the French government.

Praise for the:
- prayer and financial supporters God has given us around the world.
- great job our youth did at the Bible quiz rally last weekend.
- refreshment students at the Bible Institute received on their week of vacation.
- good health the Lord has given us in the past few weeks. Caleb hasn’t had the coughing spells he had so commonly before.

Pray for:
- guidance as we communicate to our prayer partners.
- the spiritual needs of the Central African population living in Reims.
- the preparation by the Institute students as they prepare the music, testimonies, choir numbers, and the message to present here the 23rd.
-protection of our health as Adrianna is back in school where colds and other infections are easily passed from one child to another.

Praise and Prayer for October 31, 2008

The Central African Republic is located in the heart of Africa where Jonathan and I were both privileged to grow up and serve for several years. Although we are currently living and working in France, there are still ways in which we are involved in ministry related to the CAR. There is a songbook in Sango, the national language, with editions both with and without music. Jonathan worked with the music edition in the past. Nearly all the evangelical churches in the CAR use this songbook of which the music edition is currently out of print. Jonathan is preparing this book for reprinting so it can be available again to Central African believers. Please pray with us that he will have the time needed to finish this project.

There are many Central Africans living here in the city of Reims, of whom about ten are involved to some extent with our church. The Lord has given a few of these believers and us, a burden to reach out to the Central African population living in this city. Many of the Central Africans here in Reims have come from churches in the CAR, but have allowed the culture here to pull them away from God. Some with church backgrounds have never trusted Christ, and others have never heard the Gospel. We have begun a bi-monthly Bible study in the Sango language to reach out to these people. Please pray God will use this outreach for His glory and that we will see people come to know God, be discipled and serve Him.

Praise for the:
- Central African believers whom God has placed in our church.
- week of vacation from school Adrianna has this week.
- involvement of church members in teaching S.S.
- improved euro-dollar exchange rate.

Pray for:
- Jonathan as he prepares the Sango songbook for reprinting.
- the spiritual needs of the Central African population living in Reims.
- visitation opportunities and open doors to reach people for Christ.
- the additional financial support that is needed.

Praise and Prayer for October 24, 2008

The Baptist Church of Reims is in the process of organizing to achieve legal recognition. The church was started by missionaries Mike and Elva Farrell as an extension of our mission, and now is preparing to stand on its own. Jonathan has been involved in meetings with church leaders to create church Statutes and a Confession of Faith. Please pray for these leaders that they would have wisdom to complete these documents in order to present them to the congregation for a vote in January. The documents will then be submitted to the government for approval. This is an essential step in indigenizing this church.

The church building was purchased in 1998 with seating capacity of about 80 people, with room for the congregation of less than 20 and plenty of room for future growth. Little did they know how the Lord would grow this church over the ten years that followed. We are now running close to 90 on Sundays, creating a genuine problem for attendance often exceeding 100 people during special events. The sale of our current building would not provide adequate funds to purchase a new building. Last month there was a fund started to begin collecting money toward a new building. We trust the Lord to lead to where He would have us relocate.

Praise for the:
- encouragement the Sango Bible study group has been to some who have experienced grief from recently losing family members.
- safety God has given us each Wednesday as we travel to the Institute.
- visitors who attend church each week, and for those who return.
- improved euro-dollar exchange rate.

Pray for:
- the church leaders as they complete the Statutes and Confession of Faith.
- funds to purchase a new property and grace in welcoming visitors and regular church attendees despite the inadequate space.
- us as we prepare the Institute choir and ensemble to minister in our church here in Reims November 23rd.
- the additional financial support that is needed.

Praise and Prayer for October 17, 2008

Friday, October 17, 2008
Two hours drive east of our house, is a small town called Algrange, which lies near the borders of Luxemburg and Germany. In this town there is a small Bible Institute that was started over twenty years ago by missionaries with a vision for training French believers for full time Christian service. Many of the men who have graduated from this Institute are now serving faithfully as pastors and laymen in their churches around the country while others are serving as missionaries themselves in other French speaking countries. Many women have also received Biblical training and are serving in various ministries. A number of men and women have come from the West Indies or French speaking countries in Africa to get Bible training, and then returned to their home countries to minister.

Jonathan and I have the opportunity to be involved in this ministry in the area of music training. Each Wednesday we travel with our children to Algrange where we teach music theory classes, work with the choir and ensemble, as well as give piano and voice lessons. Our children happily spend the time we are at the Institute at the home of fellow missionaries, Tata (Aunt) Karyn and Tonton (Uncle) Rich. How thankful we are for the involvement we have in these students’ lives and in their preparation for serving the Lord. Please pray for us as we plan for classes and lessons each week, for safe travel to and from the school, and for profitable time spent with the students.

Praise for the:
- good attendance and clear presentation last weekend in the Seminar on Biblical encouragement.
- safety God has given us each Wednesday we traveled to the Institute.
- visit from our administrator and his wife from Ohio this week.
- renewal of our resident cards permitting us to stay in France.

Pray for:
- us as we prepare the Institute choir and ensemble to minister in our church here in Reims November 23rd.
- safety as we travel to and from the Institute each Wednesday.
- ministries this Sunday: S.S., choir, and afternoon Sango service.
- the additional financial support that is needed.

Praise and Prayer for October 10, 2008

Thank you for praying for us! This past Sunday we were encouraged by the testimony of L. in which he told how God had forgiven him and saved him. We rejoiced with him as he followed the Lord in believer’s baptism. Among those visiting were L.’s parents, grandparents and one Uncle and Aunt, all of whom we understand to be unsaved. Please pray that God will continue to work in their hearts, as well as others who have not yet made a decision for Christ, as a result of what they saw and heard on Sunday both through L. and the message that was preached.

Choir practice began this past Sunday. Praise the Lord for the good group of people who showed up, and for their enthusiasm as we worked on our first song. Most of these people have very little musical experience. Please pray that the enthusiasm and attendance will remain strong and that the Lord will be glorified. Our prayer is that the Lord will use us to not only teach music and technique, but also to deepen the love these people have for the Lord and for each other.

Praise for the:
- Clear salvation testimony and the baptism on Sunday.
- Good beginning for the choir.
- Number of children coming regularly to Sunday School.
- Sango service Sunday afternoon and for those who were present.

Prayer Requests:
- PRAY that the Lord will speak to the hearts of unsaved people attending services.
- PRAY for the Seminar on encouragement this Saturday and Sunday.
- PRAY as we begin piano lessons on Friday with two church members.
- PRAY for additional financial support that is needed.

Praise and Prayer for September 30, 2008

The church plant in which we are helping is the Reims Baptist Church where currently we are running an average of about 85 people. Each Sunday we have had visitors, many whom have stayed to either join the church or just attend. We are working along side of Pastor and Mrs. Mike Farrell who started this church in their garage and later led the church in the purchase of a building. Emmanuel and Sylvie, a French couple who graduated from our Bible Institute last spring, are doing an internship for a year and a half with the possibility that the church will call Emmanuel as Pastor.

The church is composed of various peoples from different origins including France, several countries in Africa, the French West Indies, South America, Iraq, China, Australia and the USA. We have a special Bible study group for young adults which reaches out to students studying in one of several universities in Reims. Since there are many Chinese students, a Chinese Bible study was begun by a young Chinese Christian several years ago and has continued to be a means the Lord has used to bring many to Himself.

The weekend of the 11th and 12th we will be having special meetings on The Biblical Counselor: How to encourage others according to the Bible. One of our fellow missionaries from Paris will be coming to present this seminar. Please pray with us for good attendance and that God will use this seminar to equip and strengthen believers.

Praise:
- Visitors who are coming to church
- Many students who are involved in Bible studies
- Good semi-annual business meeting last Sunday
- Two members who have volunteered to help us with teaching S.S. classes

Prayer Requests:
- PRAY for L. as he gives his testimony and is baptized on Sunday, that the Lord will speak to the hearts of unsaved family and friends present.
- PRAY For the Seminar on encouragement the weekend of the 11th.
- PRAY for Emmanuel and Sylvie and their internship in our church.
- PRAY for additional financial support that is needed.