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.