Praise and Prayer October 26, 2012

God answered our prayers in giving us our 10-year residency cards this week!  What a relief to have these in hand after more than a year and a half of waiting.  Pray that now we will be able to get French driver’s licenses.

Jonathan was encouraged by those who came out last Wednesday for the special prayer meeting for the new outreach in Merignac.  It was good to have some people in attendance from our church downtown and from the church in Floirac.  Ed led the Bible study, a challenge from Psalm 3 before a time of sharing and prayer.  Our prayer is that God will use these times together to give guidance to this project, while growing the burden and vision.  Our next meeting will be November 7.

Acting out the Bible story

Please continue to pray for the children’s S.S. ministry in the downtown church.  Pray for God to touch the hearts of members in the church and give them a burden for the children that come to this church.  We would like to see members volunteer to be trained and then take over this ministry while we are yet here to help.  As Jonathan will be preaching in the morning services for the next few weeks, Cherith will be full-time with the children for Junior Church.

We have had a special opportunity to reach out to one of our neighbors whose mother passed away on October 11.  They were appreciative of the flowers and a card that we shared which included encouragement from God’s Word.

Praise for:

- the 10-year residency cards that were granted to us this week. 

- further contacts the Lord is giving us with neighbors and through children and parents at school.

- deep cleaning (including second story, large windows) of our Sunday School room at church that our family was able to do safely this past Saturday.

- the women who came out for the Ladies’ Bible study and for a good time of study and fellowship together.

- the prayer meeting in Merignac

Pray for:

- Jonathan as he preaches Sunday, Cherith as she teaches the children and for our fourth English Encounter Sunday afternoon.

- our ongoing preparations for preaching, Bible studies, Children’s ministry and English classes.

- the Annual Church retreat coming up Nov. 1-3, for our preparation for the children’s ministry, and for all those who are making plans to attend.

- that the Lord will continue to give us wisdom and opportunities to be a witness to the contacts the Lord is giving us.

- God’s protection for our children, and for His help for us as we strive to raise them to love and obey the Lord.

Praise and Prayer October 16, 2012

God continues His work in our lives and we are thankful for the privilege that He has given us of serving Him here in southwest France.  We are reminded daily of His goodness as He gives the help we need.  We are also reminded of our limitations and our need.  Praise the Lord for His provision of grace and strength to face each day with its challenge. 

English Service in Pessac

This is a red-letter week for us as two new activities are added.  One is the monthly ladies’ Bible study that Cherith is leading which begins this evening.  Guidance and wisdom for Cherith, good attendance, and safety for the ladies returning home alone (especially after dark in inner city areas) are among the concerns that we need special prayer for.  Tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, we and our teammates, the Christies, will be having our first monthly prayer meeting for the outreach in Merignac.

The Bordeaux churches (three of them) are preparing for a church retreat during the fall vacation period.   It will be held Nov. 1-3.   Each church has responsibilities related to meals, children’s ministry, group activities, etc.  We are responsible for the children’s ministry and are working with our church choir to prepare at least one song to present as special music. 

Praise for:

- God’s blessing on Josiah’s life as he celebrated his 3^rd Birthday October 12. 

- further contacts the Lord is giving us through sports and school, including accompanying Caleb’s class on an all-day field trip.

with Bixbys, Anna Wivell and the Rosenaus

- first time visitors in church Sunday with a 4 year old son, for contact with a Central African family in the area, and for the work God is doing in some unsaved hearts at church.

- the opportunity Jonathan had Sunday to preach at the monthly English service in our sister church in Pessac, another suburb of Bordeaux.

- a special time of fellowship with our BMM administrator and his wife (Vernon and Jan Rosenau) as they were in our home earlier this month.

- the new temporary residency cards that we received, and the word that our 10 year cards are moving forward in the process and should be ready soon.

Pray for:

- the Ladies’ Bible study that begins this evening, for Cherith and the ladies that will be participating.

- the Lord’s guidance and blessing as we begin regular prayer meetings emphasizing the outreach and prospective church plant in Merignac.

- our ongoing preparations for preaching, Bible studies, Children’s ministry and English classes.

- good participation from each of the three Bordeaux churches at the Annual retreat coming up the first of November.

- guidance in our witness to the contacts the Lord is giving us, especially to our neighbor whose mother just passed away last week.

- God’s protection for our children, and for His help for us as we strive to raise them to love and obey the Lord.

Praise and Prayer October 1, 2012

September was an extremely busy month for our family.  As we look back over the month we are so thankful for God’s provision of help and strength.  A highlight of the month was the two-week visit of my Aunt Mary Lee Teachout from September 13 to 26.  We tried to introduce her to as many aspects of our life and ministry here in France as possible.  She shared her testimony in church one Sunday and even gave a special lesson to our children’s church with the help of two puppets.  She jumped right in and helped us in so many areas around the house as well.  The kids enjoyed many special times with her as well.

The kickoff of the school year has gone well and we are enjoying many more contacts in our community than we had before.  We have had some good contacts through the sports clubs that Adrianna, Caleb and I have joined.  The kids continue to integrate into the new school they are enrolled in and have enjoyed making new friends.  Last week Adrianna brought home two invitations to Birthday parties.  Cherith had a good opportunity to meet several other parents at the party she took Adrianna to last Saturday.  We have prayed for these opportunities and the Lord is giving us many of them.

My regular meeting with Pastor Christian on Wednesday evenings has been a source of ongoing blessing as we share and pray for the individuals and ministries of the church.  The Lord has been working in hearts and we are seeing fruit.  Several who have recently begun to attend are considering joining the church, and one young lady did join this month.  I have continued to lead the adult Bible study Sunday mornings.  The monthly ladies meeting will begin October 16 with Cherith leading the Bible study.

Praise for: 

- the help (and health and strength) God has given us this month and the many new contacts that He is giving us.  

- the Lord’s help for our children in adapting to French school again, new teachers and in making friends.

- safe travels for my Aunt Mary Lee and for the effect of her visit not only on our family but also on our church and in our neighborhood.

- a good English Encounter last Sunday with 16 present.

- a good start for a church choir, and for the desire many have to use their voices to praise the Lord.

- the pastors’ prayer meeting that we hosted this last weekend.

Pray for: 

- God to bless and guide in the contacts that we are having through school and neighborhood sports.

- Cherith as she prepares for the Ladies’ Bible study and for good participation by ladies of all ages in the church.

- Jonathan as he prepares Bible studies and messages for these next few weeks.

- us to see more children attending Sunday school consistently and for others in the church to catch the burden for this vital ministry.

- the Christys who are back now from their home ministry tour this summer in the USA and getting back into their ministries here in France.  Pray for wisdom as we plan and strategize for our Merignac outreach. 

- Mr. and Mrs. C. with failing health and increasing weakness, and for God to use us in ministering to them in this challenging stage of life.