Pray for the Christmas Cantata Outreach

The Christmas season is upon us bringing extra opportunities for outreach.  We have been inviting friends and neighbors to the evangelistic Christmas outreach that people from four sister churches in Bordeaux have been working on since September: the Cantata “The Lost Star”.  The children’s choir, made up of 14 children from three of the churches, has also been preparing a couple songs to sing.  Last Tuesday, a team from our church began hand-delivering invitations to mailboxes in Saint Medard.

On Friday evening, we had a record attendance for our English club outreach, including a guest brought by one of the girls.  That was the first time someone has brought a friend that we had not invited.  We were also encouraged that the two boys from a Jewish home that have now been to three of our meetings brought filled-out registration forms, indicating they want to keep coming.  As we continue through Jesus’ parables, the kids are hearing the Gospel, and we pray that its truth would penetrate their hearts and they would believe it.  The club also gave us good opportunities to invite the families to the Christmas Cantata/Concert that we have been preparing.

Following the English club, we had the dress rehearsal for the Cantata at 8:15 p.m. in Pessac, complete with the play that is interspersed with the songs.  

The next evening was our first presentation of the Cantata at the Pessac church.  God helped everyone do well, including the kids.  

The three actors did very well with the play, which gives the Gospel very clearly as it tells the story of Christmas with emphasis on the Cross.

Another answer to prayer was the very full room, without any spare seats.  More than 100 people were present.  In fact small kids were on laps, and some of those from the church stood in the hall.  

We were encouraged to see among those present the family of one of Caleb’s friends from school who has other engagements this weekend when we have the Cantata here in Saint Medard.  This was the first church event they have come to, and drove a distance to be there.

Adrianna and Caleb sang one of the children’s choir numbers as a duet Sunday morning, “Thou whom shepherds worshipped” in French.

Praise for:

- God’s working Saturday to fill the church at Pessac for the Cantata, including many unsaved people.

- God’s blessing of the effort, organization and teamwork going into the Cantata, including director, pianist, children, singers and actors from four different churches.

- the 1000-plus flyers that have been shared and distributed here in Saint Medard (2500 total by the four churches) inviting people to the Christmas Cantata outreach.

- the good attendance at our last couple English club outreaches, including the new visitor at the last one.

Pray for:

- God’s provision of health and strength for each person involved in the Cantata as we present it three more times this weekend.

- all who attend the Cantata, for believers to be strengthened in their faith and for unbelievers to come to Christ.

- God’s guidance in the extra opportunities He gives us to witness during this Christmas season.

- God’s working in the hearts of the children that are coming to our English club outreach.

- the remaining sessions of the evangelistic Bible study we are doing Sunday mornings with our church people, and for plans being made for a special outreach in the New Year.  Pray as church members will be inviting unsaved friends.