Praise and Prayer for January 24, 2011

We consider it a great privilege to be serving the Lord in helping to build His church here in Reims, France. While some aspects of our ministry take us outside our comfort zone, we can certainly testify to God’s faithful provision of strength, courage and His all-sufficient grace to accomplish the tasks that He gives us to do. His love and patience with us as we continue to learn and grow in our own walk with Him is ever humbling.

Our week was full and God’s blessings and answers to prayer were many. Prayer meeting Tuesday evening went well with a good group out to take part in the Bible study. As parents we were encouraged by our daughter’s growth and interest in spiritual matters. Her weekly ice skating lessons offered an extra hour on Wednesday morning for learning the music for the skating numbers. This created a dilemma since prayer meeting the evening before puts us home too late for her to make an early morning event the following day. Up until now (although normally the only child in prayer meeting), she has gone as often as we let her, when we felt she wasn’t too tired. Since we knew she couldn’t handle both prayer meeting and early ice skating, we let Adrianna choose which one she would like to attend: prayer meeting or extra ice skating lessons (with her friends). We were please when her response came without hesitation that she wanted to go to prayer meeting. So she was part of the number present Tuesday evening. The importance of the choice she had made became more evident when we saw another father arrive with his young daughter for the first time with the thought that Adrianna might be there as well.

On Thursday, I visited a community hall with the pastor to check it out for a possible location for a June concert by BJU’s Musical Mission Team. We’ll be checking out another hall tomorrow. The English Encounter went well Thursday evening and the level of questions and discussion encouraged us during the Bible study. The Lord brought some new visitors to church on Sunday, and there were 9 present in the older Sunday school class. Three of our SS kids, including two four year-olds, recited their first verses in the Memory verse challenge, and did so without error. A young lady taught the younger Sunday school class, the first time as the teacher, with Cherith helping this time. We all praised the Lord for a good class and a good experience for M. She did a great job of preparing and teaching, and we are encouraged to see God’s preparing and providing another needed teacher. One of the deacons preached for the second time in the morning service and gave a challenging message. We were blessed with the visit of our dear friend, Paul Stetson, in church, and then in our home for a brief visit.

Praise for:

- a good prayer meeting, and for the Lord’s help for Jonathan as he led.

- Adrianna’s good example to others in her interest in spiritual matters.

- another good EE on Thursday with especially good discussion during the Bible study.

- the good start of the Memory verse challenge by three of the children, including one whose mom had said before that her son couldn’t learn verses like Caleb.

- good progress on correspondence this week.

Pray for:

- continued good attendance in Sunday school, that some who haven’t been coming would come back.

- church members who are taking a more active role in ministry.

- good progress on reports this week.

- kids in Sunday school to get excited about learning Bible verses and that God’s Word would be learned and applied to hearts.

- peace and order to continue in the Central African Republic as the first round of presidential and legislative elections was held yesterday.

- direction for our future as the Lord guides us step by step.

Praise and Prayer for January 17, 2011

As we were preparing to write this update, something struck our attention. This marks the 100^th post to this blog since the first one we wrote on September 30, 2008. God’s goodness and faithfulness has been evident to us throughout this time and for that we praise Him. We also wish to thank you, our readers and prayer partners in this ministry, for your prayers. We are more and more convinced that the prayers of God’s people, without which our labors could hardly bare fruit, must undergird our ministry.

This week included an extended meeting for the pastor and Jonathan to discuss deacons’ ministry responsibilities both for last year and for the new year when the new deacons will be voted and appointed at the annual business meeting on January 30. On Saturday evening, the church counsel met to go over nominations and prepare for the annual meeting. Cherith accompanied Adrianna’s class to the gym for PE on Thursday and Caleb’s class to the circus on Friday. On Thursday evening, we had English Encounter in our home with five people present. We were both scheduled to teach Sunday school on Sunday, so each had some preparation to do for that.

During the week, we prepared for a Memory Verse challenge, which we presented to the kids on Sunday morning. A ladies group in one of our supporting churches helped us to prepare verse cards on rings for three levels. On Sunday, we began the challenge for level one and level two. Each child who learns all of the verses in his packet by the middle of May will receive a Bible story book (level one) or a Bible (level two). This is not part of the church budget, so it is a bit of a personal project, and we will personally reward the children that earn their Bibles. If anyone would like to help us with this expense, we would welcome your partnership in this endeavor. We are praying that this push toward memorizing scripture will be well received and that this good habit will continue!

Praise for:

- the record attendance (for this school year) in our Sango service a week ago Sunday with 17 present.

- God’s provision of sufficient strength this past week as we struggled with colds and some flu symptoms.

- the good EE on Thursday with good participation in the Bible study from each one.

- eight in the older Sunday School class on Sunday, four of which have not come in a long time. The children are pushing parents to bring them to church because THEY want to come!

- some good progress in reports and correspondence this week.

Pray for:

- Jonathan as he leads the Bible study and prayer meeting Tuesday evening.

- continued healing for Cherith, Josiah and Jonathan.

- the English Encounter outreach again this Thursday evening.

- more good progress on reports this week, including three financial, three annual ministry evaluations, and the list goes on.

- visitation and encouragement of two individuals in the church family who lost loved ones in automobile accidents last week.

- direction for our future as the Lord guides us step by step.

Praise and Prayer for January 10, 2011

We returned from our two weeks in Cambodia just before the New Year got under way. Tired and jetlagged, we were dragging by the time we pulled into the parking lot behind our apartment building. But no matter how tired our bodies were our hearts were full of praise and gratitude to the One whose care and protection had taken us safely to and from Koh Kong, Cambodia. He had given us many blessings along the way. Some of God’s greatest blessings from our trip are the memories that we brought back with us of the special time with Grandma and Grandpa Broeckert and the people that we met in Cambodia. God truly blessed our time there, and while we tried to adjust to the great increase in temperature and climate from what we were accustomed to in France, we soon found that the warmth in the hearts of the Cambodians was even more evident than the warmth in the air.

After returning, one of the projects that we worked on as a family was putting together a scrapbook of the trip for the kids to take to share with their friends and teachers at school. The scrapbook continues to be shared with friends and neighbors, telling of our visit to grandparents living in far off Cambodia to tell of the Savior who came.

On Thursday of this past week our electricity and heat were out for much of the day after a loud boom sounded from behind our building at 6:30 a.m. Several large transformers around our neighborhood had blown and had to be replaced. We had to postpone the English Encounter for that evening until this Thursday. However some participants do have previous engagements this Thursday. On Friday we were shocked when an upstairs neighbor shared with us that her husband had died that night in the hospital after a brief hospitalization. Last year, after two and a half years of friendly contact, we had shared a plate of goodies with them along with a Scripture calendar and Christmas tract. They made it clear that Mr. D. was an atheist and that they were not interested in our “beliefs”. It took many months for the cold shoulder to give way to a bit of neighborly kindness once again. We were saddened to hear of Mr. D.’s passing and pray that Mrs. D.’s heart will be softened toward the Gospel.

Praise for:
- God’s help for Jonathan as he preached Sunday in the French and Sango services.
- the special time with Cherith’s parents in Cambodia over the Christmas holiday.
- God’s blessing as Jonathan preached and Cherith shared with the Ladies’ Sunday School class on our first Sunday in Cambodia.
- the healing that the Lord has given to our children after bouts with sickness both in Cambodia and back home in Reims.

Pray for:
- Mrs. D. and for other neighbors who need Christ and for opportunities to witness.
- the English Encounter outreach Thursday evening.
- good health as this region of France is currently a red zone for occurrences of the stomach flu.
- good progress on reports and correspondence this week.
- the church counsel meeting Saturday evening and the annual business meeting of our church coming up on January 30.
- direction for our future as the Lord guides us step by step.

Praise and Prayer for December 13, 2010

Warm wishes to your house from ours for a blessed Christmas and New Year. Thank you for your prayers for us. The Lord blessed the Bible study on Tuesday. We thank the Lord for safety as Reims (and much of France) was hit with a snowstorm Wednesday and Thursday, the worst they have seen in many, many years. One of the high school seniors in our church who lives out of town spent Wednesday night and Thursday with us as her train home (and all public transportation) was out of circulation. Her parents were happy that the roads allowed them to get into town Thursday afternoon to pick her up. Cherith surprised me with a surprise 40th Birthday party on Friday evening and we were joined by a number of friends from church.

In Sunday School we had 22 children present (including babies) for a special program with a film (L’enfant de la Mansarde/The child from the Attic). Some of the children had not been in Sunday School at all this school year. We were surprised and encouraged at how well the children sat and listened carefully and did well answering questions afterward. The Christmas program was Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. with a very full church. The Lord blessed in so many ways as many people took part. There were several first-time visitors present who heard the Gospel clearly presented in a variety of ways. The choir did a great job with the two songs they had prepared. Adrianna and Caleb did very well with their duet. It was the first time for me to speak for the Christmas program here, and I was so thankful for the Lord’s help. Several comments afterward encouraged me that the message was clear and appreciated. We pray that there will be eternal fruit.

Lord willing, we will be flying out of Paris tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. heading to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The trip will take more than 27 hours from our front door until we are met by Cherith’s parents at the PP airport. We are all looking forward to celebrating our first Christmas together with Grandma and Grandpa Broeckert since 2006! Thank you for praying for our health and safety, and that the Lord will use us to encourage and bless those we will be with. We look forward to the opportunities that we will have to minister: Cherith teaching a ladies’ SS class, me preaching, giving some help with music, etc. We plan to return to Reims December 29 and will try to get an update written soon after that. May God bless your Christmas season as you celebrate the greatest Gift of all, Jesus Christ, the Savior.

Praise for:
- God’s help for Jonathan as he led the Bible study Tuesday and spoke for the Christmas program. Praise for good attendance.
- the help and strength God gave us with all of our responsibilities for Sunday’s program in the morning and afternoon.
- God’s blessings so evident throughout the Christmas program and for the visitors that were present.
- safety throughout the snowstorm that hit Reims.

Pray for:
- those who have heard or will hear the Gospel this Christmas season to open their hearts to receive God’s gift of salvation.
- many around us whose hearts are cold to the Gospel.
- our trip to Cambodia and our time there with Cherith’s parents and the people they are working with. Pray for the ministry that we will have there.
- the family of Mr. Earl Dannenberg (formerly in the CAR and missions professor at FBBC) who was promoted to Heaven on December 9. Son John and his wife are currently serving in the CAR.

Praise and Prayer for December 6, 2010

The Holiday season is here with all the color, the glitter and the lights shining above the streets, in the stores and from the windows and porches of homes and apartments across the city of Reims. Reminders of the Reason for the Season can be seen everywhere if people have heard and take time to remember. Angels and stars help us remember the announcements God gave to Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men of old when “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. How many people in Reims will see these symbols of the God’s Gift to a lost world and miss the meaning because they have never given a second thought to the greatest Gift of all. Our prayer is that here and around the world, hearts would be opened to hearing and receiving this Gift, and that believers would be faithful to share the news this Christmas season and in whatever time that remains before our Lord’s return.

Since we moved to Reims in the Spring of 2007, the winters have seen very little snow. This past week has given us our fill of snow and slippery roads, and we were happy to see the last of the snow disappear today. The Lord has given safety on the roads. There were six at our English Encounter on Thursday evening. The church counsel met Saturday evening and had a profitable time working together and planning. On Sunday, the choir met early for practice and presented one of the songs they have been working on in the morning service. There was a good group out for Sunday school, though there was a bit of distraction from kids whose attendance has been very irregular. The GBS (Sango group) met Sunday evening for a special Christmas Bible study and celebration. Cherith had prepared quiche and goodies to pass that everyone enjoyed. There were 12 of us present including children. The church has its Christmas program this Sunday (December 12) and many will be participating through song, skit and Scripture. I have the special privilege and challenge of giving the message this time. We are praying that there will be visitors who will come with open hearts. I will also be speaking at prayer meeting tomorrow evening (Tuesday).

Praise for:
- the Reason for the Season and the blessing of celebrating CHRISTmas.
- God’s protection over slippery roads this past week.
- the meetings and outreaches that we were involved in last week.
- the good health the Lord has given us, though Josiah has a runny nose.

Pray for:
- extra opportunities this Christmas season to share the Good News with those around us.
- the Christmas program at church this Sunday afternoon, for each one participating and for the visitors.
- me as I lead the Bible Study Tuesday evening and speak for the Christmas program Sunday.
- preparations for our trip to Cambodia to visit Cherith’s parents (Hubert and Dr. Mary Broeckert) December 14-28. We are excited about some of the opportunities we will have to minister to the church there as Cherith will be teaching the ladies’ Sunday school class and I will be preaching on one of the two Sundays we are there.

Praise and Prayer for November 29, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving (belated)! Although Thanksgiving is not a French holiday, we were determined to celebrate it as a family and to share its meaning with those around us.We were encouraged to have 24 present for Tuesday night Bible study where we considered the response God expects from us for His blessings even in our times of difficulty. It’s amazing how when you begin to “count your blessings” it does “surprise you what the Lord hath done!” Among the blessings God has given us is a host of family and friends who pray for us and give to our ministry to make it possible for us to be here where God has called us serving Him as He guides and provides. We thank Him and we thank YOU for your part in our lives and in our ministry.

Along with unexpected joys and trials each week, each day even, come opportunities. There were several opportunities this past week to pray and offer counsel to those with special needs. How we need God’s wisdom and grace to give the right words at the right times to those in need of hearing them! Thank you for praying for the A.E.E. (Child Evangelism Fellowship in France) seminar on Saturday. Two A.E.E. volunteers came and were with us the whole day to offer teaching and counsel for working with children in ministry. There were 16 participants, including one from a sister church. The seminar given was excellent and our people came away motivated, excited about the opportunities to work with children. On Sunday, one lady shared that she was eager for her turn to teach again and could hardly wait to minister to them again and put into practice the things she had learned. We marvel at God’s leading and how He is raising up willing workers within the church who are ably taking responsibility in this ministry.

On Sunday, five of our Sunday School kids from 4 years old to 11 had a special part in the worship service as they quoted the books of the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi in front of the congregation. It was an encouragement to those listening to follow the example of these children and learn the books of the Bible. The Lord’s leading was evident as the Pastor’s message continued with the theme of the importance of children in the Bible. On Sunday afternoon, we had seven adults from church over for our Thanksgiving dinner. Each of them has family in the USA so they had a previous connection to this celebration. Although we missed our own families, the Lord gave us a precious time of fellowship with our family in Christ. Yes, we did feast on a very American Thanksgiving dinner with all of its trimmings, thanks to the many hours Cherith spent in the kitchen on Saturday while I was at the seminar.

Praise for:
- our Savior, our family, our friends, our home and our food.
- for the good group out and God’s blessing in leading the Tuesday Bible study.
- the ways God blessed the A.E.E. seminar on Saturday and the good participation.
- the five kids who got up Sunday and said the books of the O.T.

Pray for:
- continued growth of new believers.
- the good attendance in our services to continue.
- for those who took the A.E.E. seminar to be able to apply the things that they learned, and that God will bless the children’s ministries at our church.
- the Lord’s direction as we prepare for opportunities to speak in December.

Praise and Prayer for November 22, 2010

As the days seem to fly by, we are reminded that the coming of our Lord draws nearer and that the time we have to give to Him is limited. We recognize our own limitations and that we couldn’t handle more hours in a day (He knew best), but sometimes we just wish time wasn’t so fleeting. Thank you for praying for us this past week. Good progress was made on our reports and we’ve mostly recovered from the time we lost when we were sick. There are ongoing preparations for upcoming ministry opportunities, including Bible studies, the Christmas program, and speaking opportunities for both Cherith and me to minister in Cambodia when we are there over Christmas.

On Wednesday, we were invited to the home of one of the young ladies in our church. She had invited another young lady that is here as a student, and we enjoyed the good fellowship as well as a delicious genuine Japanese dinner – fill and wrap your own sushi with a dozen options for fillings. I accompanied Adrianna’s class to their gym session (the gym is at another school down the street) Thursday afternoon. That evening we had our second English Encounter. Attendance doubled and there were 8 present this time. One lady even brought a colleague from work who seemed to be attentive to the Bible study and indicated that she would be back next time. Cherith worked hard to prepare two beautiful picture collages to hang up at church, one on the Jesus Film outreach and one on the Ladies Outreach. On Sunday, we were happy to see that they were well-received and bringing encouragement to several people.

Praise for:
- good progress on reports this week, as well as the preparation of the picture collages for church.
- good attendance in church (both prayer meeting and Sunday service) and for a good choir practice.
- three more kids saying the books of the Old Testament this Sunday (including four year old Caleb).
- the opportunity the kids and I had to spoil Cherith as we celebrated her Birthday Saturday. I praise God for such a wonderful help meet in life and in ministry.

Pray for:
- me as I lead the Bible study Tuesday evening (on Thankfulness).
- the A.E.E. (Child Evangelism Fellowship) seminar all day Saturday with those who have signed up.
- the Lord’s direction as we prepare for opportunities to speak in December.