Praise and Prayer for April 17, 2009

The Easter morning brunch at church was well attended. There were 112 people counted including a number of visitors. It was uncomfortably crowded in our small meeting room, reminding us of the urgency in finding a new building in which to meet. A number of groups presented either a song or a skit during the morning, and we had the children from S.S. sing a couple songs that they have been working on. A young Chinese man, who was recently saved, gave a clear salvation testimony and was baptized. It was encouraging to see many Central Africans among those visiting. Pray that those who were unsaved might reflect on what they saw and heard Sunday morning relating to Christ’s death and resurrection, and that those who do not normally attend church would want to come back, despite the lack of space.

Tomorrow, Jonathan will be meeting Pastor and Mrs. Ken Young at the airport in Paris. Sunday will be a full day, as Pastor will be preaching with the help of a translator in both the French and Sango services. Monday morning we will make the five-hour drive down to St. Albain where our team conference will be held and the Youngs will be ministering to both the adults and the teens. Thursday morning the conference finishes up and we will return to Reims. Thank you for your prayers concerning the conference as well as safe travel to the airport and to the conference.

Praise for:
- the Easter breakfast on Sunday and for the visitors who came.
- the salvation, baptism and testimony of the young Chinese man.
- Elva Farrell’s recovery as she is home and doing well.

Pray for:
- Sunday’s ministries and good attendance in each of the services.
- the Field Conference and for the Youngs’ ministry among us.
- safety as we will be travelling nearly 1,000 miles this week.
- good health for each of us, as we struggle with coughs and sinus infections.
- the shipping of the Sango hymnal to CAR – so far there is no shipping container space available!

Praise and Prayer for April 10, 2009

Although the Sunday morning service started with many people still absent, the number present swelled to 94, including the most children that we have ever had present for our Sunday school ministry since we arrived two years ago. There were 20 children in classes plus three babies present. There were several first time visitors, including some Central Africans that are connected to one of the other families that attends. Our theme was Christ’s death for sin and resurrection, so it was great to have visitors for that lesson especially. We said goodbye to a family that has been very active in the church for several years, including their two children who have been regulars in Sunday School. They moved this week to the south of France due to work.

The Easter season gives special opportunities to remind people what the real celebration is. This week, Jonathan was able to join E. and R. for tract distribution in mailboxes door to door. We had a few personal contacts. Pray that the 600 tracts will be read and that people will come to Christ through this outreach. On Sunday, our church will celebrate Christ’s resurrection with a special Easter Brunch and program. Included in the program this year will be song presentations by our choir, the Sango group, the Sunday school children, and Adrianna and Caleb. We anticipate a full program and a full building so appreciate your prayers that God will use this special celebration to bring people to Himself.

Praise for:
- for a Savior Who lives! He is risen!
- good attendance Sunday with many visitors, who heard the Gospel.
- safety in travel and for good classes at Algrange.

Pray for:
- Elva Farrell in the hospital since Tuesday, recovering now from surgery.
- preparations for Field Conference and for the Youngs’ ministry among us.
- the shipping of the Sango hymnal to CAR – so far there is no shipping container space available!

Praise and Prayer for April 3, 2009

Praise the Lord for the good participation and fellowship at the Soirée Crêpe on Saturday evening. Sunday was a busy day, but God blessed in the services as Jonathan preached both in the morning French service as well as in the afternoon Sango service. Cherith was home with a sinus infection and kept Caleb home in the morning and both kids home in the afternoon, but we were glad for all those who came out for services. We recognized all of the children that have been coming to Sunday school in the morning service and publically thanked the teachers…and the parents for bringing the children! Mike and Emily (Farrells’ daughter) were also home sick, but it was good to have Elva back in church after their US trip.

Our Annual French Field Conference is coming up April 20 – 23 and will be held about five hours from Reims. Pray for us as we organize the music for the conference as well as prepare our ministry report. We are thrilled this year to have as our guest speaker, Pastor Ken and Rose Young, our dear friends and the pastor of Wealthy Park Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, MI. Please pray for their preparations and for travelling mercies, as they will be adjusting to jet lag while jumping into action the day after they arrive.

Praise for:
- God’s help for Jonathan as he preached on Sunday and for our Algrange trip and ministry on Wednesday.
- healing for Caleb, Mike, and Cherith.
- the encouraging visit of our good friend Marc, who is staying with us until Tuesday.
- the arrival of the first copies of the newly printed Sango hymnal “Bia ti Sepala Nzapa” this week.

Pray for:
- Adrianna as she had to stay home from school and the School parade today because of a fever and upset stomach.
- time to complete some necessary correspondence and reports.
- the details to be worked out for the shipping of the Sango hymnal to CAR.

Praise and Prayer for March 27, 2009

The Scrapbooking outreach on Saturday went very well. There were two unsaved guests who came, and Cherith had the opportunity to share the Gospel. The ladies were eager to meet again, so Lord willing, we will continue this outreach in the months to come. Thank you for praying that the Lord will use this to draw believers together and unbelievers to Himself.

Wednesday, Jonathan made the trip to the Institute alone as Cherith has been battling a flu and head cold. He had a productive afternoon with the students though he missed his helpmeet. Thursday, Jonathan drove to the Paris airport to meet the Farrells as they returned from the USA. Pray for Mike, who was sick with the flu during the trip, to recover quickly. Also, Caleb has had more trouble with his asthma this week and needs prayer.

Jonathan will be preaching twice on Sunday, once in French and once in Sango. Pray that the Lord will help him to communicate clearly and that the Holy Spirit will speak to the hearts of those present.

Praise for:
- the Scrapbooking outreach and for those who heard the Gospel.
- the safe return of the Farrell family, our co-workers.
- safety on the road for Jonathan as he traveled to the Institute and to the Paris airport.

Pray for:
- the all church crepe social this Saturday evening.
- the Lord to bless His Word as Jonathan preaches this Sunday.
- good health for Caleb, Cherith and Mike Farrell.
- our financial needs with the weak dollar and our low support level.

Praise and Prayer for March 20, 2009

Thank you for praying for us this week. On Sunday we had very good attendance in church and were thankful for the 16 children in our three Sunday school classes. Three members taught the classes this week, which was a joy to see and a great answer to prayer. This enabled both of us to be downstairs as Jonathan preached in the French service. Praise God with us, as there were a number of people who said they had been challenged by the preaching of the Word.

Please pray for the Scrapbooking outreach that Cherith will be having with some ladies in our church this Saturday morning. We are anticipating some unsaved guests. Pray for Cherith as she gives a devotional and presents the Gospel during the time together. Pray for clear communication and an encouraging time together.

Praise for:
- good attendance in Sunday School, choir practice, as well as both the French and Sango services.
- a new family that visited the Sango service on Sunday.
- another opportunity we had this week to build relationships further with the family of one of Adrianna’s girlfriends from school.

Pray for:
- the Scrapbooking outreach Saturday morning, March 21st.
- safety for the Farrell family, our co-workers, who will be taking the plane back to Reims this coming Wednesday.
- the spiritual needs and future contact we will have with the Central African family who we met last Sunday.

Praise and Prayer for March 13, 2009

We praise the Lord for sending better health to our household. Several regulars were absent for the Sunday service, but the Lord brought us quite a few visitors, including some that have recently moved to Reims. We had record attendance in Sunday school with 16 children in our three classes. This was actually the first time we have run out of little chairs and were one short. Praise the Lord for providing two members to teach two of the classes. Choir practice was not very well attended. The Lord blessed as Jonathan gave the Bible study Tuesday evening, and there was some good interaction as we studied three of the Names of God. Our trip to Algrange on Wednesday this week was blessed with sunshine and dry roads for the first time in several weeks. There was excellent participation and effort from the students and good progress was made with the three vocal groups.

We’d appreciate special prayers during this time for Jonathan’s family as this week marks one year since his Dad went to be with the Lord. Yesterday was also his Birthday, and Jonathan posted some memories of his Dad on a blog dedicated to his memory (donteachoutsr.blogspot.com) where all are invited to participate.

Praise for:
- giving Cherith some good opportunities to counsel and pray with a friend.
- good attendance at Sunday School and church.
- good weather for the trip and good classes on Wednesday.

Pray for:
- Jonathan as he preaches Sunday and Tuesday in the French services and for both of us as we prepare messages and devotionals.
- preparations for the Scrapbooking outreach in the morning and an all-church “Crèpe social” in the evening on March 21.
- Jonathan’s Mother as she continues to have nosebleeds and gets treatment for pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Praise and Prayer for March 6, 2009

Our flowers are blooming! These bulbs and seeds were sown last year, and with warmth, water, sunshine and the Lord’s perfect timing, they are opening and serving the purpose for which they were created. Each week as the Lord gives opportunities to sow seeds of witness, encouragement, and service, though we often can’t see the final result, we trust that with warmth, nourishment, Son-shine and the Lord’s perfect timing, these seeds will also one day blossom.

Jonathan has been working on sermon preparations, as he will be speaking in the French services and the French Tuesday night Bible Study four times this month. This is in addition to the Sango messages he will be preaching in the Sango services. Pray for quality time to study, God’s leading in what will be said and finally, for wisdom as Jonathan strives to clearly and accurately communicate in both the French and Sango languages. Please pray for strength for him, as he is still not feeling well.

Praise for:
- improved health the Lord has brought to our household.
- good attendance at the services last week, especially the Sango service.
- several members who are helping with teaching S.S. classes.
- profitable trip to the Institute and the progress made with the ensemble groups.

Pray for:
- Jonathan’s preparation for Bible studies and messages.
- an all-church “Crèpe social” March 14.
- time to accomplish reports and paperwork that need done.
- Jonathan’s Mother as she has follow-up for a heart catheterization.
- a Ladies’ Scrapbooking outreach Cherith will be hosting on March 21 and for the preparation that needs to be done beforehand.