Praise and Prayer for September 27, 2010

We thank the Lord for another week and for His care for us. On Tuesday, we picked up our new one-year residency cards at the district office downtown. After waiting for three months, we are relieved and thankful to have these cards in hand which are good through May 30 next year. With the vintage (grape harvest) in full force, our prayer meeting Tuesday night was missing several who have been very regular. However, it was encouraging to have a number of our newer people present for our time of prayer and Bible Study.

On Saturday, we made the trip across France to Caen for the wedding ceremony of Mathieu and Jennifer, two of our former students at the Bible Institute. We were thankful to arrive in time to attend the civil ceremonies at the City Hall, followed by the church wedding and reception, and finally a formal evening dinner for around 140 invited guests. Although it was a long, tiring day, we were happy to be present, in part to be able to see a number of other former students as well as a number of others who are working in this country. Most of all, we praise the Lord for this young couple and for their desire to honor the Lord in their marriage and in their lives as they serve Him in the days ahead. We felt that the Lord’s Name was honored through their strong testimonies and through the way the ceremonies and festivities were planned and carried out. Besides there being a great number of brothers and sisters in Christ there to support the couple, there were also many unsaved present to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel.

On Sunday morning, we had the privilege of attending the service in a new church plant, a daughter work of the Evangelical Baptist Church in Caen. Our trip home brought us through some hard rain and a bit of traffic around Paris, but we arrived safely in Reims about 6 p.m. We would appreciate special prayer for Cherith, who’d been fighting some cold symptoms and laryngitis before we left on the trip. She has managed to keep going, but continues to suffer. Tomorrow, we have an early morning appointment in town for Adrianna and Caleb with two administrative offices, which will take the whole morning.

Praise for:
- our new one-year residency cards that were delivered Tuesday.
- a good prayer meeting Tuesday night and for each one present.
- a safe trip to and from the wedding in Caen.
- the good example that Mathieu and Jennifer have given and for the way the Lord was honored at the wedding and in the festivities.

Pray for:
- good attendance and participation at Tuesday evening prayer meetings, especially by members.
- quickly restored health and strength for Cherith.
- the annual church business meeting this Sunday afternoon.
- ongoing preparations for the evangelistic outreach on October 17, and for the Ladies Tea October 23.
- guidance regarding our future ministry.

Praise and Prayer for September 20, 2010

Our Pastor, Emmanuel, has prepared a flyer and is having it printed for the evangelistic outreach October 17 when the “Jesus” Film will be shown. This morning, he and I visited the community hall where it will be held and found 4 huge windows without coverings as well as two skylights that will all need to be covered for the hall to be dark enough for the film. Pray for these logistics for this outreach, and others such as a large enough projection screen. There is room for 250 people. Cherith and a couple other ladies are working on plans for the Ladies Tea scheduled for October 23. This Saturday, our family will be making the trip to Caen to attend the wedding ceremonies of two of our former students from the Bible Institute (Matthieu and Jennifer). On Sunday, we look forward to attending the Evangelical Baptist Church of Caen, and seeing at least one member of our French Team, Mrs. Betty Lacey who works in the church there.

Separation from our family was perhaps more strongly felt this week as Jonathan’s Mom celebrated her 79th Birthday on Saturday and Cherith’s sister, Hadessah, celebrated her 25th. We thank our Father for His watch care over our loved ones, and that in Him we are one though there be oceans between us. Josiah had an asthma or laryngitis attack about midnight Monday night that nearly had us headed with him to emergency around 1 a.m. Praise the Lord for His intervention and for Josiah’s response to the treatment he was given. After a couple days the loud cough was gone, though he still has some of the chest congestion and a runny nose. Two of the evenings this week were taken up with meetings with the children’s schoolteachers. We took turns going to show our support and learn as much as possible about the school program that our children are taking part in. We are thankful for the good teachers the Lord has given our children, and pray the Lord will give us opportunities this year to share His love around us.

Praise for:
- good attendance Sunday, despite the beginning of the vintage - grape harvest - which gives temporary work to many people in our area and will last for at least a part of three weeks.
- God’s help for Jonathan as he prepared his message and preached Sunday morning.
- the word we received today that our new one-year residency cards are approved (word we have been waiting for since June 23!).
- healing of Josiah’s burns, and asthma symptoms early last week.
- care and protection of our parents and for the blessing and encouragement they are to us.

Pray for:
- opportunities to share God’s love with those around us this week.
- Jonathan as he leads the Bible Study Tuesday evening.
- our family travelling this weekend and that the Lord will be honored in all that is said and done in the wedding and festivities.
- healing of Josiah’s cough and congestion.
- preparations for the community hall for the evangelistic outreach on October 17, and for the Ladies Tea October 23.
- guidance regarding our future ministry.

Praise and Prayer for September 13, 2010

God continues His work in Reims. While one of our acquaint- ances gave his reason why he wasn’t interested in coming to church, other people have come. There was a good number out Sunday for the morning service, including for Sunday school where both classes had a visitor. The fellowship dinner had very good participation, and I think people went away with full hearts (and stomachs!).

On Thursday, we were once again reminded of our dependence on our Father for His protection when in a brief instant, Josiah’s lengthening reach had a hot cup of tea falling on top of him. He was burned pretty badly but we are amazed at the Lord’s protection of him and thankful for the calmness He gave us to respond quickly with cold water and aloe gel. Praise God for all the healing that has already taken place.

Praise for:
- visitors in church yesterday and for returning students and families after summer vacation.
- good attendance in Sunday School Sunday, and for two visitors.
- the good group that participated in Sunday’s fellowship dinner.
- God’s protection and healing of Josiah after his accident Thursday.
- a good meeting with the Church leaders on Saturday evening.

Pray for:
- the starting up of fall ministries, and continued preparations.
- Jonathan as he prepares messages for Sunday and Tuesday.
- continued healing for Josiah’s burns, and for protection of our children at home, at school and at play.
- good participation in preparing for an evangelistic outreach on October 17 with the showing of the film “Jesus”.
- Cherith as she and a few others prepare for a special Ladies Meeting/Tea scheduled for October 23.
- guidance regarding our future ministry.

Praise and Prayer for September 6, 2010

For prayer meeting on Tuesday evenings, Adrianna has been accom- panying either Cherith or myself each week. The other one of us usually stays home with the boys so they can get to bed before 9:30 p.m. As I led the meeting Tuesday evening, it was a joy for me to watch Adrianna interact with the others, by far the youngest in attendance. One person noted in her prayer what a huge encouragement it was for her to see Adrianna there. Praise the Lord. We had much to do last week to prepare for our meeting Friday evening with the Sunday School teachers. Among the documents we needed to have ready were a handout with reminders and instructions concerning changes, new attendance sheets for the two classes, forms for setting up the monthly program and more. Looking over the past two years, we are so thankful for all the good help the Lord has raised up from within the church for this program. We hope that it will be completely in the hands of church members within a few months, without giving any one person too heavy a burden. Thank you for your prayers for wisdom for us as we go through this process for the first time! Fifteen people, including the senior pastor and 4 children, joined us on Friday for our planning meeting and supper. The Lord blessed the evening with great fellowship and we felt the time was very profitable.

On Saturday, the church leaders drove to Chalons (about 40 minutes away) to meet with the leaders of a sister church in that city to discuss ministries and the opportunities there will be this year for joint activities. The time together was a blessing as both churches learned so much about the other one and discussed how we can be a help to one another. When evangelical Christians are so few in Europe, it is a blessing to see that God is working in other places not too far away. It is important too for youth and young adults to be able to have activities with other young people who share their faith.

Praise for:
- a good Bible Study Tuesday night with good attendance, and for the encouragement that Adrianna is to others.
- God’s help in preparation and for the profitable time together Friday with our SS teachers.
- the good meeting that the church leaders had on Saturday with the leaders from Chalons.
- the time with our Central African friends Tuesday and time Sunday with a student who just arrived in Reims.

Pray for:
- opportunities this week to witness to neighbors.
- preparations for different fall ministries that will soon be starting up.
- more families to come to church.
- the church leaders as they meet for a counsel meeting Saturday evening.
- the special fellowship dinner scheduled for next Sunday after the morning service.
- guidance regarding our future ministry.

Praise and Prayer for August 30, 2010

It feels like fall is already in the air. I don’t know if we’re ready for that just yet! We are thankful for God’s grace this week through His answers to prayer. We’re thankful for you, too, taking time to read these updates and to pray for us. The Lord gave us the opportunity this past week to discuss ministry and doctrine for several hours with an individual who had some rather strange ideas concerning the Bible. We came away fatigued emotionally but confidant that we had presented this person with the truth from God’s Word in a loving manner.

We praise the Lord that yesterday there were quite a few visitors in the morning service, including several students that have arrived for the school year. There was also a young family from out of town that is looking for a church. We hope each one found a warm and caring church family eager to welcome them. We were glad to see several people back from traveling too, though there were still several people out. A., who moved to Canada in June for further education, was back Sunday to welcome his sister who arrives this week from Africa. He returned for a couple weeks to help get her installed in Reims where she will pursue her studies. Sunday afternoon a few of the men from church (including Jonathan) helped move one of our families to their new apartment. Although it was a big job, it was obvious that there was a great job yet to be done after we left them in their new apartment.

Praise for:
- the Lord’s help in sharing truths from His Word at length with an individual.
- very good progress with reports and correspondence this week.
- healing for Caleb’s perforated ear drum, confirmed by his doctor on Friday. Also, we praise the Lord that Caleb and Josiah are both breathing much better.

Pray for:
- guidance as we pray about and seek God’s will regarding our future ministry.
- wisdom and ability to communicate clearly as we talk with people both in and outside the church about their questions concerning the Bible.
- Jonathan as he gives the Bible Study Tuesday evening at church and as he prepares to preach a week from Sunday.
- us this Friday evening as we have the Sunday School teachers over for a meal and planning session. We may have 14 besides our family.
- us to be a blessing to one of the Central Africans in our church and his Mom who is visiting, as they come for lunch tomorrow.
- C. and her family, as they go through a time of grieving following the recent death of C.’s mother.

Praise and Prayer for August 23, 2010

After weeks of sunshine and near drought conditions, God is blessing our area with refreshing rain showers. Sometimes looking out through our window and seeing the clouds and the pouring rain can dampen the spirits a bit, but how thankful we are for precious rain and the water needed to sustain life! As children of God, we need daily refreshment from “the fountain of living waters” through His Word!

We arrived home last Thursday afternoon thankful for all that the Lord did for us during our 8 day trip of more than 2500 kilometers (1553 mi.). He gave us safety through various conditions, including highway traffic jams and hard rain. The main objective of our trip was to visit two other couples working in different areas and learn of their burden and the great need for help in these areas. Our eyes were certainly opened much more to the particular needs in these areas. Jonathan had the privilege of preaching in BMM’s first church plant in Bordeaux last Sunday. As we traveled, we were also able to have either a meal or an overnight with friends in Poitiers, Terrasson and Rieux.

This past Wednesday, we were particularly in need of help when we were awakened at 3 a.m. by Josiah’s noisy, quick breathing and loud barking cough while we were staying with our friends south of Toulouse. We ended up taking him in to Emergency an hour’s drive away from where we were staying. He was treated for bronchiolitis and laryngitis and we were able to get home by 8:30 a.m. We were told that it was best we had come when we did as the condition can worsen quickly, especially in babies, and they were able to treat him right away. He and Caleb continue to struggle with coughing and congestion. Caleb seems to have caught what Josiah had, and is having his first asthma attack since March! For the long time since his last attack we are very thankful.

Praise for:
- a good trip to southern France to visit two couples and learn about two possibilities for future ministry.
- God’s help for Jonathan as he prepared and preached Aug. 15 in Bordeaux and Aug. 22 back here in Reims.
- the blessing of having some of our family from Nancy come visit us this weekend.
- the healing that God has given to Caleb’s perforated ear drum, and the protection of his hearing.
- God’s help in getting Josiah good treatment in the middle of our trip and far from home and familiar territory!
- Jonathan’s Mom and Aunt’s safe return to Grand Rapids this past week.

Pray for:
- guidance as we pray about and seek God’s will regarding our future ministry.
- good progress in work with correspondence and reports this week.
- plans and preparations for fall ministries (Sunday School, Sango outreach, English outreach, etc.).
- continued healing for Caleb’s ear and for Caleb and Josiah to get over this bout with coughing and asthmatic systems.

Praise and Prayer for August 7, 2010

On Sunday morning, we met our neighbor in the parking lot and were able to show her the way to the church. She was welcomed warmly and we were pleased that she seemed to enjoy her time with us Sunday morning. After the service she was given a tour of the church and we were able to tell her about some of the church’s ministries, including the children’s work. She complimented the level of organization as well as the number of people that were involved, happily serving the Lord, and was surprised to learn that the people serve on a volunteer basis! What a great testimony. We were more than a little bit proud of the reception she received by the church family. To top it off, she said that she would like to come back, though said it wouldn’t be every week. We would love to see her tomorrow.

We invited two of Adrianna’s school friends and their sisters over for a special tea party on Thursday. They all came (five besides Adrianna) and seemed to enjoy themselves very much. Cherith did each of the girls’ hair up fancy before they sat down to “tea” with a couple special goodies we’d made up for them to eat along with their Moroccan tea. We had some good opportunities to visit with parents when they came to pick up the kids.

We have been planning a survey trip to Bordeaux (in southwestern France) next week to learn more about a possible ministry opportunity for us in the future. On Thursday, we received a call from another couple that is serving in the Basque region of France who is also looking for help, inviting us to come and see the work they are involved in too. Lord willing, we will be visiting their work first, then traveling north to Bordeaux where we will be through next weekend. We are really looking forward to these opportunities to learn more about our hosts and the work they are/will be involved in. We also want to stop and see two families that used to be in Reims at the church here until they moved to different areas in the south.

Praise for:
- for M. coming to church and for the warmness she sensed from the people there!
- good Sunday school lesson Sunday with the six kids present, and for some good questions from one of the preteens.
- more good contacts with neighbors, and with other parents from the school after the girls tea party.
- the opportunity to make a trip next week to check out two possibilities for future ministry.
- Jonathan’s Mom and Aunt’s safe arrival in PA, and for the opportunity they had this week to travel to Lancaster to see the story of Joseph presented at Sight and Sounds.

Pray for:
- M. to return to church, and to want to know more about the Good News.
- Jonathan as he prepares and will be speaking at next Tuesday prayer meeting and on Sunday, August 22.
- our trip to Ustaritz and Bordeaux next week and for the Lord to give us wisdom and guidance as we look at these possibilities for ministry.
- guidance as to our future ministry.