Praise and Prayer December 31, 2015

Our hearts are filled with awe and delight as we contemplate once again the priceless Gift of a Savior for mankind.  Sharing homemade Christmas treats and Scripture calendars with neighbors, teachers and other friends that we have been reaching out to has again been an opportunity to share the news of the greatest Gift with others.  

God has given us some special opportunities this year, including being able to share with a few new contacts that we have made this year.  We have been encouraged by the friendly response we have had.  One couple, who had come to the Christmas cantata, indicated that they had enjoyed it very much and invited us to for coffee after the holidays. 

We received word yesterday that Cherith’s Grandma Hovingh entered her heavenly Home.  Knowing Grandma is with the Lord is a comfort, but not being near the family at this time is hard, especially for Cherith.  We are so thankful for the opportunities that we had to visit with Grandma this last summer while we were home.

This last week a new challenge surfaced at our church, which will necessitate another move as soon as the Lord makes it possible.  Without notification, we found our meeting room cut smaller, with a new wall running across the room.  The 538 sq. feet we had has been reduced to around 350 sq. feet.  

Our Sunday service on December 20, 2015

Praise the Lord that this did not come before the Cantata when we had 101 people into our meeting room.  Now we can barely fit 30 (we are averaging about 20), which leaves us very little room to grow.  This came as a surprise to everyone after moving to this location just in August.  Finding meeting places in Saint Medard (or France in general) has proven to be quite a challenge in the past.  But we are confident that this is God’s work and it is His church.  He is able to open the right door for His work to continue in this town that is finally seeing glimmers of His light after hundreds of years of darkness.

Our meeting room at prayer meeting on December 30

Praise for:

- the Good News of a Savior that we can share at Christmas and throughout the year.

- the great attendance at the Cantata presentations and for God’s hand upon all involved as His Good News was shared with many unsaved.

- the building that we have to meet in at present, and that the new wall did not go up until after the Cantata.  Praise for the knowledge God is in control and can provide for our building needs

- the life of Cherith’s Grandma whose love for the Lord and for others was evident to all.  We are personally thankful for a Grandma who was supportive to our ministry from the very beginning (our marriage).

Pray for:

- God’s working in the hearts of those who have heard the Gospel, and that He would use the Scripture calendars that have and are being shared. Pray for many opportunities to witness.

- comfort and healing for all of Grandma Hovingh’s family, and for those of us who are unable to be with the family at this time..

- our church building needs.  Pray that God will lead us and open doors for us to have a permanent place to meet that will be adequate for our needs and give space to grow.

- the God’s guidance and blessing of His church in Saint Medard in the New Year, and that His light would continue to shine brighter and brighter through His people.

Praise the Lord for answered prayer!

Thanks for praying for us this past weekend. God answered prayer for the three presentations of the Christmas Cantata/Concert Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Although there were some empty seats on Friday and Saturday, we were in awe as God filled up the tiny little auditorium of our new church plant here in Saint Medard yesterday afternoon. More than 100 people including the choir filled the 538 sq. feet.  

While some of those in attendance were from the other three churches accompanying unsaved guests of theirs, there were many from our town and the neighboring suburbs. Many of those who had assured us they would be coming did not show up, but among those who attended were two of our neighbors: a couple that we have had some good contact with and the retired school teacher that has been helping Adrianna with French on Fridays. We look forward to having more opportunities to witness to these people and pray that God will convict them of their need for His salvation.  

And though we were disappointed that others did not respond, there truly would not have been room for anyone else. We asked the Lord to fill the seats, and He did. Several people took Bibles, Scripture calendars and flyers telling of the evangelistic Bible study we will be starting in January. The choir and the actors did a great job, despite fatigue. Thank you so much for praying -- please praise the Lord with us and continue to pray for fruit!

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.

Pray for France!

Those of you reading this post already know the latest news of what has transpired in France this past weekend.  We are thankful for the safety God has given to our family and to our connections in the Paris area.  As far as we know, none of our friends or their loved ones were involved in Friday’s terrorist attacks which killed 130 people and injured more than 300 others.  We have been encouraged by so many of our contacts around the world who have posted that they are praying for the country of France as it navigates yet another tragedy. 

The increased prayer for this country was evident Saturday when three of us from our church met near the open market to give out church flyers, witness and invite people to church.  Rarely do we see someone we know on these ventures, but that morning I saw 6 different people that we know personally.  The Lord gave an excellent opportunity to witness to several of them as well as to some others who were total strangers.  Among those I already knew was a man from the rollerblading club that I participated in a couple of years ago, a mother from the kids’ school, and a neighbor from our cul de sac!  The neighbor stopped to discuss spiritual things for 40 minutes on her way back to her car!

Praise for:

- an increase in prayer for France this past weekend and for the good opportunities that God is giving, during this crucial time.

- the strangers and especially the acquaintances the Lord brought to me on Saturday that I was able to talk to about the Lord and invite to church.

- two more first time visitors to our English Club outreach.

- the details coming into place for the Christmas Cantata and play.

- the excellent multi-church retreat with good attendance, challenging messages, good fellowship and beautiful weather.  The following pictures are from the retreat this year.

Pray for:

- France as a country, and for individuals to be open to the Good News of the Gospel.   

- all of those who have heard the Gospel or have been invited to church or to Bible study. Pray for the kids that are coming to the English outreach, that the new visitors will return and that God will help these young hearts to grasp the Truth of His Word.

- the few practices that remain for the choir preparing the Christmas Cantata “The Lost Star”, and for the three people that will be delivering the message through a dramatic presentation intertwined with the songs.  Pray for those who will be invited and that God will bring the lost to hear the Gospel through this effort.

- Pray for Cherith’s Grandma Hovingh in MI who is facing some tough health problems, that the Lord would relieve her pain and give His strength.

Praise and Prayer October 29, 2015

43 people entered eternity on the morning of October 23 when a full bus struck a jackknifed tractor-trailer in the middle of the two-lane highway in the worst highway accident in France since 1982.  Since the accident was inside our region (the Gironde), survivors were evacuated to a Bordeaux hospital for treatment.  The accident, which shook the country, is a wake up call for unbelievers and believers.  Are we ready to face God?  Are we living and working to let others know about our Savior?  How many will go into a Christless eternity without our having tried to reach them with the Gospel?  May God move in our hearts to motivate us to never lose sight of eternity – our own and our neighbors’. 

Praise for:

- the good opportunities to share the Gospel through the English outreach and for the interest of some new families.

- several visitors that have come to church.

- the burden for the lost that God has given to many of those in our church and for the opportunities to witness that He is giving to many.

- the church flyers that have been distributed.  Praise for the help of friends that are in France for a year of language study in preparation for service in Cameroon.

- the good progress preparing for the Christmas cantata outreach, including the children who will be participating in the children choir.

- the good practices for the Christmas cantata so far, with fairly good attendance.

Pray for:

- good opportunities to share the Gospel with T. and his family, as well as with neighbor Mrs. S.   

- the multi-church retreat this weekend (October 30 to November 1) with over 100 attendees.  Cherith, Adrianna and Pastor Christian’s daughter Lydia have spent many hours in the kitchen preparing desserts for the retreat. Pray for decisions to be made by believers and unbelievers as they hear and see the Gospel at work.

- the evangelistic Bible study that we are doing with our church people.

- the preparation of the Christmas Cantata “The Lost Star”, including working out logistics for the presentations, seating, flyer invitations, etc.

- God to use the recent tragedy in France to impress on each heart the shortness of this life and the truth of eternity, either with God or separated from Him.

Praise and Prayer October 6, 2015

Thank you for praying for us.  God has answered prayer in a number of ways and we want to share with you some of His answers. 

Concerning my health, the pain in my stomach diminished until it is now gone.  The doctor was unable to determine the cause for the attack that I had and the elevated numbers in my blood.  The last blood test last week indicated that the numbers are almost back to normal. 

Our atheist friend T and his family continue to need prayer.  God has given us a number of good opportunities to share with this family.  He is in the hospital now to begin a new treatment of chemotherapy, and hopes that the cancer will respond to the new treatment.  Please pray that God will continue to work in his heart, as well as the hearts of his wife and sons.  Last Saturday evening, we were invited to have supper with the family.  A.’s Mom asked me to pray before the meal and A. said that we had sung a song too (“God is good to me”, in French).  So she asked us to sing the song as well before prayer.  This family has been through so much and needs the Lord so desperately. 

We had the joy of having a visitor with us for several days last week.  Our Dutch friend, Hennie, from Pennsylvania came to Bordeaux for her work and was able to spend time with us in the evenings, as well as attend our Sunday services, fellowship dinner and prayer meeting.  What a privilege and encouragement to have one of our faithful ministry partners in our home.

Praise the Lord for the four kids that attended our first English Connection last Friday evening, one of them for the very first time. The theme for our Bible stories this year is the Parables of Jesus, and the first lesson was on the Sower and the Seed. Pray that God will prepare the soil of these kids' hearts to receive His Word! Pray too that He will help our teammates and us to reach more children and families this year through this outreach.

Praise for:

- the opportunities to share the Gospel that He has given us.

- the restored health that the Lord has given to me, and that nothing serious was discovered.

- the encouraging visit from one of our ministry partners.

- the four kids at the first English Connection outreach, one for the first time.

- the good practices for the Christmas cantata so far, with fairly good attendance.

- a blessed time together with the other pastors who were here in our home Saturday for the monthly pastors’ prayer breakfast and Bible study.

Pray for:

- T and his family’s salvation. Pray for God to guide our words and actions and that His light would shine through us.   

- the English Connection outreach, for good attendance and for God’s help for us to prepare, host and teach.

- our own study and preparation of lessons and messages for our church ministries.

- a special 7-week evangelistic Bible study that we will be starting at church for our own people beginning October 18.

- preparations for the Christmas cantata.  Pray for plans for a children’s choir to be able to participate in the cantata this year.  We have been asked to lead it.

- the Central African Republic which is going through more unrest and insecurity with fighting and demonstrating in the capitol city, Bangui.  Pray for God’s people and for those that do not know Him to turn from their wicked ways to Him.

Update September 17, 2015

Thank you for your prayers for us over these past several weeks.  We are thankful for the opportunity that we had this summer to be back in the USA for a mini-furlough and time of home ministry.  It was good to see many of our family and friends as well as a good number of our faithful ministry partners.  Since it was for such a short time, we weren’t able to get to see everyone we would have liked to see, so we plan to repeat the trip in two years and hope to continue connecting with more of our partners.  The Lord answered prayer for safety and gave grace to our three children and ourselves as we drove over 8,000 miles to see churches and individuals in MI, OH, PA and NY.  

On August 27, we said tearful goodbyes to members of our families in Grand Rapids and boarded the plane to return to Bordeaux.

Upon our return, as our ministries picked back up our children also began their new school year.  As we reconnect with people around us, God is giving us opportunities to shine His light where it is so lacking but desperately needed.  Here, our church plant moved to a new location at the end of August where we have better parking and bus-line access. 

I have been going through some difficulties related to my health during the past couple of weeks.  It began with pain in my stomach on September 5, which worsened as the day and night wore on.  By midnight, the pain had become almost unbearable in any position and lead to my fainting on the floor in the hallway.  Cherith called the number for the emergency doctor who came to the house.  His exam included an EKG and he didn’t feel I needed to be hospitalized.  He gave me some pain meds and suggested I could have had some kind of intestinal virus.  The sharp pain lessened after that, but I have continued to have low pain and limited energy since.  This and the encouragement of a number of our friends on Facebook prompted us to seek further for answers.  Our family doctor prescribed a blood test and an ultrasound.  The ultrasound showed everything as it should be but the blood test had a couple of elevated numbers, which the doctor said could indicate the presence of a tropical parasite (Africa 2008, Cambodia 2010).  He prescribed some follow-up tests and we are now waiting on those results. 

Praise for:

- God’s blessings and care during our mini-furlough this past summer, for safety over the many miles and a safe return to France.

- the prayer warriors and financial supporters that God has lead to partner with our family to help bring His light to this country.

- the visits that we have had since we got back to France, including with the family of T, whose cancer is progressing.  Praise for his son A’s interest in the Gospel, and for the opportunity to share the Gospel with him again.

- C and Y who began attending our church here after we left for the USA.  Praise for our new location and that we were able to produce new flyers and signs with the new address.

Pray for:

- God to send more laborers into His harvest field in France. 

- the hearts of our unsaved contacts to be opened to the Gospel, and that God will guide and bless in our future contacts.  Pray especially that Christ will work in T’s heart while there is still time.

- K, the young man who came to our church in April from Paris, whose internship is ending this month.  Pray that God will provide him with work in this area so that he can continue his involvement in our church, if it is God’s will.

- the results of my tests to show clearly what caused my stomach pain, and that God would guide in any treatment necessary.

- all who will be involved in preparing a Christmas Cantata as a joint evangelistic effort for our church and three sister churches in the Bordeaux area.  Weekly practice begin this Saturday under the direction of our colleague, Bob Bixby in the Pessac church.