Today, two Irish missionaries came to visit us. Malcom has been working in Nantes for over 20 years. We met a few years ago in the “colloque biblique”, a French speaking ministers conference. Andrew is still training in Belfast and, God willing, will join Malcom in a year. It was good to catch up, and to discuss about our various situations, and the situation of the church in France. We were joined for coffee by Emmanuel Hartiel who had met Malcom 24 years ago (or maybe more) when Malcom was learning French in Massy, and Emmanuel working in the Language school there.
Category: Ministry
Thoughts on preaching
Reading through Stuart Olyott’s book: “Preaching pure and simple” (Bryntition Press), I came accross this quote: “Just as preaching is the chief means by which sinners are convinced of gospel truth and are converted, in the same way it is God’s chief way of building up his people in holiness, of comforting them, and of keeping them believing until the end of their lives. No Christian can grow as he should without listening to lots of preaching. It is an impossibility.”
In France, people get one sermon on the Sunday, and if they go to the Bible study in the week, they will have a bit more input. That’s if they make it to the meetings.
Talking with my fellow MPEF missionaries in Bordeaux recently, we agreed that French Christians get very little preaching in the week. The challenge for us is: How can they grow in holiness and knowledge of our Lord then? Thank you for your prayers.
The programme for this week, starting 20th September 2010
Well, I am not preaching, nor leading the service, so that’s one thing less to do, but I will be leading the Bible study in Rostrenen on Friday afternoon. Rostrenen is a town 45km south of Guingamp, where there is no Evangelical witness. There is a Bible study there once a month in the house f one of our members. That will keep me busy. But tomorrow will be off, so I’ll get started on Thursday.
MPEF AGM
I am in Bordeaux since Tuesday evening for the AGM of MPEF. MPEF is the French “association” representing UFM in France. I travelled down yesterday with my colleague Emmanuel, 6 hours in the car. It was a great blessing to get to know each other, and to speak of the things of God. I am looking forward to the journey back tomorrow night.
The meeting took place this morning in the premises of FAC (Foi at Action pour Christ/faith and action for Christ). It is one of the ministries of UFM in Bordeaux, reaching out to students here. It was good to catch with the news. It was very encouraging to hear one another’s reports on our different ministries.
We are now the biggest UFM team, and there are potentially more people heading to France in the fairly near future, which is another encouragement.
Emmanuel Hartiel has now gone to Carcassone with one of our missionaries, and will pick me up tomorrow night. In the meantime, I am catching up with our friends the Daveys. It is very warm (23.9° C in the house) and sunny, and we had a walk in Bordeaux city center this afternoon.
Some links, UFM ministries in Bordeaux:
The week ahead
This week will be a bit different. I am going down to Bordeaux today with Emmanuel Hartiel, to attend the AGM of MPEF. MPEF is the French side of UFM. It will be good to meet up with the other missionaries. Some are based in Bordeax, one will be coming from Carcassone, and someone else from the French Alps. Our wives are staying in Guingamp with the children.
We will be back very late on Thursday, or very early Friday morning. Then, I’ll have to prepare Sunday’s service as I am leading it.
Market outreach
Every Friday, Guingamp hosts a big market in the town center. A lot of people come from the surrounding towns and villages to do some shopping. It is quite busy, noisy, smelly, colourful. every other week, a few people from the church go out on the market, trying to give a few tracts away, and trying to engage in conversation.
It is a daunting task. Stopping people in the street is not something I like doing. By nature, I would also be reluctant to stop people to ask for directions, or to ask for the time. But you are welcome to stop me, I’ll be happy to have a chat. But one of the important things is to be present regularly so that people get to see you.
It was good to be there, and it will get better as times goes and as I am getting used to it. This morning was quieter than usual, but still busy enough.