THE Question

We were contacted yesterday by a pastor friend on behalf of a man in his church -- a man who has been praying faithfully for our ministry in Paris since our arrival in August, 2003. We are so thankful for those folks. This gentleman asked the question that we often hear these days, and that is often on our own lips: when will you be starting a church? It's a question that's not asked in an accusatory way, but a genuine desire to see God do what we've been praying for here.

Here's my response. It's not earth-shaking or especially brilliant, but it comes from our heart:

Thank-you so much for your faithful praying on behalf of the peoples of Paris. Without that, our time here would be futile. You are a key part. You are asking the key question of the last three years: what about a church? And it's a question for which I don't have a clear answer. Over our time in France, we've tried to devote ourselves to learning the French language, learning the French culture, living for Christ in front of people who don't know Him, and trying to discern how to start a new church. So, in a sense, we've been "starting a church" for the entire time. In another sense, though, we're not there yet. God has done much: gathered prayer support from around the world, provided American volunteers to help us in our work, and gathered some French believers and non-believers into a Bible study. That Bible study may well become the church God called us here to start, but it's not a church yet. We've found that the process is very slow (sometimes agonizingly slow for us). But it's happening. For that, we rejoice.

Please continue to pray that the people involved in the Bible study (as well as other relationships) would continue to grow toward church. It has to be their decision, but we are trying to lead that way. Pray for the believers in the group, as well as the non- believers, that they would see their love of being together for worship and prayer is the beginnings of a community of faith. We believe God will do that.

Thanks so much for your support. We can never say how much that means to us, especially knowing that you have been committed to pray for us for three and a half years now. May God bless you abundantly in your own ministry and mission in Shelbyville.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

Jeff & Melanie