Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Three steps forward in Le Creusot, France

The church in Le Creusot, France took three steps forward this year; Lawrence, Jacqueline and Jean-Pierre all gave their lives to Jesus!

Lawrence in Le Creusot, France: your new sister in Christ!


Some members of the Le Creusot church family
Dave and Susan Griffith have been among the Europe team's best evangelists over the years, consistently praying, sharing the gospel and bearing conversion fruit. They are part of the "established churches" squad of the GBIM Europe team. The established churches team's short-term mandate is to see the European churches in which they serve transition to national leadership.
The Le Creusot church was so-o-o close to achieving that objective, when it took two steps backward. This year, both of the French elders resigned due to internal church problems. As Paul Hiebert says, "We assume that if we do things right we will succeed, whether this be running a company… or planting a church" (Anthropological Reflections: 1994, 139). But this past year in Le Creusot reminds us that church planting is messy, less like a business and more like a battle.

Marc, Didier, Grif and Cèdric

So now I would like to ask those of you who are part of the Griffith's support team to renew your commitment to do battle on your knees for them as they begin another round of elder, deaconess and deacon training. Pray especially for Didier, Andrée and Cèdric who are currently in training to help lead the church with deacon Marc Lagarde. Pray for protection, progress and fruitfulness. Pray that Jesus would give a decisive victory, a fully French led Le Creusot church. Merci!

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