PARIS
On Sunday, I received an e-mail from my Paris colleague, Dennis Martin; Dadje Samuel (Chadian apostle-equipper) had contacted him. Dadje had extended family members in Paris interested in starting an African house church. They wanted Dennis to get involved.
So I hopped a train for Paris the next day. Dennis and I met with Dadje, Simon Pierre (president of the Chadian GBCs), Cyril (Chadian evangelist) and Abraham. Abraham had come to Christ and was baptized in a Grace Brethren church in the Chad. He graduated from bible school and pastored a church before moving to France in 1987. He is an economist, and has participated in both a Reformed and a Baptist church.
He said that many Africans come to France and are distracted from the faith by materialism and secularism. Abraham would like to gather these stray sheep into an African house church and he knows two other African leaders in Paris who would like to do the same!
The discussion went well, so we are taking two weeks to pray and reflect about next steps. What are the unknowns? What are the expectations? What sort of equipping would be best? Ultimately, is this a divinely opened door?
So if God lays this on your heart, I would appreciate your prayers for wisdom. This could be Cornelius-type opportunity (Acts 10) for us in France.
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA
The press building in Sarajevo (2002)
Tuesday night, Louise and I watched yet another movie about the Balkans war (our collection continues to grow), "Harrison's Flowers." Wednesday night, I received a call out of the blue from Paul McDonald, youth pastor at the Washington Heights GBC in Roanoke.
Paul and I had never before spoken together. He had been in the IMC (GBIM office) and spoke with Wayne H. and Steve B. about his upcoming ministry trip to Sarajevo. Knowing of my dream for a Euro-American church planting team to go to Sarajevo, my brothers put him in touch with me.
Paul and I had never before spoken together. He had been in the IMC (GBIM office) and spoke with Wayne H. and Steve B. about his upcoming ministry trip to Sarajevo. Knowing of my dream for a Euro-American church planting team to go to Sarajevo, my brothers put him in touch with me.
Pastor Sasha and Paul in Sarajevo
Edite - Porto (left), Miguel - Lyon (center), Rejane - Dijon (right)
were part of Charis Europe's 2002 love-in-action trip to the Balkans
Edite - Porto (left), Miguel - Lyon (center), Rejane - Dijon (right)
were part of Charis Europe's 2002 love-in-action trip to the Balkans
The smile kept growing in my heart as Paul McDonald shared. In mid-July, he and three teammates from Liberty university will invest two weeks playing street hockey with bosnian youth, as part of a Christian sports outreach. I am sure that Paul would appreciate your prayers, for opportunities to share good news and to connect with Christian leaders, as well as for safety. I'll be praying Paul!
It was a moving experience to share the Word of God with this Bosnian assembly of believers in June 2002
4 comments:
Cool! Archaic "modernist" word. Forgive me. This is the first time I have contributed to a blog. Read lots. Just have a few mintes to make two comments.
One...very encouraged by the opportunity in Paris a city full of internationals. This signals a great direction...outreach to the Corneliuses (Corneilii?) of the world. DO you suppose the sheet descending would be full of goats and gozzo?) I remember visiting Central Africa many years ago and doing interviews with missionaries. One young lady who I will call "Jane" was hesitantly and apologetically telling about a weekly Bible study at the Chinese embassy...among Chinese. Her words.."Of course, they're not really Bangui." It doesn't matter where the conversation went from there, but all I could say was..."But Jane, they ARE Bangui!" Cities are mosaics and it will be neat to see how a church among the CARians of Paris would develop. They are after all...Paris! (I'll be praying.)
Two...Paul McDonald certainly has that "fire in the belly." I will be praying that God gives him "eyes for the field!"
As I said, I have never met Paul McDonald, so thank you for character reference. His phone call certainly made my evening! Thank you for your prayers over the next few weeks as Paul goes to Sarajevo and as we discern the Spirit's leading. Abraham called last night and will be conferring with his friends this weekend.
I'm lovin' reading your blog, Paul.
Great to talk with you the other day. Looks like you've solved the how-to-post-photos problem just great!
Thanks for the updates on the opportunities, the insight into how to pray for the Griffiths, and for the good and thoughtful material you're providing.
Blessings on the blogger!
-t
Hi Terry,
I gave up and tried the photos the next day. The cyber-gnomes were with me!
Thanks so much for the tips,
pk
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