Growing churches in France: Checkpoint Spring 2021 - CMS Australia

Choose your branch

Give

Give to a worker

  • Give
    A
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Adam and Avril Friend
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Adam and Helane Ramsay
    Japan • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Adrian and Anita Lovell
    Bolivia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Amy Stephens
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Andrew Buchanan and Abi Tandiseru
    Indonesia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Andrew and Margie Newman
    Uganda • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Angelica (Mentac)
    • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Anna Radkovic
    Kenya • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Anthony and Trudi Elyard
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Arthur and Tamie Davis
    Tanzania • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    B
    Middle East • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Brenton and Mel Kilby
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Bruce and Libby Hayes
    Nepal • QLD & NNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Bryan and Sarah Haro Leon
    Ecuador • TAS Branch
  • Give
    C
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chenny Thie
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Erin
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Grace Adams
    Timor-Leste • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Karen Webb
    North Australia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chris and Kristy Galea
    Malta • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Stef Overhall
    Chile • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Christopher and Julie Dean
    Timor-Leste • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Colin and Catherine Puffett
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Craig and Lisse
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Craig and Samantha McCorkindale
    Cambodia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    D and T
    East Asia • SA & NT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Dan and Marg
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Daniel and Olivia Webster
    Namibia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Daniel (Mentac)
    • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    David and Beck McIntyre
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Cathie Sandifer
    Netherlands • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Jennifer Juniper
    Democratic Republic of Congo • WA Branch
  • Give
    Dene and Rachel Hughes
    Japan • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Derek and Rosemary Snibson
    North Australia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Derk and Susan
    South Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    E
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    E
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Elizabeth
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Elle Bryce
    Japan • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Faraj and Emily (Mentac)
    • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Frances Cook
    Chile • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Gavin and Megan Rosser
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gillian Akers
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gillian Law
    Italy • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Gordon and Ruth Russell
    Nepal • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Howard and Michelle Newby
    Philippines • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Howard and Trisha Spencer
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    I
    South East Asia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Ian and Jenny Wood
    North Australia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Ian and Narelle Hadfield
    Singapore • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J and P
    Eurasia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J and S
    Central Asia • QLD & NNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    J
    South East Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jo
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Je
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jason and Hannah Fairclough
    Italy • WA Branch
  • Give
    Jeremy and Jill Horrocks
    Cambodia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jim and Tanja French
    Spain • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Joel and Tiffanie Atwood
    Vanuatu • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Joel and Aimee (Mentac)
    • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    John and Deb
    Middle East • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Jon and Deborah
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Nici
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Steph Mackenzie
    North Australia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Josh and Susannah Apieczonek
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jotham Booker
    Germany • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Julie
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    K
    South Asia • TAS Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    K
    South East Asia • SA & NT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Karina Brabham
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Kate and Bijaya (CoMP)
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Keith and Marion Birchley
    Papua New Guinea • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Kellie Nicholas
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Klaus and Jude Hickel
    Germany • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Kylie Zietsch
    South Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    L and C
    South East Asia • QLD & NNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Lachlan and Candy Grice
    Taiwan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lauren Raiter
    Spain • VIC Branch
  • Give
    M and K
    South Asia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    M
    Middle East • QLD & NNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    M
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Maggie Crewes
    Cambodia • SA & NT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Malcolm and Ainsley Purdey
    Chile • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Malcolm and Charissa Forrest
    Jordan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Malcolm and Leanne
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Martin and Julie Field
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Marty and Jenny Foord
    Singapore • WA Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Bex Ooi
    Japan • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Jen Lim
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Lisa Pearson
    North Australia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Matt and Ellen Tyler
    Vanuatu • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Maurice and Amanda Jacobson
    Cambodia • TAS Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Rani Grivas-Allison
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Karen Roe
    South Africa • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Katie Taylor
    Tanzania • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Miriam Bradshaw
    Spain • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Jean Burke
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Morgan and Olivia
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Na
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Nathan and Diane Lovell
    South Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nathan and Maki Clapham
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nick and Kysha Davies
    Peru • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nick and Rebekah
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Norm and Janelle Gorrie
    Kenya • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Pedro and Joy Oliveira Woolmer
    Latin America • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Peter and Terry Blowes
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    R
    Eurasia • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Ray and Sandy
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Rebekah
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Rowan
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Ryan and Lynne Verghese
    Seychelles • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    S and E
    St Andrew's Hall • VIC Branch
  • Give
    S and M
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    S and P
    Middle East • WA Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Shan-Shan Chrisp
    Taiwan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Sharmila
    South Asia • WA Branch
  • Give
    Simon and Jessica Cowell
    Italy • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Steven and Sandra Parsons
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    T
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Tim and Olivia Mulherin
    Cambodia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Tim and Sam
    Middle East, South & Central Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    W and S
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Zoe Creelman
    North Australia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible

General Worker Support

Select a Branch

Please select the branch you would like to give to. This refers to the CMS branch that will process your donation.

NSW & ACT

QLD & NNSW

SA & NT

TAS

VIC

WA

Australia

Tax-deductible Workers and Projects

Select a Branch

Please select the branch you would like to give to. This refers to the CMS branch that will process your donation.

NSW & ACT

QLD & NNSW

SA & NT

TAS

VIC

WA

Australia

Give to a Campaign

Select a Branch

Please select the branch you would like to give to. This refers to the CMS branch that will process your donation.

NSW & ACT

QLD & NNSW

SA & NT

TAS

VIC

WA

Australia

  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    WA Branch
  • Give
    Go to: QLD & NNSW Campaigns
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Go to: VIC Campaigns
    VIC Branch
  • Give
    Go to: TAS Campaigns
    TAS Branch
  • Give
    Christmas Campaign
    VIC Branch
Your Gift
View Your Gift
Please select a frequency
  • Zoe Creelman
    north-australia • australia Branch

Give to another worker from

  • Give
    A
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Adam and Avril Friend
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Adrian and Anita Lovell
    Bolivia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Amy Stephens
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Andrew Buchanan and Abi Tandiseru
    Indonesia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Angelica (Mentac)
    • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Anthony and Trudi Elyard
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Arthur and Tamie Davis
    Tanzania • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    B
    Middle East • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Brenton and Mel Kilby
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    C
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chenny Thie
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Erin
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Karen Webb
    North Australia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chris and Kristy Galea
    Malta • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Stef Overhall
    Chile • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Colin and Catherine Puffett
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Craig and Lisse
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Craig and Samantha McCorkindale
    Cambodia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Dan and Marg
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Daniel and Olivia Webster
    Namibia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    David and Beck McIntyre
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Cathie Sandifer
    Netherlands • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Jennifer Juniper
    Democratic Republic of Congo • WA Branch
  • Give
    Derk and Susan
    South Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    E
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Elizabeth
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Faraj and Emily (Mentac)
    • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Frances Cook
    Chile • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Gavin and Megan Rosser
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gillian Akers
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gordon and Ruth Russell
    Nepal • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Howard and Michelle Newby
    Philippines • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Howard and Trisha Spencer
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Ian and Jenny Wood
    North Australia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Ian and Narelle Hadfield
    Singapore • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J and P
    Eurasia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J
    South East Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jo
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Je
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jason and Hannah Fairclough
    Italy • WA Branch
  • Give
    Jeremy and Jill Horrocks
    Cambodia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jim and Tanja French
    Spain • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Joel and Tiffanie Atwood
    Vanuatu • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Joel and Aimee (Mentac)
    • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Nici
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Susannah Apieczonek
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jotham Booker
    Germany • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Julie
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    K
    South East Asia • SA & NT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Karina Brabham
    France • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Kate and Bijaya (CoMP)
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Kellie Nicholas
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Klaus and Jude Hickel
    Germany • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Kylie Zietsch
    South Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lachlan and Candy Grice
    Taiwan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    M
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Maggie Crewes
    Cambodia • SA & NT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Malcolm and Ainsley Purdey
    Chile • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Malcolm and Charissa Forrest
    Jordan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Malcolm and Leanne
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Martin and Julie Field
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Marty and Jenny Foord
    Singapore • WA Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Jen Lim
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Lisa Pearson
    North Australia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Matt and Ellen Tyler
    Vanuatu • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Rani Grivas-Allison
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Karen Roe
    South Africa • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Katie Taylor
    Tanzania • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Miriam Bradshaw
    Spain • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Jean Burke
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Morgan and Olivia
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Na
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Nathan and Diane Lovell
    South Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nathan and Maki Clapham
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nick and Kysha Davies
    Peru • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nick and Rebekah
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Norm and Janelle Gorrie
    Kenya • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Pedro and Joy Oliveira Woolmer
    Latin America • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Peter and Terry Blowes
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Ray and Sandy
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Rebekah
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Ryan and Lynne Verghese
    Seychelles • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    S and M
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    S and P
    Middle East • WA Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Shan-Shan Chrisp
    Taiwan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Sharmila
    South Asia • WA Branch
  • Give
    Simon and Jessica Cowell
    Italy • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Steven and Sandra Parsons
    Japan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    T
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Tim and Sam
    Middle East, South & Central Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    W and S
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch

General Worker Support

Select a Branch

Sed non urna. Donec et ante. Phasellus eu ligula. Vestibulum sit amet purus. Vivamus hendrerit, dolor at aliquet laoreet, mauris turpis porttitor velit, faucibus interdum tellus libero ac justo. Vivamus non quam. In suscipit faucibus urna.

NSW & ACT

QLD & NNSW

SA & NT

TAS

VIC

WA

Australia

Tax-deductible Workers and Projects

Select a Branch

Please select the branch you would like to give to. This refers to the CMS branch that will process your donation.

NSW & ACT

QLD & NNSW

SA & NT

TAS

VIC

WA

Australia

Give to a Campaign

  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    WA Branch
  • Give
    Go to: QLD & NNSW Campaigns
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Go to: VIC Campaigns
    VIC Branch
  • Give
    Go to: TAS Campaigns
    TAS Branch
  • Give
    Christmas Campaign
    VIC Branch
Total Gift

$0 / Month

Continue

 

Growing churches in France: Checkpoint Spring 2021

CMS missionary Kelly Landrigan is part of a new church plant, the Église Harmonie church in Cormeilles-en-Parisis. CMS missionaries Colin and Catherine Puffett are helping church plant in Nantes. They are unanimous: France needs more church planters.

Kelly writes

I live in Cormeilles, a centuries-old rural community that has now grown into a town of just under 25,000 people and a suburb of Paris. In 2018, our
Église Harmonie church was launched here. It became, to the best of our knowledge, the first known Bible-teaching Protestant church in Cormeilles since the
Reformation in the 16th century.

Let that sink in. In your area, how many Bible-teaching churches are there within ten minutes of your home? If you live in a rural or remote part of Australia, the trip may take longer. But Cormeilles isn’t remote. It is only 15 kilometres from the centre of Paris. From the end of my street, I can see the Eiffel Tower and La Defence (in the Paris CBD). In greater Paris, of which Cormeilles is now part, live more than 11 million people—just under half of the population of
Australia. Yet Bible-teaching churches are few and far between.

The story of our church plant

In 2015, our pastor Damien Wary returned to France from Tunisia with his young family and began the process of planting a church in Cormeilles with the French organisation ‘Perspectives’ (formerly known as France Mission).

I joined the team in 2017. Back then, most of our time was spent building relationships, understanding the needs of this community, and seeing how we could serve here. We met a handful of Christians who, until then, had been travelling a long way to go to church. We also met some people who were interested in knowing God, but were disillusioned with Catholicism. We now have a small but growing church with a children’s program and other gospel-centred activities.

A Christmas service at Église Harmonie in Cormeilles.

Challenges overcome with your support

One of the challenges for French churches is funding for staff. The evangelical church in France is small, and most churches are only able to pay the salary of one staff member, if that. Many French pastors (including Damien) need to fund-raise to supplement their support. But most French pastors don’t know many Christians to approach for such support. Even if someone has grown up in a mission-minded church, that church is probably small, and many other gospel organisations are asking for support from Christians with limited financial resources.

By coming in with support from outside of France, I’ve been able to work alongside Damien, to support him in our new church, and to have the freedom to do that without the stress of wondering where my next pay will come from. More than simply funding, and thanks to the whole CMS community, we now enjoy a huge amount of prayer support. Previously not many within CMS had heard of Cormeilles. Now many people regularly pray for the saints here, and for the growth of the gospel. This is wonderful!

 

Cath writes

The French evangelical church is small—less than 2% of the population at best. Of the rest of the French population, it is estimated that 80% have never opened a Bible! France needs to hear of Jesus.

The National Council of Evangelicals in France (CNEF) has explicitly invited church-planting missionaries to help in this work. The CNEF vision is to plant a church in France for every 10,000 people, in order to increase the possibility of non-believers encountering Christians and so hear the gospel. Missiologist C Peter Wagner has claimed, ‘The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches.’[1]

In France, a new church is planted approximately every 11 days. Not all these churches grow to maturity, and not all these churches are effective in evangelism. But without churches being planted, many French people will be born, live and die without the opportunity of knowing Jesus.

Our church planting story

CMS sent us to France to work with people seeking to make Christ known in this country. After a year of language school, we landed in one of the evangelical churches in Nantes, an established church of more than 100 people.

But even established churches face challenges. The church we joined had been nine years with no pastor, and several elders had burnt out. Many churches in France are struggling through a generational transition that in some cases sees them fold, unless they can be revived. In our case we became part of a team of five people intent on revival.

A new international service

Our church stabilised under a new pastor over the first year, which left us with room to try something new. Having an amazing building is always a bonus, and in Nantes we have that. We have capitalised on this to create a new service that is international and bilingual French/English, to serve the large international student population and bridge the cultural taboos about going to church.

Our Australian-ness has been uniquely valuable to this project. It is not just that we can speak both languages, but we bring a different cultural element, making a truly
international church, not an American or English church. We are thrilled that two years of investment has paid off, as this service has become gradually more independent. It is also reaching French people who often have serious reservations about evangelical church culture. In our church baptisms we are predominantly seeing new French believers.

Service goes ahead despite COVID-19.

God willing, an even newer church

After being part of revitalising a church for two years, and starting a new church community, we have also started working with another church planting couple. Our plan and prayer is to start another new church in Nantes for the centre and river island. This area is chronically under-served, with no evangelical church for the approximately 60,000 people who live here.

COVID has meant that we have been slow to develop a network of relationships in this move across town. But we have had time to think, plan and pray for this new
community that God has placed on our hearts. We have been joined in that thinking and praying by our friends in Australia, for which we are so grateful. We pray that God will allow us to remain here long term, reaching unbelievers and discipling and supporting Christians.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
ROMANS 10:14

Playing our part

We feel like we are torn in several directions, and our weeks now look a bit chaotic, as we continue to play key roles in the church in the north of Nantes while establishing something new in the centre. But we are also seeing God maturing us, and upskilling us, in preparation for this new task. Colin is preaching in French, I am training kids ministry leaders, and we are both involved in fruitful discipling. It is our normal Christian calling, worked out in a totally different context.

[1] Noted in this 2017 article: Liechti, Daniel: Les Eglises protestantes evangeliques en France: Situation 2017, p12, CNEF.

GIVE

Church plants in France, by their very nature, are often underfunded and short-staffed. Giving to CMS means that CMS missionaries can humbly bring their gifts and expertise to these new and sometimes fragile ventures. Support the work here.