July 2007

Psalm 133:1,3 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity...for there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Dear friends,

It was indeed very good and pleasant to have my brother David with us recently. On his way home from a study trip in Israel, he was able to spend the month of June in Toulouse. As part of his seminary education (at Trinity Evangelical), he must complete a foreign field education requirement. Toulouse was as good a place as any. We put him to work in various aspects of church and ministry, including several teaching times, an overnighter in the Pyrénées mountains with the youth (see above), and graphic design work for a set of Bible exposition panels (see example). His stay was quite appreciated by the church, and his nephews were also quite pleased with the arrangement. See pictures of typical toulousain and family scenes during his stay.

We also made a trip to Geneva to attend a pastor's conference with Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, who has developped a robust and biblical vision for healthy churches (see his 9marks of a healthy church). The teaching was timely and appropriate as we are rethinking and improving the polity of our church. As the church grows, we pray that God give us wisdom and biblical insight to lead His flock into truth and unity, "for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore."

We are thankful for other signs of God's blessing:

  • In June, we certified and celebrated our first crop of EFESE graduates, who completed the three-year cycle. An increasing interest encourages us to continue the program.
  • Rebecca recently completed her bachelor's degree in education, which she was able to do by correspondance. Two toddlers, a pregnancy, a husband, a church: no sweat !
  • A new metro line recently opened in Toulouse, after several years of massive construction work. The church greatly benefits with a station just up the street. We pray that it will facilite and motivate "them" coming to us, and us going to them.

We thank you for your prayers and friendship.

 

For Christ's sake,

Sam