This weekend we enjoyed a visit with the Désilles family: Matthieu, Jeanine, their nearly 2-year-old son Jonathan and their 3-month-old daughter Esther. We remember the first time Matthieu came to this church. It was in December of 2000, less than a year after he was converted. Ruth and I were here in France at the time, and I was serving as replacement pastor for my father (much like we are now). Matthieu had heard about our church through a friend and came for the first time to a Friday night student meeting.
Soon Matthieu became a part of this church and then felt the call to pastor. He moved to Paris to train for the ministry. It was during a visit back to the Bordeaux region that he met Jeanine for the first time here at the church.
It was no coup de foudre (lit., lighting bolt; i.e., love at first sight). Jeanine wasn’t impressed and didn’t like his manners. But grace prevailed, as has been evidenced by the sweet family of four they have become today. They are presently seeking God’s desire for their future ministry as they consider two different churches that are in need of a pastor.
Matthieu and Jeanine are trophies of God’s grace and proof that God is at work in France. It is such an encouragement to see God raise up Frenchmen for the work of the ministry. Sadly, there are very few like them. Please pray for their tribe to increase.
2 comments:
Aww..what cute kids! Glad you had a good visit.
It sounds like a great visit and even a neat reunion of sorts from all the way back to your first "missionary term" in France.
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