Don & Sue Marshall - France

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October 2008

FALL in FRANCE
An Incredible "Service Opportunity" Calendar

"So you are the Pastor?", was what they asked me one Sunday morning in August.  "We are new in town and have moved in for the next 6-7 years."  This young family had 3 children and were looking for a church home.  Do you realize how rare it is that anyone comes into Chalons and looks for a church.  David, Christelle and their 3 children have been coming faithfully since the beginning of the school year.  If their story was the only one that has switched up our lives this Fall, then we could concentrate a whole prayer letter on them.  They want to get involved, participate and serve in what ever capacity they can.  I told them that in our church.... we have over 70 percent of our members "ministry active".  I also told them that my goal as a pastor is to see every member pursue Godly service in and out of our church.  They told me that is what they want.  We have a ministry philosophy that never allows only a certain kind of people to serve and the rest spectate (sit).  Everyone is invited to serve.  There is so much need for ministry in our city and surrounding region of villages that it is easy for one to see it.  After you see it, you will feel it.  Once you feel it personnally,  you will be moved and convicted by it .  At that point, you are ready to prepare to meet it.  That's why I always say that no believer can really feel comfortable only bench warming Sunday morning.

THE REASON:

You just cannot find and read proof texts for bench warming, spectating and otherwise "sitting around for the next show" in Scriptures.  I don't want to be that way and I don't want to have a church that way. 

Well, just when we thought all the FALL ministries were fired up (4 classes of Sunday School, Bible club on Wednesdays, Youth and Young Adults weekend ministries,  3 young adults have requested church membership, Woman's Bible study, Choir and Music ministries are fired up, Prayer meetings scheduled on Tuesday evenings, Ladies prayer on Thursday mornings, Young men's prayer early Friday mornings and even pre-Sunday morning A.M. worship prayer time.  Well, to maintain all these things, you know Sue and I are not alone.  We aren't doing this solo.  French believers are heavily involved.  And, And......just when things were clicking along quite comfortably, God has brought to us 15-20 other people besides the family of David and Christelle.  We believe that some of these dear folk understand salvation and some of them don't.  We have about 10 more children to place in Sunday School and we don't have enough physical room.  We now are looking at building partitions in one of our larger S.S. rooms.

GOT IT? 

Have you figured out the theme of this prayer letter?  God has so richly blessed us with such an increase in people at church that we have been in the 60s for about 5 weeks running.  I am meeting new people almost every week without fail.  Again, some do not know Christ, but are searching.  I gave away 3 Bibles last Sunday morning after the message.  I live in so much expectancy now.  I really do not know what will transpire tomorrow (Oct. 12).  Please pray today as we process people into a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ tomorrow.  It will happen!  Truth is freeing people from the slavery of sin in Chalons.  Please, please help us in prayer.  We have so many new people to process and work with.  Some need the Lord.  One requested baptism.  Most all of them need personal Bible study.  Some have incredible sin baggage and they need to be freed.

SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

The family of David and Christelle would appreciate your prayers as they adjust to life in Chalons.  They know that they will have a place to serve in our church and it will be expected of them.  David told me he could play the clarinet, take turns presiding worship services, work the sound board and even preach if I needed him.  Thank God for this spirit of service.  Others have caught the fever of service and will soon fine tune their abilities and gifts.  The battle is thick...the enemy is everywhere ...and we are winning.  Whoever wanted to sit the bench anyway?  Do you?  Or should I say...Are you?

Love,
Don and Sue    

 

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