Today I want to scan back over the past couple of months and share a couple of things that didn’t get highlighted on the blog, but which represent very special moments in the life of our church.
One of the events was a sad farewell … a “distance makes the heart grow fonder” kind of scenario, and this other is a double cause for rejoicing.
Are you with me?
Let’s dive in…
Fare-the-Well Will
William Goliger is one of the young people that was here at the church when we arrived, back in 2015. He grew steadily, both in size and stature and in 2022 we had the privilege of baptizing him.
For a time, his studies took him to Germany, but even though absent in body, he was often present for our ZOOM prayer meetings. His faithfulness was noteworthy. Once back in France, he became even more faithful and he was one of the key members of our youth group.
In early 2024, his professional path took him to the Northwestern USA where, where he has family and where he will continue his professional development as a pilot. He has been able to plug into one of our sister churches, there in his city, but oh do we miss him.
When his schedule (and a 9h time difference) allows… he still connects with us in ZOOM prayer. It’s bittersweet, but we pray that God multiplies his ministry there in the local church.
2 Filled with the Holy Ghost
Back in December, a young couple crossed paths with Dominic, here in town. The’d recently moved here from South America and were looking to for a church family, since they know no one else here locally.
Deivid has a zealous hunger and love for the things of God and is a young man full of boldness. From the get-go he loved what he felt in God’s presence and the more we spoke of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the more he wanted it. God miraculously filled him because He knows how to give good gifts to them that ask Him.
Rebecca is much more quiet and reserved, but seeing the change in Deivid, she knew that she wanted more of God as well.
During a service in Bordeaux, where they accompanied us and where a guest pastor from Holland was ministering, Rebecca was the first one at the altar and when he asked her if she wanted to be filled with God’s Spirit… she quietly, but determinedly said “I want it!”
God did not leave her hungry… she was filled that day, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, as the Spirit gave the utterance.
Miracle in Bordeaux
In the photo above, you can see me beside Pastor Majdling from Bordeaux and Pastor Winkelaar, from Holland. After the service where Rebecca was filled, we got to visit the building site where God is doing something incredible.
The City of Bordeaux is building a new church building for our church in Bordeaux. The church had land adjacent to the existing building and rather than sell out to the city, who is developing the entire area, the church yielded a portion of the land in exchange for a new church building that would more than double the capacity… the city’s plan for Urban Renewal is making room for Spiritual Renewal as well.
… because God does exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ask or think.
Thank you for stopping by today.
Let what you read inform your prayers
for us and for France.
God bless you!
AIM Long 