PMI Missionaries

Latest Report: (updated 3/4/2008)

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy (belated) New Years 2008!

We are sorry that it has taken us so long to update you on our work this year. We were blessed to travel around the States this past summer and to be able to see many of you in person. It encouraged us upon our return to continue in the work we are called to do here in France.

The Forum Culturel Protestant

Ministry picked up right away upon our return to France and has not slowed down. The Forum has continued to gain interest not just in the Paris area but other parts of France. Nicolas has been traveling a lot these past couple of months lecturing in various churches that deal with how Christians can and should be interested in the culture where God has placed them. These lectures have been well received and have sparked good conversations among those in attendance.

This year we have also begun organizing conferences in cooperation with other Christian organizations enabling us to reach a wider base of people. In September, we organized a conference on sexuality and popular culture in connection with La Fonderie (a ministry that deals with Christians involved in the arts). It was held in their storefront property in the heart of Paris, with a great café-like atmosphere. Christian French author Jonathan Hanley gave a clear presentation on the Biblical view of sexuality and an important analysis of the way sexuality is portrayed in pop-culture. This was a fun evening, drawing many young people.

Ecology and the Church

Our next conference will be a large one on Ecology and the Church on February 16. The Forum is organizing it with a French publishing house called Farel. Many people have already signed up to attend, and we plan to publish a book from this conference as we did last year for our conference on Christianity and Politics. Please pray that the conference would draw a good number of people and that the book would reach many more.

Additional Teaching

Nicolas continues to travel to teach New Testament courses at the Seminary in Aix-en-Provence. He has a good relationship with the students there and enjoys his time with them. In addition to these courses, he has begun teaching at the Bible Institute in Nogent-sur-Marne in the Paris area, as well as an occasional weekend course for a continuing adult bible education program called FORMA-PRE. These new teaching responsibilities have meant more work for Nicolas, but the response has been very good.

DVD=Dinner-Video-Discussion

This year the attendance has been an average of 16 or so people for these evenings now held in our home. We watch both French and American movies, seeking to understand their message and to respond from a Christian perspective. The atmosphere of these evenings has been wonderful and the discussion times have proved helpful and fun. It is a great joy for us to organize these evenings.

Alison's News

Alison has been very involved this year with some women she has met through William's preschool and a women's prayer meeting. These friendships have been a real blessing for her. She is also more involved in teaching Sunday school and nursery in our church, and this past Christmas, she headed the translation of The Advent Jesse Tree, a devotional calendar for our church family.

But our biggest news this year is that she is expecting our third child, due June 10. After a rough first trimester she is feeling better and we are pleased to announce that we are expecting a GIRL. Please pray for her, as the demand of family needs and the business of ministry life on top of the pregnancy can be pretty exhausting.

 

With much love,

Nicolas, Alison, William, and Elliot

 

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Presbyterian Mission International
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