From Dominique Angers,Dear Praying Friends,
One of the challenges the French evangelical church is now facing is the insufficient spiritual commitment of men. Many local churches lack male leadership, both in terms of pastoral and lay ministry. It is estimated that over half of current pastors, elders and other church leaders in France will retire in the next five years. Many of them will not be replaced by a younger generation of men (at least not right away).
That is of course why the ministry at the Geneva Bible Institute is so crucial. But other groups are also trying to encourage young men to get involved more intentionally in their local churches. “Equiper l’homme de Dieu” (“Equipping the man of God”) is a new organization trying to do just that. It will be holding its first national men’s conference at the Palais des Congrès in Strasbourg (see picture), France, on Saturday March 6th. The goal of the meeting will be to challenge men to take up responsibilities in their local churches and to even consider the possibility of full-time ministry in France.
Would you please pray with me that God would use this event to accomplish mighty things in the hearts of men? I’ll have the privilege of preaching twice that day: on Luke 15.11-32 and on Luke 18.9-14. Pray that Christian men would rediscover the power of the Gospel for everyday living and for sacrificial service in the church. Pray that the applications I draw from these texts would be appropriate, specific and powerful.
It is both a joy and a challenge to be on the road more frequently to preach at various kinds of events. I’ll let you know of other teaching and preaching opportunities for which you can pray.
Thank you so much for your partnership in the Gospel!
