This last month in Paris, France God moved in amazing ways. As we stepped into the unknown we embraced with faith the opportunities that the Lord placed before us. This was a month where we had no idea what to expect. We had to start fresh, embracing what we have in front of us and not looking back on what we left behind.
We had to rely on the Lord to provide the right ministry for us. We would ask Him as a team and see where He wanted us. He always responded and allowed us to do many good works here (Ephesians 2:10).
The top 10 most amazing things I got to experience this month in ministry were:
1. Building Relationships with my team- Living in community is not easy. It takes sacrifice and laying down pride and selfishness to benefit the others around you. Ministry to our team looks like encouragement and building each other up so when we go out we are ready to pour love into those around us.
2. Embracing a multicultural city- There are so many people form so many different backgrounds and cultures here in Paris. We got to see the LORD use us among some of the unreached nations of the world (Matthew 24:14 & Revelations 7:9). One day I sat down and explained who Jesus was for 3 hours to a friend who was from a tribe in Sudan. In that tribe there was a tribal language and only 1,500 people were from that tribe and could speak that language. That is just one example of how God is reaching the Nations!
3. Understanding the pain of the Refugees- Every refugee has a story. Each one has gone through tremendous difficulty and hardship in order to have freedom and safety, which we take for granted in the United States. It was an eye opening experience of how thankful I am to have that safety, yet giving it up for the sake of others knowing Jesus has far greater value (2 Timothy 2:10).
4. Bringing hope and love through words and actions- Being able to encourage and love all those God has put in my path has been a true joy of my heart. Knowing that no one placed in front of me is by coincidence. God loves each and everyone enough to die for them and by understanding that myself I have been able to give that to them (Romans 5:8).
5. Meeting new people and guiding them toward Jesus- Whether its meeing people on the streets or those who are leading ministries here in Paris. Being able to show them what Jesus has done in my life and how my life is forever changed allows them to see a real God who cares and loves them (1 Peter 3:15).
6. Praying for people on the streets- One of my favorite quotes from Oswald Chambers, “prayer does not it us for greater work; prayer is the greater work.” I have learned that when we step out in faith to pray for people God has the ability to move in that situation and it shows how much He loves those people.
7. Working on the streets helping those stuck in prostitution- Seeing the women on my team and their hearts for those who are stuck in prostitution inspired me tremendously. From seeing them bake and distribute cookies and Bible verses, I have seen these women experience genuine love from the Lord. We got to see many get prayed for and see those who have the desire to get out (Isaiah 45:1,4).
8. Continuing relationships from previous connections- Being able to meet my new friend Guillaume was a huge blessing. I got connected to him through a mutual friend and we ended up meeting three times and each time had positive conversations on what God has for our lives. I was able to be encouraged and encourage him to continue to seek the Lord in all He does (Hebrews 10:24-25).
9. Attending local gatherings of believers- People are coming to know Jesus daily at serves in Paris! It is amazing to see Jesus move through this city and He is using the local body of the church to do it. I was able to see more of God and his heart for the city through these French believers!
10. Asking the Lord and listening to his voice- This was probably the most difficult but the most rewarding part of this month. Really listening and tuning into what God is saying to me has been a process and I’m still learning it. One of the coolest stories for me was to pray and to get a picture of a guy with a red shirt, going out to find this man we found him on a bench in a local park. We were able to pray for him for specific things he and his wife were dealing with and it was a divine moment that the Lord orchestrated to help me learn his voice!
It was an amazing month and here are just 10 things I got to do and experience in ministry this month. I created a little video (See BOTTOM) of what the whole month of ministry looked like. It doesn’t give you the whole month but at least it is a taste of what I got to experience in France!
Prayer Requests;
1. I’m hiking The Great Comino de Santiago with my team. We start tomorrow (September 2nd) and will be hiking 18 miles the first day! Please pray for strength and endurance for me team.
2. BIG PRAYER: God has shown me an opportunity to abandon my stuff for 21 days while we hike. I only am taking on change of cloths, my Bible, and my blow up pillow. I will be suffering this month in order to gain a greater perspective. Please pray for this process and that the Lord would change me and use it in my life in incredible ways! Also, for health and no sickness for my team.
3. For spiritual conversations on this journey. Everyone who is hiking here has come for a reason and are searching for something. Often times people have the idea that they can be forgiven of their sins by walking. Help us to enter into to those motives and be able to share the Good News of Jesus with those we meet.
4. More understanding of what the Lord is saying. Both in advance and in the moment.
Thank you all you prayer warrior who are fighting or me constantly! Thank you for blessing me in this way. Prayer is the work of ministry so without prayer ministry is not getting done! I appreciate it so much… So lets here some answers to prayer!
Prayer #1. People to come to know Jesus here at Porte De La Chapelle. These people are open and we have been planting seeds constantly and we are waiting for the harvest. Pray that non of those who we touch would resist the truth but that they would understand that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Answer #1: Yes, people have come to know Jesus in Porte De La Chapelle. We have seen people grasp the Good News, and others who don’t really want to talk about it. Yet, I know God is pursing each one of them. For example, my friend Amid who I spent 3 hours with sharing about Jesus, found one of the other people from my squad days later and asked if they knew me. It was like a confirmation that the Lord is continuing to bring people into His live to push Him towards Christ. We have such openness for the refugees that we have been able to build relationships and share with many. Even one day we met a group of Christians from Sudan who had a Bible study. I believe even amidst that group others were people who were Muslim. God is on the move reaching the unreached. A follow up prayer would be that God would continue His work on those who were touched through me in my squad.
2. Pray with me for Amid and Sam along with all the other unspoken names to know Jesus and that they would find a place where they can be safe to choose Jesus without fear of harm.
Answer #2: I do not know where these to young men are but I believe God is at work. There is no answer I can see here, but thank you for praying for them with me.
3. Pray for me. I need strength and emotional energy to keep up in every conversation. I need patients and ability to understand. I also have not been sleeping the best so prayer for that would be great too.
Answer #3: I have see God provide daily what I need. I tend to go to bed late because of all the things I want to process through, yet He provides every day. Pray for more quality rest and quantity rest every once in awhile. I have been sleeping better its just a matter of having the time to sleep.
4. My team to continue to stand up for each other and be unified through all the decisions and circumstances that we face. That we would grow in love for Jesus, toward one another, and toward the people we come into contact with.
Answer #4: I have become more and more thankful for each one of my team members each day. I believe we are growing in unity and how to fight for each other. Often times, it has been hard but through sharing our feelings, pains, and needs with the team we are able to support each other. It doesn’t always come easy but we are fighting and pursuing one another daily. Conversations have been great and have been allowing us to be challenged in our thinking and to grow closer to Jesus. I feel filled when I am with my team and because of that I am able to go out and do ministry more effectively.
5. Supernatural things to happen through my team and squad. For example: Healing to take place physically, for people to have words of knowledge, for the power of God to be demonstrated in any way fit, etc.
Answer #5: I feel like when I hear supernatural things, I think of healing. I realized I was setting myself up for failure if I had just the view of healing being supernatural. God has shown my team pictures of people we have been able to pray for. He has given words that we are able to share with others. He as given us people to share the Good News with and everything looks different every single day. Supernatural things are happening all around me and I just needed to look a little differently. God is on the move.
Thank you prayer warriors for fighting for me.
