Aug - Sept news

Hi friends and family

It feels like this past month has gone by so quickly! Thank you all for your prayers and messages of encouragement. I have really appreciated the support as I have transitioned into this new leadership role for this season!

Prayer and Fasting

As a church, we have a 21 day Daniel fast each year at the beginning of September as we start the new academic year. So far it’s been going really well and I am already hearing great testimonies of what God has been doing. I have been specifically praying that more people in our church get connected in a small group during the week, and we have already seen new people join which is great! We are obviously trusting the Lord for many other things too, but more than anything, for God to be glorified in Marseille, for our church to love people well and for more people to be reached with the gospel.

Identity and Purpose

We are in the middle of a preaching series called "Designed for Destiny: Living from Identity and Purpose in Christ”. Please pray with me that each person would have a breakthrough in their personal relationship with God. That they would be able to hear His voice for themselves and know the truth of who they really are in Christ so they will be able to have the boldness and faith to live out their true identity and calling. Our small groups are designed to have discussion and ministry around the sermon theme, and this past week was amazing. One of the ladies in my group has struggled to believe that she is really loved and called by God. She had a real “aha!” moment on Thursday and she told us she felt God was personally speaking to her, saying “I know you.” This might seem like a small thing, but if you know this lady it was an amazing breakthrough!

Campus ministry (ENC)

This past week, we relaunched our ministry to university students. We are trusting God for His favour to connect with students and create a community for them while they are studying.

So proud of our campus missionary, Jordan Watts for stepping out in faith to engage students! (Fun fact: Jordan is also my housemate!)

This past week, our team handed out welcome gifts to students - just a simple bottle of water, a snack and a pen, with a flyer inviting them to an event and to stay connected with us. Please pray with us that those seeds that were planted will bear fruit and that we would have more opportunities to connect with university students going forward.

Jordan and Josué outside one of the university campuses close to the church

Another Baptism!

At the end of August we had the privilege of baptising Richard, 84 years young! Richard grew up atheist but he met Jesus last year. He was so excited to declare his faith publicly (and on this particular beach in Marseille’s city centre on a hot Summer’s day… you can’t get more public than that!) Often when we have baptisms on the beach, there are onlookers who are interested in what is going on, and this time was no exception.. while we were in the water, some Afghani refugees (pictured right) came up to us and were really excited to see a baptism. “You must be Christians!” they said. They were so happy and relieved to find some fellow believers and were able to chat to them and encourage them. We actually have a couple in our church who work with refugees from Afghanistan, so we are hoping to connect them.

Praying for Richard and for his family who are not (yet) believers

Preaching

Like I said in my previous letter, I am preaching a bit more regularly at the moment which has been both fun and challenging! I think (hope) my French is improving each time.

Thank You

Thank you so much for your generous support. Honestly, I would not be able to do what I am doing full-time without your partnership. I am still trusting God to add more partners to my team, so please trust God with me for that! I am somehow able to be doing ministry full-time even though I am way below the 100% goal I should be at. But God has been providing and I am very grateful.

Even though I am unable to make it to South Africa in person this year, I would love to hear how you’re all doing, and if there is anything specific I can be praying for. Happy to jump on a video call with you as well! So let me know when you’re free!

Sending much love,

Fiona

Every Nation Marseille