October news
Hi friends and family
This newsletter is well overdue! I am clearly still learning how to manage my new responsibilities, but I’m excited to share some updates with you that have been happening the last few weeks.
Wedding Celebration
Atef, Anne-marie and I at the Mairie for their civil wedding
A few weeks ago, Atef and Anne-marie got married! Atef is from Tunisia, so grew up Muslim but had a radical encounter with Jesus a few years ago. Theirs is a redemption story busy being written, and it was wonderful to be able to celebrate with them as a spiritual family, as neither of them had any family who were able to attend. The church is literally their only family here in Marseille, so we were able to help them with a small wedding reception at the church afterwards.
Gathering of artists
As a church, we were able to host a gathering of artists from Marseille and surrounding areas. This was a time of sharing, equipping and just enjoying being creative, in the presence of God and with friends.
Before I moved to Marseille, I believe the Lord showed me that creativity and the arts are a key to bring breakthrough and revival in this city, and in Europe in general. We need to break religious mindsets in the church, and get out there into the world and communicate the love of God through all creative means possible!
I am trusting that more and more artists would be equipped and empowered by God’s Spirit to be a light in the darkness, and that their work would attract people’s attention and open doors for gospel conversations, and for God to move.
Worship and prayer
We decided for Halloween this year, we wanted to have an evening of worship and prayer to change the atmosphere in our city. It felt like the atmosphere was highly charged this year, as I’m sure was the case all over the world. So we declared life, light and celebrated the faithfulness of God.
Grateful for faithful and powerful friends!
Ryan, Marita and I posing like tourists on the Marseille beachfront!
A few weeks back it was so wonderful to have old friends, Ryan and Marita Caley come and preach and minister in our church. For those of you who know the Caleys, they moved to France in 2016 to plant the Every Nation church in Paris, which they pioneered and handed over to another couple , as they felt God’s call to Toulouse to pioneer something there. Ryan has a lot of favour as a rugby coach and mentor, and Toulouse being the rugby capital of France, they are trusting God to build relationships and see the gospel transform lives in another part of France. Ryan preached a powerful word (in English, with translation), and Marita released a prophetic prayer of activation. If you’d like to listen to the message you can do so here:
Making Disciples
Otherwise, we continue to trust God to make disciples and raise leaders. It’s been good to see some of our next generation leaders step up and lead small groups, lead worship, and preach on Sundays! It’s also encouraging to see some of the young women that I have been mentoring take a step of faith and start discipling others with our One to One discipleship tool. This is where the real impact is, and it remains a privilege every time I see God’s transforming work in people’s lives. This is why we do what we do!
Meva, Julie, Jordan and I - some of the young women I am mentoring. Meva did a great job sharing the preaching with me this last Sunday!
Thank You
A huge thank you for your ongoing support. I really need it, and I’m extremely grateful! May God bless you for your incredible generosity towards me, and may He multiply the seed you have sown into my life and the work of the ministry here in Marseille. Praying His blessing over you and your families.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
With much love,
Fiona
Every Nation Marseille