BRUAY-LA-BUISSIÈRE

A HEART FOR FRANCE: SHARING HOPE IN NORTHERN FRANCE

In July the country of France exceeded our expectations on two levels. A

team of 23 individuals exceeded the expectations of the nation by winning
the World Cup in Russia with celebrations that lasted several days! But more
importantly, a small team of 6 people from 4 different countries (Switzerland,
France, USA and Mexico) exceeded the expectations of the OM long-termers
and the small church in Bruay-la-Buissière in the north of France during this
year’s Transform outreach week.

“I realized that some of my expectations for
the week were wrong,” wrote one team mem-
ber Nadia, from Mexico, “I came to France
expecting to meet superficial people smelling
of Chanel perfume, wearing expensive clothes
with expensive handbags on their shoulders!
Instead, I met two different types of people: the
first was a small group of people who were sur-
rendered to the will of God, a group of Chris-
tians with warm hearts and a desire to serve
in the church. The second was a much larger
“non-believing” community that was thirsty for
the love of God. This became clear to me as we
did “faith surveys” on the streets. This was also
demonstrated when three Catholic nuns came
to a music concert in our church!”
As I read Nadia’s comments and thought about
great expectations, I was reminded of a wonder-
ful verse in the Bible that we want to use at the
beginning of this report. “Now all glory to God,
who is able, through his might power at work in
us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might
ask or imagine. Glory to him in the church and in
Christ Jesus through all generations forever and
ever! Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20,21 (New Living
Translation)
Here are some stories and testimonies of how
God exceeded our expectations this week. Enjoy!
BRENT GREINER
OM Long-Termer & Outreach Team Leader
 A Heart for France ▪ 14 - 22 July 2018

Our Stories
PASTOR YANN told him I would keep on praying for
“This week of mission was busy, his country and also that he would
but positive. The OM team really soon be reunited with his family.”
blessed and encouraged us. It was
great to hear their testimonies of FIELA (SWITZERLAND)
how God worked in their lives. “I really enjoyed my time on the
The focus of the mission was the streets talking with people. I will
two events on the final weekend, never forget a conversation Carol
a musical concert and a family Ann and I had with a lady named
carnival. Despite a couple of tech- Sarah (not her real name) who
nical worries, the concert was a agreed to do our survey. She was
great success with everyone in the open to talking with us and listened
churched touched by the lyrics of carefully to what we said. I was
the songs. For the family carnival, really encouraged as she said she
I was so thankful to see the 11 wanted to know more about God.
members of the church working Carol Ann from the church will be
hand-in-hand with the OM team following up with her. God is still my words back to the memories of
running the games, serving food moving in hearts today! He knows these lads.”
and drinks, etc. who we will encounter and speaks
through us. I really enjoyed seeing SCOTT (USA)
Around 40 children and their people who have an open heart for “I noticed that one of my team
parents (more than 100 in total) the Gospel and Jesus.” members was having a challenging
enjoyed a sunny afternoon in the time doing a street survey with
garden of the church! It was a great DOMINIQUE (FRANCE) several people who were not very
day introducing the church to many “I came this week because I enjoy receptive. I joined the conversation
people in the community.” talking to people on the streets to try and help when I noticed that
about Jesus. As I was ill for 2 days, one person in the group, named
ZAIRA (MEXICO) I wasn’t able to do as much as I Morganne, was actually listening to
“During my visit to the refugee had hoped, but I was very happy to my testimony when I shared how
center, I talked with a man from have the experience of doing street God had provided a job for me
Eritrea. I asked him about his life surveys and talking to many people several years ago. Morganne shared
and he shared how he had to leave about Jesus. that she was on her way to a job
his family back in Eritrea. I asked interview that very day and she was
him about his faith and he said that Three young lads whom I ap- unsure of herself. She allowed me
he believed in God. I shared the proached at the bus station where to pray for her about this. While she
gospel with him. He then asked laughing at me and mocking Jesus. did not come to Christ, she seemed
me why a girl from Mexico would They were from a facility which touched by the prayer and hopefully
come to France. I told him I came housed troubled and difficult young the seeds sown will sprout in their
to France to meet him and talk to people. In spite of their language own time.”
him about God. I told him how we and attitude, I shared my testimony
prayed for Mexico and other coun- how Jesus made such a difference in TANJA (SWITZERLAND)
tries the previous evening and that my life. I am confident that the truth “I found the times of prayer we
I now wanted to pray for him and has not been spoken for nothing and had this week were very powerful,
his country. As I left the center I I will believe God will, one day, bring especially the prayer night for the
world and the prayer walk we did as
a team around a nearby town where
there are no evangelical churches and
no known Christians.
There wasn’t one moment from the
week that really sticks out for me. But
the whole experience of being in Bru-
ay, meeting and talking with people,
serving them, sharing the Gospel and
praying with them, was everything I
had hoped for.”
NADIA (MEXICO)
“The whole mission week was a
wonderful experience for me. One
thing I am most thankful for was the
opportunity to spend a week with five
other people sharing our stories and
lives with each other. I remember the
first day as we did some icebreaker
games and got to know each other
right away. This immediately began
the process of building trust and con-
fidence in each other that continued
to grow and develop during the week
and made us a very strong team.” ▪
DISTRIBUTION TIME
Before and during the mission week, the church and the OM
team distributed close to 10,000 flyers all around the town
that promoted the events of the outreach week. It was a huge
undertaking to visit every house in Bruay-la-Buissière, but at
the same time such a privledge to be bearers of the message of
hope!
NOT A SEAT LEFT
One of the events was for a musical concert with a
Christian recording artist from Dunkirk. The church was packed
to overflowing (not an empty seat in the house with several
sitting on the front step!) More than 75 people listened to the
songs and the Gospel message. A man living in an apartment
right beside the church listened to the concert from his bedroom
window and with three Catholic nuns were also in attendance.
FOR THE KIDS
The second event promoted was a family oriented carnival in
the garden of the church. The weather forecast was for rain,
but the sun shone down on us as over 100 people from the
community came and enjoyed the bouncy castle, kids games and
eating crepes! We were excited to see many people from the
community that thanked us for the day and asked if we going to
do it again next year. Each family left with some gospel literature
for children and invitations to other activities in the church.
MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME
The photo below is of a statue of Christ in the town center of
Barlin, a neighboring town with no evangelical church and no
known Christians. The words under the statue say “Que votre
reigne vienne” (May your kingdom come). Over the past six
months, several members of the church distributed gospels of
Luke to every mailbox in the town. During the outreach, the
OM team walked around this town praying that the Word of
God would touch the lives of people in Barlin. God, may your
Kingdom indeed come to Barlin!
If you would like more informa-
tion on the work of OM France, or
would like to be involved in a
similar outreach, please contact us:

OM France
+ 33 (0)1 60 18 18 18
ShortTerm.fr@om.org

WWW.OM.ORG