Archives For France

le VBS

Chris —  July 18, 2009

After a tough week in France, I feel very blessed.  I can’t get over the beauty of the place, and I’ve entertained fantasies of disappearing into these hills and cafes with nothing but a moleskin and a Bible, avoiding the uncertainties waiting for me when I get home.

Ministry here is not too different that in the U.S.  Watered down westernized versions of Christ’s message have innoculated people against Christ’s message.  Most times, we have to start by, to borrow a phrase from marketing, rebranding, or from YoungLife, “win the right to be heard.”

When I worked with homeless kids we just treated them like human beings by taking them to movies or pool halls.  In other places ministries it’s taken place over gallons of coffee.  Here, it means knowing someone long enough to get them to tell you their name; convincing them that being a Christian does not mean thinking the world is flat or being a war-monger.

Results aren’t tangible like Bible’s smuggled, orphans who swam or school houses painted.  We herded three dozen kids through Vacation Bible School.  Last night, the missionary here ate at a restaurant ran by the parents of one of the visiting kids.  It might not seem like much, but it’s one relationship that they wouldn’t have formed without the extra momentum stirred up by VBS.

For my faithful readers back in the States, I hope you’ll think about how you can both represent and re-present the gospel to your friends and neighbors and win the right to be heard.

This is Nice.

Chris —  July 17, 2009

We arrived in Nice, France on Monday, evening. From what I’ve read and personally experienced on this trip, it seems that France and Western Europe may be the hardest mission field today. The combination of abuses from Middle Ages Catholicism, the brutal wars that followed the Reformation, the Holocaust, early postmodern philosophers and a number of other factors have left most Europeans pretty burnt out on the Gospel.

While we’re here, we are helping with a VBS and other events in a small international Church. Pray that God will open doors for us and the missionaries here.

What Are You Doing This Summer?

Chris —  March 13, 2009

For those of you who still don’t have summer plans, you might consider a trip around the world with my friend Sarah over at www.globaljourney.org.  Here’s what she has planned:

  • Hang out with Slum Dogs in India
  • Help out at an AIDS orphanage in Uganda
  • Get to know the Muslim population of Paris
  • Run a sports camp for Nicaraguan children

The trip takes place over 60 days this summer.  It’s a great opportunity if you are interested in mission work, but not sure you know where you want to go.  It’s also great for students or teachers trying to make the most out of their summer.  For more information, contact Sarah Rinn at sarah@globaljourney.org.