Equipe de Tours 2003-2004
left to right: Global Action team (2003-2004)
Anna (UK), Alex (UK), Steve (UK), (Pioneers Marc & Jody van Eijden), Foluso (UK), Jennifer (USA), Jessisca (Malaysia)
In 2001, Operation Mobilisation France and another mission called France Mission decided to join forces to help plant new churches in the Loire Valley. The first real project was launched in January 2003 in the city of Tours, with the arrival of a dynamic team of six – a wonderful answer to our prayers.
But why did they decide to come?
“When we heard about a new team starting in Tours, it was as if the Lord was saying to my husband and I: “So what about you two going then?” We took a decision to leave our jobs in England for a year in order to take part in this exciting church-planting project.” (Anna & Alex, UK).
“I decided to stay one more year in France because God showed me the enormous spiritual need here. There are simply very few Christians here and many lost people.” (Jennifer, USA)
This is the city that became a great centre of the faith under the ministry of Saint Martin during the fourth century A.D. Tours was like the “Antioch” of western Gaul, from which missionaries were sent far and wide. 1,600 years later, a local missionary with France Mission writes: “The people of Tours know a lot about a lot of things, but many of them know next to nothing about Jesus Christ, a tragic situation which urgently needs to be put right!”
We built a partnership with a missionary couple, Marc and Jody van Eijden, in the Northern district of the city, with a population of more than 280,000. There were already several evangelical churches in Tours at that time, but the Northern sector had never had an evangelical witness.
The presence of an evangelism team multiplies considerably the number of potential contacts with local people, known as les Tourangeaux. The focus in the team’s evangelistic work was creating relationships through a variety of different avenues. All were involved in different ways with the Maison de la Solidarité, a local community centre offering practical assistance for the under-privileged (computer courses, second-hand clothing, after-school care for children etc.). Pastor Marc commented, “the team’s enthusiasm has been greatly appreciated” - so much so that the Maison arranged for the team to hold an international afternoon tea and 20 people turned up! The team saw this as a “prelude” to inviting a number of people home to deepen friendships. Hospitality became a real priority in the team’s work.
Grant (USA) and Stéphane (F) played basketball with some local guys, and Grant had the opportunity to go running regularly with a few blokes he met at the Café de Langues, which is another avenue the team took full advantage of in Tours. Every Monday evening, language-learners gathered to practise speak their second language (be it English, German, Chinese etc.). Being a learner is something that opens many doors, and many of the personal contacts that the team made were through this language café. Several were invited back to the team apartment for a coffee or to share a meal.
Language study was a priority, and a real challenge for some on the team still learning. Jennifer commented, “The language aspect, and organising the weekly schedule has been more difficult than we originally anticipated.” But in view of the complexity of what they were trying to do, it was exciting to see what they already achieved in the first six months.
Some comments from OM team members in 2004:
“Since arriving in France, I have experienced spiritual attack unlike any I’ve know before.”
“The concept of being a ‘intern in the Protestant Evangelical Church of North Tours’ is a real novelty to most French people I’ve spoken to so far! But when asked to do a questionnaire about religion, they are usually ready and willing to talk. It’s as though they’ve been waiting for someone to ask.”
“The Christian life is lived out in the context of relationships. There is perhaps no better place for God to work on you character than in a team of people doing Christian work.”
Jennifer (USA) explains the team’s activities towards the end of 2004:
“We have done questionnaires and invited people along to the weekly Bible study at church. There is always at least one person searching for faith. We distribute tracts at the market place twice a month and from time to time into letterboxes. We’ve joined a small choir and organised a concert. One of us plays the clarinet and has joined a local orchestra.”
Today attendance at the Sunday church service is modest but this small Christian community is becoming known, thanks to Marc and Jody’s outreach to the community and their willingness to work with other churches in Tours. Home Bible study groups have played a crucial role in the ministry since day one. The church continues to grow and has had to move into a new building as a result! Please continue to pray for this pioneering work and for more workers to help build the church in Tours-nord.