Philip and Rosemary Halliday
July 2024
Prayer Letter
As we write you this letter, we are beginning a period of six weeks' Home Assignment in the UK. We are looking forward to catching up with some churches who have been faithfully supporting us for over 30 years, as well as to meeting others for whom it will be our first visit.
Paris Games 2024
Things are hotting up here, as we approach the Paris Games.
In terms of capitalising on the opportunity to share hope in Jesus, you will be glad to learn that all efforts are being made to work in a coordinated manner. The challenge is considerable, however, as Christian workers plan to come to France in their thousands.
The French Protestant Federation has taken the slogan “passing the baton of hope” for the Paris Games and reports that there are apparently going to be 10,000 street evangelists in French cities! There is also an official Paris Games chaplaincy, staffed by pastors from a number of different denominations (including the Baptists).
Locally, the young people in our Baptist churches in the southern half of Paris are collaborating on a 'digital mission' project, responding to enquirers who get in touch after seeing adds on social media and digital notice boards.
To learn more about what will be happening and how you can pray, you can consult the following website (which has an English-language version): www.ensemble2024.com/en
French Baptist Assembly
We recently held our annual French Baptist Assembly, and it was a very encouraging experience. The atmosphere was so serene and positive, with a sense of harmony and much good news to celebrate: the number of candidates training for pastoral ministry, new church-plants and others becoming 'fully fledged' churches, the appointment of a new General Secretary (Éric, whom we wrote about last time), and the creation of a new staff post with the appointment of a Director for Children's and Youth Work (Étienne). As a federation of churches, we are feeling blessed!
Each Assembly also provides a myriad of opportunities to catch up with old friends and to meet new people. There are typically around 400 participants and the event lasts two-and-a-half days, so you can usually manage to speak with just about everyone.
Anglo-French relations
Speaking of the new French Baptist General Secretary, Éric, we discovered that he is married to a Brit, Diane. More than that, we learned from Diane that she initially came to France as part of one of the very first crops of BMS Action Teams, in 1992-93, to spend a year living in community and serving in our Baptist church in Lille. What a small world!
Do pray for Éric and Diane and their youngest, James, who will be relocating to Massy next month.
Family News
In between our Home Assignment engagements, over the coming six weeks, we hope to be able to call in on various members of our extended families.
Our travels will take us from the Shetland Islands to Devon, and to a range of places in between. It is always enjoyable for us to catch up on everyone's news, as well as to share about what God is doing in France.
We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and that we might bring encouragement to each of the congregations we meet.
Prayer Points
- Ask for God's blessing on all the ministry that will be happening during the Paris Games.
- Give thanks for the positive French Baptist Assembly and for the signs of God's goodness.
- Ask for God's blessing on Éric and Diane and their youngest, James, as they relocate to Massy shortly.
- Pray for safe travel during our Home Assignment.
With our warm good wishes and our thanks for your ongoing support,
Philip & Rosemary.