Philip and Rosemary Halliday
September 2024
Prayer Letter
We are writing to you at the end of what has been an extraordinary time, during the Paris Games (and with the Paralympic Games just beginning). For the French Christian community, these Paris Games have marked a period of unprecedented collaboration, intense prayer, and diverse actions that we believe will leave a lasting impact.
“Game of life” project
The goal of the "Game of Life" project has been to share hope in Jesus on the streets of Paris and throughout the Greater Paris region.
Around 1,000 Christians paired up every day and spread out across the fan zones, the metro stations, and other public places.
As well as engaging people in conversation, they distributed a small, pocket-sized booklet (in French or English) that had been especially created for the Paris Games, with an introduction from Australian high-jumper Nicola Olyslagers, world champion and Olympic silver medallist.
In addition to the Gospel of Mark, the booklet included testimonies of a number of Olympians, suggested Bible reading plans, a short history of the ancient and modern Games, a timeline of the dates of the Paris events, and lots of other useful information for visitors. There was also a map with a QR code that people could flash to find a range of Christian churches in Paris.
Do pray for those who received a booklet or spoke with a "Game of Life" pair.
Paris Praise Festival
Churches and ministries across Paris worked together to put on this remarkable series of events. More than 33 artists from all around the world, representing a multitude of musical styles, came together to offer an unforgettable week at the Paris Praise Festival.
The festival featured evening concerts in eight different venues, including - at times - simultaneous concerts in different Paris locations. Happily, these concerts were packed full!
The festivities were not limited to the evenings and to those eight venues, however. Throughout the afternoons, a number of strategic outdoor locations across Paris hosted dance and music events, offering passers-by not only an artistic performance but also an opportunity to hear about hope in Jesus.
During this intense week, a further 15,000 of the above booklets were distributed.
A lasting legacy
There is not the space to tell you adequately about the Prayer Marathon, the art exhibitions, the Holy Workout, the daily live radio broadcasts, the Family Fit sessions, the Christian surfers, and so much more.
Happily, this surge of collaboration and prayer will not stop with the end of the Games! The legacy of these efforts is a strengthened network of churches and ministries ready to continue their mission together. We are persuaded that the relationships established and methods developed during this period of the Paris Games will serve as a foundation for future initiatives.
Family News
On the family front, our first two “children” had a hectic Paris Games, given that both work for Eurostar. The organisers' aim was to make Paris 2024 the “greenest ever Games” and the entire teams from GB, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany travelled by train.
Our youngest came over from the UK with her family (also by Eurostar) to experience something of the atmosphere, and the four of them enjoyed supporting Team GB in the fan zones.
Whilst out and about in Paris, Rosemary bumped into the official Games mascot. Of course she did! 😉
Prayer Points
- That God would continue to work in the minds and hearts of the tens of thousands who met with Christians and/or accepted a booklet (with Mark's Gospel) during the Paris Games.
- For the 'second chapter', during the Paralympic Games.
- That the surge of collaboration and prayer during the Games, within the French Christian community, might serve as a foundation and model for future mission initiatives in France.
With our warm good wishes and our thanks for your ongoing support,
Philip & Rosemary.