Prayer Letter

BMS and the French Baptists: a new chapter

In recent years, BMS's work has been grouped under three banners which summarise three strategy areas:

'Heart for the Gospel', taking the good news to some of the hardest-to-reach places.

'Hope for the World', delivering practical help to people in desperate circumstances by providing access to healthcare, pathways to justice, and flourishing livelihoods.

'Help for the Journey', meaning that people forcibly displaced by war, natural disasters, or persecution are met with support, shelter, and a warm welcome.

BMS's current work in France is part of the 'Help for the Journey' programme, with a particular focus on France as a destination country for forcibly displaced people. With help from organisations outside of Europe, the aim is to bring trained ministry workers from the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia to France (and other European countries), to work among same-culture or near-culture refugee and asylum-seeker communities.

We were glad to participate in a summit meeting in Paris last month which brought together the senior leadership teams of BMS and the French Baptist Federation, with additional guests from the Middle East and the European Baptist Federation. It was an important time of thinking and planning about how to go further in implementing what is a new chapter in the partnership between BMS and the French Baptists.

Help for the Journey

When BMS launched its 'Help for the Journey' programme, it seemed to us that there would be value in conducting an 'audit' of the French Baptist Federation, to see what work was already being done that corresponded to this new strategy area. Here is what we learned:

* 50% of French Baptist churches have activities aimed at ministering to refugees and asylum-seekers

* 66% of churches have illegal or not-yet-legal refugees and asylum-seekers attending Sunday services

* 88% of churches have first-generation migrants attending Sunday services

* 33% of churches are currently making their buildings available to other congregations whose members come from a refugee or migrant background.

European Baptist Federation: annual Council

In our previous BMS regional leadership role, we always attended the Council meetings of the European Baptist Federation (EBF). This annual event brings together around 150 leaders of national Baptist unions across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

After a gap of seven years, Philip enjoyed being back at the Council a few weeks ago. He was there to represent the French Baptists and, in particular, to accompany their new General Secretary, Éric, on what was his first encounter with the EBF family.

Family News

We were pleased to be able to take some annual leave recently to catch up with our extended families and a number of friends in the UK. A highlight was the opportunity to meet our first great-niece, Lyla, at just two-weeks old. 😊

The weather was better than we expected, enabling us to spend some gloriously sunny days walking around Edinburgh and to see other parts of the country looking beautiful in Autumn colours. What a treat!

Prayer Points

- Pray that the new chapter in the partnership between BMS and the French Baptists (within the 'Help for the Journey' strategy area) will be a fruitful one.

- Ask for God's blessing on the work that the French Baptists are already doing to minister to refugees and asylum-seekers.

- Continue to pray for Éric, in his first term as General Secretary.

With our warm good wishes and our thanks for your ongoing support,

Philip & Rosemary.