November 24, 2009
Brad and Tina Reynolds are living out the C&MA DNA through their ministry in France. The couple planted a French-speaking church, Eglise Protestante Internationale, with the inaugural service in May 2009. It was the first new church in the Toulouse suburb of Léguevin since the 12th century. After several baptisms and family dedications to the Lord, nearly 80 adults and children now attend the church. In the following, Brad reflects on the essential role of Alliance core values in his ministry.
Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish nothing. This phrase is one of the core values of The Alliance. Our movement began with an emphasis on the deeper life, the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit, and living daily this infilling. Not only is it one of our core values but also it’s biblical. So at the very beginning of this new church, we are focusing on the importance of living a holy life in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Last Sunday, we considered Ephesians 5:18 and talked about the steps to take in order to be filled with the Spirit. It was a holy moment. The worship had led us to the message. The message led us to prayer. Just prior to the Lord’s Table, we asked God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, to help us to live repentance and lives of submission to Him. As the worship team sang Tim Hughes’ song, “Consuming Fire,” members came forward to remember the Lord’s death and His coming again. Please pray for our church, that we will be a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered congregation.
Lost people matter to God. He wants them found. This Alliance core value is our motivation for inviting our friends to come to the Alpha course, a seeker-friendly Bible study. At our last meeting, the meal was from the French island of Martinique, and the topic was prayer. In our two small groups, guests talked about prayer, what it means, how it affects our lives. At the conclusion of the evening, team members led in prayer, unassuming, basic prayers in an effort to demonstrate that prayer is simply part of a relationship with God. Pray for our six guests, that they will find this relationship with God the most natural thing in the world.
Prayer is the primary work of God’s people. On Saturday, 16 people who attend our church spent at least one hour in our church prayer room doing their primary work. Tina and our prayer leader, Philippa, had decorated the room with vines and verses, expressing God’s promises about abiding in Him. Members prayed for the future of our congregation, trusting God that He will continue to be the One we seek to please, the One for whom we live. Pray that we will truly be a “house of prayer” and that God will teach us how to pray in a way that honors and glorifies Him.
Living His Call Together With You,
Brad & Tina
Learn More
Check out our Alliance work in France.
What You Can Do
Praise the Lord for this pioneer ministry in Léguevin. Pray that all those who hear the life-changing message of the gospel in this house of prayer will receive Him as Savior.
Help keep Alliance workers such as Brad and Tina on the field. Donate now to Alliance Great Commission Ministries.