Image: 1881 Henry Hugh Armstead (London 1828–1905); Dalziel Brothers, engraver (London active 1839–93); in the Public Domain

Circling the City

By Dennis Teague

In several churches in France, we are living in extraordinary days. We are seeing things some have never seen. For others, it has been years since we have seen them. Before I describe what God is doing now, we need to look back. These days are built on the labor invested by missionaries and French workers throughout the years.

For decades, France was known as the “graveyard of missionaries.” Yes, we as Free Will Baptists have seen our share of injured warriors. In almost 60 years of work in France, many missionaries left for reasons varying from family needs to health issues. Yet, before they left, they made an impact and laid the foundation of faithfulness upon which we build today. As a result, the Lord of the harvest continues to build His Church in France.

Circling the City

Several years ago, the Lord gave some of us an awareness of a coming harvest in France. We began to share this awareness, both in France and the U.S. Often, we used the taking of the city of Jericho to illustrate what we believed the Lord was doing. We thought perhaps we were on our second or third day of circling the city. “Maybe it will happen within a few years,” we said hopefully. “Maybe, we are on our fourth or fifth day.”

Then, just a few years ago, we began to sense the sixth day was at hand, that the seventh was coming. This conviction kept us going, even through the COVID catastrophe.

Suddenly, we find ourselves with new personnel. Missionary kids married French ladies and joined the ranks. An American man married a French lady; they engaged in the battle. Our first French national missionaries entered the fray. A single young man enlisted with the team in the south as a career worker. Additionally, we added two new interns on the field and another on the way.

Until the arrival of Joel and Lydie Teague, Matt and Christina Price were our most recent reinforcements, a total of 17 years without new recruits! Suddenly, all these young, new warriors are arriving on the field of battle. How our hearts rejoice!

Oh, there are challenges. The enemy is raising his head, but it is so good to see our Father building our team for the seventh turn of the seventh day. What a shout that will be! Already, we feel the ground shaking. Cracks are appearing in those thick, massive walls. Is it possible the Lord of the harvest is preparing the people of France, and us, for such a time as this? Is it possible the walls are coming down? Some of us believe so. Let me tell you why.

Crumbling Walls

About two years ago, a young lady with a baby in her arms walked through the doors of our church in St. Nazaire. Her mother walked beside her. The following Sunday they returned. This time, they brought her stepfather. After church, this middle-aged man asked if he could speak to Matt and me. Of course, we agreed. The first thing he said was, “I am an atheist, but I might want to get baptized.”

What do you do with that? You love him and all the family around him. To make a long story short, today that former atheist, his wife, his stepdaughter, and her husband are all baptized* believers. Have there been struggles? Are there struggles still today? Oh yes! But it is wonderful to see the “amazing grace” of the Lord at work in this family. Even they are in awe of the changes He has made in their lives. Broken family relationships are being restored. Their marriages are stronger. And it goes on and on.

A young couple walked into our St. Sébastien church one Sunday. Seeking something, but not sure what, they thought they might find answers in this little church. After several conversations, Myriam and David began Bible studies with them. A few weeks ago, the young man was baptized. They continue to participate and are growing in the Lord.

This past weekend at Mosaique, the new church plant led by Lydie and Joel Teague, was a special weekend with another to follow in a few weeks. What made it so special? In France, we take every opportunity to announce the gospel—including baptisms. We don’t have baptistries, so we use the ocean, swimming pools, or a portable baptistry like those often used by military chaplains. But whatever or wherever, we encourage those being baptized to invite their family and friends to come. And they do.

This past Saturday at 11:00 a.m., a young couple from Mosaique was baptized in their front yard. What? Yeah, we set up a couple of big tents with the portable baptistry up front and had church right in their yard. Joel shared a good explanation of who we are and why we baptize people who previously had been baptized as babies. After the service, as good Free Will Baptists, we ate lunch. Of course, we do it the French way. For some of us, it lasted four hours; but for family and friends, who knows what time they left. It was wonderful to see so many people asking questions about the gospel, so many believers sharing their faith. Over 60 of us filled the yard, including children. Only a third of those were from our church. The rest were family and friends with almost no knowledge of the gospel.

Yesterday, at St. Nazaire, I talked to a lady for the first time. She had attended three Sundays in a row, but this was the first time I had an opportunity to talk with her. She told me how much she enjoyed coming to our church. She went on to share a story we often hear these days. She is Catholic and sometimes attends a Catholic church. For some time, she has been dissatisfied, sensing the need for something more. She came to our church after a church member’s invitation. She thinks she has found what she was looking for, what was missing in her life.

One Sunday morning at St. Nazaire, a young couple entered the church. We greeted them and noticed the young lady sang easily during the worship service. However, the young man was not at ease. After a few weeks, we began to unravel their story. The young lady was from an evangelical church in eastern France. She moved to the area to live with her boyfriend at St. Nazaire. As a Christian, she knew she was living in sin. Her boyfriend, however, was an atheist with little interest in the gospel. To be with this lady, he conceded to attend church with her. Again, through many difficult times, things dramatically changed for these two and all those around them. They no longer live together. This sister is now a member of the church, involved in the worship team and other ministries. My brother—yes, the former atheist—is now baptized and following the Lord.

Through many ups and deep downs, the Lord proves He is still alive and well in their lives as they continue to grow in Him. Oh, how God is patient and faithful!

Bear with me as I give you just one more example of why we believe the walls are coming down. A man in his mid-30s walked into the church at Mosaique. Friendly, he smiled a lot, visited, asked questions, and took some books to read. He and his girlfriend both were seeking answers to their questions. After a few months, they returned. Now attending regularly, this couple often brings friends. He has so many questions but is finding answers that satisfy his soul. In a couple of weeks, we will have his baptismal service on Friday night. He will invite his family and friends. Afterwards, we will hang around ready to have discussions which often open doors previously firmly shut.

I often say we have a highly developed strategy at the St. Nazaire church: we open the doors and let the Lord bring them in. It is so true. Many former missionaries would have loved to see what we are seeing today. They laid the foundation. Now, we have the privilege to watch the Lord build His Church on those foundations.

Yes, France has been known as the “graveyard of missionaries,” and many previous missionaries understand the truth of that statement. It is still a difficult place to minister. However, though the battle may be difficult, the Lord is bringing about changes in the French people and the French culture. He is preparing a time of harvest. I could tell you many more stories of the graciousness of God and how He is bringing people to Himself.

A Call to Arms

However, as Jesus Himself stated when He saw the crowd of lost people in front of Him, “the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). The need for the French to step up has never been more urgent. The time for French national missionaries to step forward has never been greater. We need many more like the Chereau family. We need many more sisters like Lydie and Myriam. The need for church planters has never been greater than it is today. Despite the recent additions of missionaries, many needs remain. The need for workers has never been greater.

It is time for His Church to be more present and visible than ever before. God has prepared. God is calling. Are we listening?

*In France, missionaries complete four pre-baptism sessions with candidates to ensure a clear profession of faith and understanding of what baptism is and why it is for believers.

About the Writer: Dennis Teague and his wife Carol have spent most of their lives serving in France. Entering the fight for the hearts of the French people in 1973, they have marched faithfully, preparing for the seventh day. Learn more: www.iminc.org.