May 30, 2005

Dear Partners,

We are presently enjoying the visit of the Fallwell family, Odali and Carrie Barros and Sarah Schuetter. Tom Fallwell is one of our pastors and we have been friends for many years. Amanda, our son Philip’s wife, is Tom and Lisa Fallwell’s daughter. Odali, my nephew is also married to one of their daughters. Sarah is also a member of Emmanuel Baptist church along with her family. They were our neighbors in Evansville. So, we have been blessed the last few days enjoying this time of fellowship.

Emmanuel Baptist Church has been a great blessing to us as we minister here in France. They constantly are asking if we have need of anything and then do whatever is necessary to meet the needs. 

We were able to start a new Bible study this month and are encouraged by it. This is different from those that we have started in the past because it is with a saved young lady. We have known this lady, who is in her early thirties, since first arriving in France. She lives in a city about an hour from us and knows of no other believers in her city. It has been a joy to see her become more encouraged in the Lord and looking for opportunities to be a witness in her area. 

Enjoying the visit of the Gwinn family on the Garrone River in Toulouse.  Pont Neuf, "new bridge," in the background is over 1,000 years old.

We have also been thrilled by the attendance at Sunday services of Shantha and his wife Nathalie. He is the former Hindu who read and studied the Bible with us for over a year. His wife had not displayed any interest until recently. The Lord has opened the door for Judy to spent time with Nathalie regularly in past few weeks and this has given Judy time to discuss spiritual matters with her. She says that she finds the study on Sundays very interesting. 

There are apparent setbacks from time to time, though we rarely mention them for at least a couple of reasons. First, you probably have enough discouraging events to deal with where you live. Second, we believe that God is in control and turns what is intended for evil to good. But, it would not be good to give you the impression that we go from thrilling victory to victory and cause you to think that God is not working around you because you so often seem to have setbacks. Two or three weeks ago, our neighbor from across the street who has attended services along with her family called to say that she was not returning to France from Germany where she had gone for a visit. We have prayed that God would use the events in this family to draw them to Christ. Though they have come to services for two years, neither of the adults in this family have made a profession of faith. They have three young children.

On the other hand, we will be having our first baptism about the time you read this, the Lord willing. 

Yesterday, the French voters rejected the European Constitution. It is the first and only country so far to reject it. It had already been approved by nine countries. All 25 countries must approve it for it to take effect. This is a major setback to the present French president. It is impossible for us to know exactly how this will affect the progress of the Gospel here. We encourage you to join us in prayer that God would you the circumstances to prepare hearts for the Gospel and enable us to proclaim it effectively.

The Lord has given us an opening with a family who lives just a couple of houses away from us. We have also had several opportunities open in other regions of France. Pray that God will give us the wisdom to know how to best use these opportunities for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

May God’s richest blessings be evident to you today. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Rejoicing in the Lord,

John and Judy Hatcher