October 3, 2008

Dear Fellow Servants,

Last Saturday night we drove three hours to attend a birthday dinner for our neighbor across the street. Mireille was celebrating her 50th birthday. We are privileged to be counted among their closest friends. When we first met Mireille, she informed us that she was an atheist. She was reared by parents who were atheist. However, she and Jean-Luc, her husband, have been very interested in what we believe. Just as everyone was getting ready to "dig in" at the beginning of the meal, Mireille said, "Stop, everyone, I want John, our neighbor, who is a pastor to say a few words before we eat." I said, "Do you want me to pray?" She said, "Yes", and I did.

Thank you for your regular support which enables us to stay on the front line. About half of the people in France claim to be atheist. But, God saves atheists. In our Bible study in Mazere, 40% of saved participants are former atheists! Judy has a Bible class with two children at this location. The children's mother is a non-practicing Catholic and the father is an atheist.

God tells us that we are to encourage one another to love and good works. Let me share just one way that this can happen. In last month's letter, I mentioned the gift for Bibles from the Vacation Bible School offering of New Testament Baptist Church in Penntown, Indiana. When another supporter read the letter, he said that his son led a children's ministry and asked if we could use a gift from them for Bibles. This grade school age group from Cheney Baptist Church in Cheney, Kansas also sent a gift for Bibles. These two groups of children together gave several hundred dollars for Bibles. Now, that is a good investment in troubled financial times. Heaven and earth will pass away but the Word of God abides forever. This wise choice is the result of adults encouraging children to love and good works, of one group's example encouraging another group to love and good works, of children encouraging each other to love and good works and all of them encouraging us to love and good works. Keep up the encouraging!

All of our regular services and Bible studies are going well.

May the Lord keep you and may you enjoy His gifts in the month ahead.

Giving the Good News in France,

John and Judy Hatcher