Testimonials
Better Than a Zip Line!
Flying through the jungle canopy hooked to a zip line may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it's a rush that describes our lives and ministry lately. It also happens to be one of the experiences we offered the youth from Alpine Chapel in Chicago who visited us last month. They'd come for more than just the rush of a zip line and the inevitable scraped knees, however.
Several times a year, the Costa Rica team organizes trips for youth groups from North America. The students help jump-start a youth ministry in a local church, witness in public schools, and stay with host families.
In addition to the zip line experience, one of the highlights for the Alpine group was sharing in various English classes at a nearby High School. Throughout two days many Costa Rican students made professions of faith. As a result, our Costa Rican youth group observed the North American youth's passion for sharing their faith and caught some of that passion themselves.
Even better, when Adam (a member of the Alpine group) returned home he realized he could do the same thing with his own friends. So he did! As a result, Adam's best friend decided to become a follower of Christ as well. In the meantime we saw more young people make decisions for the Lord at a weekend outreach camp!
The rush of a zip line pales in comparison to that!
Woody Roland, Latin America Area Director.
Baptisms in France
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another. John 13:35
Baptisms mark the life of a local church.
Four baptisms celebrated on a Spring Sunday stand out in the life of the Centre Evangélique Protestant, located in Grenoble, France (CEP). The testimonies of those who were baptized underscored that the CEP was on the way to being a transforming community.
One woman in her early 50’s spoke of her battles with an occult past and the healing that she found in Christ through the love and prayers of the body of Christ.
Another young woman discovered the CEP through an exchange student from Mexico. When her friend left she continued attending; finding a place where her faith could grow. After more than a year of attending the CEP she realized that Christ was calling her to a deeper commitment. She placed her complete confidence in Christ.
Another young woman, the child of missionaries, came to the point in her life where she decided to follow Christ. Her grandfather was also baptized that Sunday. His daughter had come to faith as a student 20 years earlier and subsequently married a Canadian missionary. He regarded their faith and the evangelical churches they served with suspicion. Due to the health needs of his wife they moved to be closer to their daughter and began to attend the CEP. Over the years he had observed the reality of the faith of his daughter and her family and now he experienced firsthand the love of the body. He decided that he too wanted to be a follower of Christ.
Matt and Sylvie Glock, Missionaries in France
