Shepherding Trips Report
April 2025
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Last summer we sowed the seeds of the “gospel of the kingdom,” and it is wonderful to see how the Lord is continuing on! In Paris and the cities around it, and in Lille, Rouen, Toulouse, and Luxembourg, the seeds sown are sprouting and growing as the new ones are being fed weekly during one-on-one times, fellowships around the dinner table, Bible studies, and small group meetings. We look to the Lord to raise up new lampstands in at least three places this year. A good number of the “shepherding ones” are giving 1-3 months to come and serve and feed these young lambs. In this we see the lovely coordination in the Body. How marvelous to see saints from all over the earth coming to be blended together to care for His lambs! We must thank and praise Him!

Currently, there are 12 full-time serving ones on the team in Paris and 4 in the process of getting visas to come. This team is already following up to care for the ones we met during the Bible distributions in the places where we labored last summer. We look to the Lord to call more who can serve in this way.
 
There will be a French-speaking conference in Paris at the end of April, and a group of co-workers are coming specifically to fellowship concerning the furtherance of the Lord’s move in French-speaking Europe. May the Lord lead us during this time, especially concerning the matter of new churches being raised up.
 
Prayer Burdens:
  1. Lord, release all the visas!
  2. Lord, call some to migrate!
  3. Lord, call more to serve full time!
  4. Lord, raise up 3 churches this year!

European University Conference
The spring European University Conference was held on the last weekend of March. There were 54 participants from France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Fifteen of these were new ones that we met during the Olympic Bible distributions. One of these was baptized during the conference.
 
Here is the sharing of some of the new ones about the conference:
  • ‘Redeeming the time because the days are evil,’ Eph. 5:16. “We need to realize the times we live in and redeem our time. When we lose our phone or our passport, it is very annoying, but there is still a way to solve the problem by buying a new phone or making a new passport. However, when we lose time, this time is gone forever, and it is impossible to get it back. This is why the enemy is trying so hard to take our time. We still have time, but we don’t have time left to waste.”
  • “I’ve always been a very solitary person, thinking that no one could understand me and that I was the only one who had to deal with the situations I faced, even though I had many friends in the world. Honestly, I felt very exhausted. When I met the brothers and sisters last summer, I realized I couldn’t do it by myself, and it was a huge relief for me, as if a heavy burden had been taken away from me. Now when I’m on my way to the meetings and I see the brothers and sisters, I feel like I’m returning home. I know now that we have a real family in Christ, and I’m so happy to be here [in the conference] with these 500+ family members.”
  • “I really enjoyed the verse in 2 Timothy 2:22, because in our human nature, despite our motivation or will, it is impossible to succeed by ourselves; there are too many idols around us and in us, and we fall too easily into temptation and sin. This verse shows us that we need to flee youthful lusts, but also that we need to pursue: we need to develop a strong relationship with God, we need to pray to Him every day and seek Him, and we also need to do it together. With these messages I realized that I couldn’t rely on myself. I used to think that I didn’t need God and that I had to take care of things by myself, such as supporting my family, but I was always so scared. But since I met the brothers and sisters, I feel less stressed and anxious, less burdened. I am so thankful to the Lord that He allowed me to meet all of you, because before I was very alone.”
  • “In my room I was with other French brothers, but also with a Chinese brother, two Koreans, and one Spanish brother. I was amazed to see how universal our faith is and how it connects people much more than anything else. Also, seeing these 500+ Christians made me realize that we are a real family all around the world; we are all members of the Body of Christ. I enjoyed this matter of companions, that we can pursue all together with those who are around us. But I was also touched by those ‘companions’ who live far away, whom we don’t necessarily know but who still pray for you and your city. I was touched by their faith, their faithfulness, and their heart of prayer.”
  • “With the Christian life there is no more loneliness. As much as the Lord is in our spirit, He is also with us physically through our companions (John 14:20, “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you”). Since I came into the church life, the Lord has always been there for me through my companions, and this conference made me realize that I also need to be a companion to others and shepherd them, because it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35); the feeding must be mutual. These companions are the ones who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Moreover, knowing the times we live in is very important, but it doesn’t only mean that we need to know everything about wars, beasts, or Antichrist. We need to use this time to also find Christ in every saint we meet so we can enjoy more of God’s present light and enjoy more of each others’ portion.”
  • “I enjoyed that we were encouraged to find companions, because we can’t make it without the Body of Christ. Despite being a Christian for a long time, I was not familiar with this concept of companions, but it changes everything in your life. Our human nature tends toward people that we appreciate, who are like us. The Lord won’t necessarily give you those that you want, but He gives you those that you need. For example, a sister became my companion, and she is the complete opposite of me, very organized and a morning person, and still, we call each other every morning to read together. So companions are important because they help you to go on in the Lord, to turn to Him again and again (2 Tim. 2:22).”

Sharing from Shepherding Saints
  1. While we are nearing the end of our time of shepherding the new ones here in Lille, we both are feeling sad about leaving. Our time here helping the local saints to shepherd all these new ones has been an experience we will remember forever. This time has been so precious, seeing these new believers go on, and some are even looking after their friends. Many new ones are becoming so constituted with the Word. I believe the way that the local saints are taking with all these new ones is the Lord’s arrangement. For three months we have been living the God-ordained way, meeting house to house, singing, praying, reading the word, and being blended with all the serving saints here. I can honestly say that this has been amazing; I’m sure this is what the Lord wants. I would encourage any saint who wishes to experience such a church life to come to France and help shepherd these new ones, so that golden lampstands will be established in this country. The only demand is that you need to be able to shepherd, sing, walk, and cook; age is not even a factor. A brother told me that saints should just come for a holiday, not to sight see old buildings, etc., but to see shining faces and be a part of God’s building in France. There is such a need for more saints to come and serve. Whatever your age, just come; the Lord will take care of your every need, as He took care of ours.
  2. We are coming to the end of our shepherding trip, and it will be so sad to leave all these new believers. They have really gotten into our hearts, and we have so enjoyed their openness to us. They have just accepted us, and not once have we felt any kind of preference. We were astounded at their growth in life after only a few months! This has been such an encouragement. The whole time we have been in Lille, we have enjoyed the saints here — their commitment and supply from the Lord to shepherd tirelessly, to provide untold meals, and to include us in all the activities. I especially enjoyed the meetings we had with the serving saints; these were always full of enjoyment, full of the word, and full of fellowship. So refreshing! I feel the Lord has exposed me in my ways, especially my individualism, and has perfected me in my shepherding and enlightened me more concerning His economy. The ministry that we have read over and over with the new ones has been unsearchably rich and new each time. The Lord is faithful to keep speaking again and again! I have had a lot of concepts concerning being an older one in the Lord’s recovery, but these have all been swallowed up by life! The older ones are SO necessary, as these young ones need the older ones as patterns. One of the sisters said to me that we were patterns in how to be married! This was a cherishing moment for me, and I realized that even though we are just a normal couple, they see something else, since in the world there are no patterns whatsoever. Also, the older ones have many, many years of experience that can be a supply and encouragement to the new ones. I am going to treasure this time in Lille for the rest of my life. I would really encourage the older ones throughout the world to give some of their time, energy, money, and supply to come and shepherd all these dear ones. The rewards are much greater than you realize. May the Lord keep burdening us for His economy, may He thrust out the workers, and may we respond to His calling by saying Amen.

 
Giving
Saints who are burdened to give for the Bible distribution and other expenses can give through LME by following instructions at lordsmove.org/offerings.html. Designate offerings for “Paris Olympics.”
Archived Reports
Read all the past gospel reports here.
 
 
268 bd Gambetta
Tourcoing, 59200, France