Shepherding Trips Report

The Lord is doing an intensified work today in Europe. In a short time a handful of saints migrated to France and Luxembourg this year. We are expecting that the lampstands in Nanterre, Lille, and Toulouse will be raised up very shortly. The Lord has now begun something definite in Rouen and Esch, Luxembourg, and we believe the Lord will raise up lampstands in these 2 cities next.

 

Please pray:

The world situation is quickly changing. The Lord is surely stirring up the governments in the major powers on the earth so that the situation will be prepared and all His promises will be fulfilled. The earth will be judged, and His bride will be prepared. With this in view we must realize that our Lord needs to move to raise up His shining testimony in many places, especially in the places where Antichrist will be so active in the end times.

 

With the Olympics in Italy fast approaching in 2026, with the Torch Relay beginning in December, the co-workers from several European countries gathered in Rome to pray and fellowship concerning the Lord’s move in Italy. The brothers all had a strong feeling that the propagation during the Olympics should be a burden for all the European churches and not just the churches in Italy. The overwhelming sense among the brothers in France is that the Lord did such a marvelous thing in French-speaking Europe through the prayer and move in His Body—so many churches prayed weekly and so many dear ones from all over the earth came to labor here—that we must join Him and the brothers in Italy so He can do what He needs to do in Italy for His soon return!

 

Let’s pray that:

Before the shepherding trip I didn’t know what to expect, and I thought that we would meet with new ones, be in a lot of meetings, and do outward works. However, what I did with most of my time in France was to pray! Before we initiated, spoke, or did anything, we simply prayed. To me, praying is just breathing, and praying in harmony with one another is music to the Lord’s ears. Praying is the switch to release anything that He has already released in the heavens!

 

I saw and learned that we can pray at any time and in any place. In the past months I’ve prayed with other saints during prayer meetings, at dinner tables, in living rooms even with children running around, in cramped buses, in cafés, and in car rides. I used to think that there are specific times and places for prayer; but really, there is not. We get shut up by the enemy by thinking this way. When we pray at every time and every place, the Lord has a way to move at that very moment. If there are people praying around the world at every second, then the Lord can move at every second, unhindered! 

 

I am no longer in France, but not being there does not prevent me from participating in the Lord’s move in France. Each time we pray, we are laying down the tracks for Him to move!

I have a sense that someone on the other side of the globe who is praying in one accord with the saints for His move is at the forefront of the divine history today. We must all go on in prayer for the Lord to advance in the final stage of His move!

 

By the Lord’s mercy I have been able to visit Paris a few times since the end of last year’s Olympics gospel trips; each visit was for over a month. It has been a privilege to participate in the fellowship and labor of the full-time team as well as in the regular meetings and conferences of the church.

 

In addition to meeting new ones and seeing their progress in the faith, it has been a joy to get better acquainted with local saints, both the ones who are recent transplants and those who are longtime residents. The supply and fellowship in the Body are realized in the constant circulation of saints from all over the world who are here for shepherding or are here for a short visit.

 

While we endeavor to be faithful and well-pleasing to the Master in any work we do, it seems the Lord is looking to gain us in our actual living as those who love Him, the One who is altogether lovely and worthy of our offering as a fragrant testimony of His sweetness (cf. Matt. 26:8, note 1). By serving in Europe I feel less complacent about the Lord's return, and my love toward Him is rekindled. Come, Lord Jesus!

 

Sharing from a family that has migrated to Paris
Last year in 2024 the Lord gave me an opportunity to join the September summer gospel Olympic trip. During that trip saints encouraged me to consider moving to France, since I could work online from anywhere. I didn’t take it seriously, since I never had a desire to live in France. One day I came across an excerpt concerning Europe; Brother Lee repeatedly asked, “Who is willing to be burdened to go there?” (The Kernel of the Bible, ch.18). I realized that the Lord is after our willingness. I simply told the Lord, “I don’t have a burden, but I’m willing to be burdened.” I believe this prayer sowed a seed which led to many developments in our practical matters, allowing us to migrate to France.

 

My wife told me that the Lord had recently touched her about a burden for Europe. She was impressed that the Lord’s present move in France began with a small group of saints praying steadfastly for three years, and she developed a desire to be part of this kind of prayer and the Lord’s move in France. As we continued to pray and fellowship with our local brothers as well as the brothers in France, the Lord continued speaking and confirming our feeling for migration.

 

On the other hand, our children, who are 8 and 2, had been one of our biggest concerns in considering all the practical matters. Yet the Lord has been so faithful in caring for all their needs. Our daughter just began school a week ago, and it was encouraging to see her learning French and making new friends. We are not sufficient of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.

 

Man’s move is needed for God’s move. It is a blessing to be part of His present move in France. “Lord, these days are the consummation of the age. Lord, in these days rekindle my love toward You.” (CWWL, 1991–1992, vol. 1, p. 277)

 

Report from Rouen, including a recent Gospel Trip
Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region in northern France, was one of the target cities during the 2024 Olympics gospel trips. The UK churches bore the burden for a testimony in Rouen. The greater Rouen area is home to more than 40,000 students, 34,000 of whom are enrolled at the University of Rouen Normandy (URN). Since last summer saints from London have continuously visited Rouen to shepherd the new ones that we had met during the gospel trips.

 

Earlier this year a retired couple from California migrated to Rouen! There are now two young sisters from Taiwan studying French at URN. This provides a base, a way for the one-on-one shepherding, small group gatherings, and times with the visiting shepherding UK saints.

 

Eight FTTL trainees with four French-speaking full-timers from the Paris team joined with the local saints to distribute Bibles and preach the gospel near URN during the week of September 7-12. This week was full of enjoyment as we labored together with the Lord in meeting seeking believers and curious unbelievers. We handed out 240 New Testament Recovery Versions, and 35 students gave their contact information, with more than ten of these ones responding. We had a harvest meeting on the last night, and 4 new ones came. A number of others said that they would have loved to come but already had other commitments. One asked, “When will the next meeting be?”

 

This one week showed us that the field at URN is white, ready for those who will labor here. Pray that another couple will migrate to Rouen and that some younger saints can come as students so that the Lord can raise up His testimony here. Pray for the cherishing and nourishing care of the new ones from the University and that these new ones will enter into a day-to-day church life in Rouen.

 

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.