Combined Report
October 5-24, 2001

Friday, October 05, 2001
Ready, set ....

We are at the airport in Dallas, waiting for our flight to Europe. This has been such a hectic time, yet I have seen God at work in a wonderful way through it all. Praise His name!

We go to Ireland, Scotland and N. Ireland before arriving in France on Tuesday night. We are praying to have a good introduction to the work in these places with new and old friends.

As I leave, there is still a need for $3,000 for everyone to be able to go. Join me in praying for that.

Thank you for your prayer support, and for many of you for participating by giving or going.

You can tell friends to send an email to mission-add@consultingpros.com and they will be signed up to receive reports.

Jerry

Saturday, October 06, 2001
Republic of Ireland

Dublin, Saturday night

We met tonight with one of the leaders of City Gate Church, Paul Dempsey. He is 35 and quite delightful. He is the father of 6, with the last one being just days old! He was so kind to carve out time for us. They have been very involved with the Willow Creek Association.

Paul indicated that IC presents a unique approach to shared evangelistic work. In the past, teams have come to Ireland and it has not been particularly positive. However, the IC approach and strategy, he said, would be more welcome.

I invited them to send an observer to Paris to see first-hand the final week-end of the project there and hear of the report time on Monday night.

Tomorrow we move on to Edinburgh, Scotland. We have several meetings there.

Please continue to pray,

Jerry & Janice

Monday, October 08, 2001
Arrived in Edinburgh Edinburgh (Scotland), Sunday night (late)

We arrived here tonight after a rather bad weather day in Dublin and when we got here. We are really tired, but felt a need to ask you to pray for tomorrow. We have two meetings: one at 11:00 am and the other at 12:30 to introduce the IC work to some new people here.

Sadly, I have not been able to contact a couple of old friends here to see them as well.

Pray for everyone as we get close to the France project kickoff.

Jerry

October 08, 2001
From Edinburgh to Belfast

Monday night, Belfast

What a day of fine meetings in Edinburgh, Scotland! I meet with two leaders of the Willow Creek work in Scotland and have developed with them a possible plan to reach out to more of the lost of Scotland. Please pray for Dave Richards and John Grant and they seek God's strategy for us to cooperate or not.

We have flown to Belfast, N. Ireland, tonight and look forward seeing it in the daylight, and then meeting tomorrow with Wallace Pepper a layman here, who is involved with Willow Creek Association as well. Then tomorrow evening to Paris.

We continue to feel a need for your prayers. Thank you for praying for us!

Jerry

Tuesday, October 09, 2001
In Paris!

Tuesday night, Paris

We has a wonderful visit with a fine, fine layman from Belfast, Northern Ireland, today. We met with Wallace Pepper, a great layman who is on the board of Willow Creek U.K. and has a real heart for evangelism. We joined him for lunch and a time to get to know each other. Sometimes one just has a quick "connection" with another sister or brother in Christ, and certainly that was the case today for me with Wallace!

We had lunch together and discussed the evangelistic possibilities for Northern Ireland and believers from there to go elsewhere. Wallace has agreed to pray through the possibilities and and make recommendations for International Crusades/Cooperation/Commission into the future.

Wallace was kind enough to drop us at the airport as well. His office and home are near the Belfast International Airport.

We had a great flight to Paris, with a stop in Cardiff. The RER train brought us from the airport to the Denfert-Rochereau station and a short taxi ride to the beautiful Sofitel Hotel. We are headed for a great experience in France.

The doorman at the hotel carried our bags inside, then pulled out a picture of the World Trade Center he had taken the first of September in New York. He told me he was so sorry this happened. He said, "This must not stop America! I [he] know it will not. They will build it back, even bigger and better."

If this is true for a building, surely it must be true for the eternal future of the people of France!

Pray for every person who is planning to come. Pray for courage to press on. The situation in Paris is totally calm.

Pray for their families who will question if God can take care of every person who comes.

Pray for the lost of France, that they will hear the gospel from faithful witnesses.

Thank you for your prayers!

Jerry

Thursday, October 11, 2001
First Group almost all here

Everyone from the first group have arrived safely, except for the Maltese who should be here in an hour. Of course there is much enthusiasm as everyone begins to "connect" with the country, the city and the culture. The weather here is splendid. almost all the flights have been late, primarily due to security checks in North America.

Most of the churches are doing the last-minute "getting ready" things for next week. Much excitement is building there as well.

We have a few more Canadians and the Belgians arriving tomorrow, with the Dutch coming into the week.

Thank you for your prayers. We are expecting great things from a mighty God!

Jerry

Saturday, October 13, 2001
Into French homes ....

Paris, Saturday evening

It is always this way, after they leave. A kind of "post-partum depression." All the participants who are here (1 more from the U.S. arrives Sunday morning, 1 from Holland comes Sunday afternoon and, finally, two more from Holland on Wednesday) have gone out to their homes and churches and cities.

I have received an email from Marseille and Mark Presley, the team leader said:

We are all in separate homes. I am staying with an American woman and her husband who have been missionaries here for some 20 years. He has a ministry to North Africans here in Marseille, and is originally from Morocco. They have been wonderful hosts. As you know, the church pastor is from England, and the church itself is in downtown Marseille. It is Saturday evening now, and I spent the evening with a youth program at the church. The youth were exceptionally responsive. Tomorrow we meet the church and it appears that the ministry will be a mix of work on the streets and visitations. The pastor seems to know exactly what he wants.

Here is a summary of those participating on the France campaign. We ended up with 89 people:

Belgium   3
Canada 28
Holland   3
Malta      2
USA     53
         ------
             89

The US group breaks out by state as:

CA 10
CO   9
FL    1
GA   6
NC   2
OK   2
SC    2
TX  21

Of the 21 from Texas, 17 are related to our church, FBC McKinney (plus 1 from Georgia, who used to be a member).

I praise the Lord for each person from every country who has come or is coming. I know God will be honoring their faithfulness!

This is the time to increase your prayer campaign for the teams and churches who are just now getting to know each other.

Let me also say that the situation is very quiet here. All is quite calm. As I have mentioned before, there is little understanding about the "panic" in America, since most countries in Europe live with the prospect of "terrorism" as a normal course. For example, I have CNN and there is much being made about the parking lot explosion in Madrid. However, the BBC covers it in a 30 second blurb, and very "matter-of-fact."

I hope that believers in America will step up to the plate and demonstrate their confidence in the Lord. There is no reason for concern, for not one thing that happens to any of us surprises God.

Whether I live or die is immaterial: for every breath that I take, every moment I live, every vision that I dream, every hope that I have belongs to the Lord Jesus. My prayer is that my life and, (more or less, but soon, in eternal terms, in any case) later, my death, will glorify the power of the Lord.

I depart for Budapest, via London tomorrow. Tuesday, I go to Zurich and on to Madrid. Please lift up those coming to Spain next week, most arriving Thursday and a group of 8 who are "double-dipping" on the France project and following with the Spain project.

Thank you in advance for your prayer...

Jerry

Sunday, October 14, 2001
Early reports from France

Sunday night

I have arrived in Budapest, but have some news from France. Young Trinh arrived just fine, an 18 year-old traveling alone. We had a bit of difficulty in finding her church in Colombes. They wanted her to come to their church instead of Marseille. The delay made me almost miss my flight.

Here is what I heard:

• From Don Paschal

We arrived safely, were met immediately when departing the train (so quickly we did not notice that the overnight bag had been left on the train, has been found, hope to have back by end of week after it clears bomb check; thankfully, Janice had her make-up in another bag, so God is very good), accommodations are fine, food is fine, warmth of people is great. Good service this morning. Pastor had message but gave me plenty of time for testimony and mini-sermon (20 to 25 min, which would be full sermon at home!) which I used for a challenge for the week to help in evangelism and bring in the lost (to homes, to church, etc.). They have schedule planned out, but have already made adjustments and added items (plus a home session this afternoon) as we have offered to be at their disposal and cited example of what has been successful on other mission trips. I suspect we may see other alterations. We seem to be a good fit, so God knew (once again) what he was doing and you or someone else listened! Limoges is truly a beautiful city in a beautiful region of France.

• From Mark Presley

Today we had the church service in the morning with a dinner afterward in the church. They will start the witnessing program tomorrow.

There is a need for your prayer that these dissimilar groups can bond into a single family, serving and sharing together.

Jerry

October 15, 2001 (Sent 10/21)
Update on Hungary

I was looking through the reports that I have sent and realized that I did not provide information as to the outcome of the visit to Budapest. I believe we are at the door of a great breakthrough there that we have been praying for during the last 10 years!

Tivadar took me to the home of the president of the Budapest Association of Baptist Churches. Attila indicated that he believed we could have 20 (that's right, 20) churches ready to receive teams in 2003. We are going to have a small pilot project in April of 2 (maybe 3) churches. I am hoping that Applewood Baptist Church will adopt this through the Colorado-Hungary partnership and perhaps 1 team could come from England.

In the evening we had delightful meeting with the pastor and lay leadership team of a key church in a village south of Budapest and they will be determining soon just how they will respond to the opportunity.

Your prayers for Hungary have been answered and 2003 appears to be God's timing!

Grateful for your partnership,

Jerry

October 16, 2001
Preparing for Spain

Madrid, Tuesday night

I arrived in Spain this afternoon from Budapest, my schedule quite messed-up by the Swiss Air collapse. American Airlines came to the rescue again and really helped me get on to Madrid, instead of having to hang-out at the Zurich airport for nine long hours.

The main portion of the group leaves the U.S. tomorrow (Wednesday) and can use your prayers for all those connections to work well. Blake Inscore, a Director of Missions from California, arrived today; the Lands, tomorrow; and finally, those also participating in France, on Monday.

I received more news from Don Paschal's team in France:

We are well. Discovering France is difficult country for evangelism. Quick response to the gospel is unusual here; most conversions are slow and require methodical and long term pursuit. But, we seem to be a great encouragement to the Pastor and Church members. Had a good visit in fire department, began process of meeting with the Mayor, and did evangelism prior to the church service on Monday. This morning, we had about 10 church

Members and our 3 person team work in evangelism. We are in for lunch now.

Will go out again this afternoon and have service tonight. The Pastor and I are sharing the preaching duties. The people are committed and very loving.

Keep praying!

Jerry

Thursday, October 18, 2001
France update (and poised for Spain)

I have received additional reports from France. I am passing them to below. Everything is prepared for the arrival of the teams for Spain (except your prayers). As always, there are a few surprises.

Here are the reports from France:

• Mark Presley in Marseille

The work here in Marseilles is rather challenging. It is the most challenging I have been on. Please be praying. Other opportunities will begin tomorrow and the next few days, including a trip to the Philippino church here in town and ministry to North Africans.

However, the people in the church are very loving and are working hard. We have had some opportunities for encouragement and There is a great ministry to North Africans here in Marseilles and many of the members of the church are involved in that ministry, including car-giving for new arrivals, radio broadcasts and Bible translations. We have had some wonderful meals in the past few days with church members and they were quite encouraged by us.

We have experienced no trouble concerning the difficulties in Afghanistan, although a few people have expressed personal opinions. The war is only a bi-line in the news.

• Brad Cowger in Le Mans

We are having the best time. We don’t even care what is going on in the rest of the world, at least for the next week or so. Last night we went to a home group meeting and we shared the gospel with Oliver and his wife. He has a catholic background and she has no religious background at all. We started out the sharing of our faith but the church people who speak French took over and did a wonderful job. The pastor, Perrie and Anna-lititia are wonderful people. We have been richly blessed by all that has happened. We are very busy but not too busy. Today we go to another town to share with a home group. Please pray for us. We have a concert at the church this week as an out reach and skit-music-story night also as an out reach. If you have any ideas for us please HELP!!!!!!!! Thank you all for sending us on this trip.

PS:  Michele and Randy are staying with a family that the wife is an atheist and the man is an American Christian. Pray as they influence her for the gospel. Her name is Emmanuel

Thank you for "holding the rope" in prayer,

Jerry

Thursday, October 18, 2001
Another word from Marseille

I just got this and thought I would also pass it on for your prayer....

Jerry

• From Mark Presley in Marseille

A decision today.

We went to the Philippine church tonight. There was a man who had just arrived from the Philippines and he had many questions - questions that a skeptic would have, but he walked away knowing Jesus Christ. The only problem the Philippine pastor had was that we only shared and preached for 30 minutes. Apparently his flock comes looking for longer sermons.

Tomorrow is my day with the North African mission here in Marseilles. Pray for me.

October 19, 2001
Ready in Spain

All the folks from the US have arrived in Spain and we are waiting for 2 from Argentina tomorrow and another from there on Saturday (he has just finished participation on the Spanish language project in New York).

As always, we have had some surprises here, but all are manageable (it only takes money). I think we have some great plans for the different teams. One is especially interesting....

For the first time in my experience, we are experimenting with a team doing a church plant in the northern city of Oviedo, on the Bay of Biscay. I just received an email with a daily schedule in 1 1/2 to 2 hour blocks of activities for every day. Wow! Could it be possible that God would use ordinary people from the AS and Argentina to plant a church in just one week? We shall see....

We will have the usual schedule tomorrow (Friday): a little time to tour Madrid, orientation meeting, Welcome Service, bed.

Saturday is a pretty complicated departure. Your prayers are needed.

I return to Paris on Saturday to close that one out.

God bless you!

Jerry

Saturday, October 20, 2001
The dispersion in Spain

Madrid, Saturday morning

Almost all have left the hotel to go out to the churches in 8 cities across Spain plus the Canary Islands. What a beautiful sight! "How beautiful are the feet (and suitcases and bags and buses) of them that bring glad tidings!"

We had a great Welcome service last night. It was uniquely warm for me, as I was able to see some dear missionary friends that I have known for 20 years, Tom and Phyllis Baker, plus Samuel and his family from Las Palmas, Canary Islands, where we served 7 years ago. He is in the seminary and they have 3 of the cutest kids in the world. They sent warm greetings to our team that worked there.

I have also received two reports from France:

• Brad Cowger (in Le Mans)

It is Saturday morning and we have another busy day. We have had something to do ever minute and we are tired but it is a good tired. Yesterday we went to a region with many people but only one protestant church of 15 people. It was a very spiritually dark place and the pastor is very discouraged. It is hard to explain but it was unfriendly compare to other places in France.

Randy and Michelle have been staying with an American Christian man and his French atheist wife. She has been touched this week by them and is coming to a service tonight . Please pray for her and us.  One of the things God has been teaching us this week is that we need to be available and obedient and leave the rest to God. It might be a good prescription for living in the United States also. Pray for us because we have a lot to do.

• Mark Presley

Tonight we had home small groups. I was set up to witness to a Tunisian woman. Very clear, direct presentation of the gospel message, not once but twice. As official team leader I am counting it as +1 for the good guys. I hope God agrees.

I travel to Paris this afternoon. Pray for all the teams there as they wrap up and for those in Spain as they start. Spain is mostly rookies, which is always special.

With love and gratitude for your faithful prayer support,

Jerry

Saturday, October 20, 2001
A Report from the French leadership

Paris, Saturday evening

I have just received the following email from Etienne Lhermenault, the General Secretary of the French Baptist Union. Note the final sentences.

He says, "Before I come to the end of this mail, I will share two convictions with you : French Baptists need to be part of a campaign next year either in Europe or in Africa and we need as French Baptist churches to make good use of this experience in regularly planning campaigns (every two years)."

Praise the Lord for the faithful ministry of everyone who has had a part of this great work.

Jerry

Etienne's report ...........

Good news from Marguerittes where our brothers from Malta are doing a very good job. There was a decision last Sunday at the end of the worship service. 3 to 5 new people came to every meeting which is great for this little town.

Nine handicapped person heard that Jesus loves them in Bordeaux. After the meeting, they asked to be visited.

Spiritual battle in Amiens where the pastor was almost paralyzed during two days, but he is now OK and the campaign is very encouraging for the church.

Last night I was in Colombes to hear Jaimie singing. This guy is really gifted by God. He is a good musician, the words of his song are very deep, he is communicative and above all he is dedicated to the Lord. I think God will do great things through him and I am already planning to invite him with his band to evangelize in France. At the end of the concert, two Christian ladies asked for prayer.

In Bruay (a church without a team), baptism will take place tomorrow morning and this old and weak church expect 60 people to attend this service (usually they are only 20 people). A women of this church with a burden for evangelisation went to Angers during four days this week to help the church there. She came back really blessed by this experience. It is a real inter-national cooperation!

In Morlaix, the team is really doing a great job. Brittany is a very difficult place to evangelize. The church in Morlaix is one of our oldest church (the baptist work started in 1834 there) but a difficult one and we have asked a retired swedish missionary to pastorate this little community. I've just talked with him by phone. He said me the Lord answered wonderfuly their prayers : the church was already blessed during the preparation time, the team was just what they needed, the weather was fine so they did all they wanted to do. New contacts were made with people in need and five persons attending the church since several month but not yet committed to Christ were touched by God.

In Erstein, the involvement of the church members and of the Canadian team is so high that they are completely tired, but they are full of joy and courage. Wednesday, fifty children heard the Gospel on the street and asked for an other time like this. Last night, 30 people had a Canadian meal. Each member of the church was there with a non-christian friend and the discussions were long and useful. Now the team is playing soccer with difficult teen-agers to have an opportunity to proclaim the love of God.

Before I come to the end of this mail, I will share two convictions with you : French Baptists need to be part of a campaign next year either in Europe or in Africa and we need as French Baptist churches to make good use of this experience in regularly planning campaigns (every two years).

Tuesday, October 23
Praise the Lord for His work in France! (and Spain)

We had a great Celebration meeting last night in Paris. Etienne and I visited at length today to evaluate the project and how it can be improved in the future.

As best we can see, there were about 100-200 decisions for Christ. The information from the teams show the lower number and Etienne's conversations with Pastors reflect the larger figure. The French churches apparently are so pleased with what they saw God do this past week. Additionally, about 15 people made a fresh commitment to the Lord and 3 made a commitment for Baptism.

The French Union and individual churches have taken up an offering for International Cooperation! The equivalent of several thousand dollars is being provided by the French. What a great partnership! I pray that God will so greatly bless their vision.

I have received word that things are going well in Spain.

Bless you,

Jerry

Sunday, Oct 28
Spain Update

I received this information from Donnie Land regarding the project in Spain:

1.  Oviedo  
Team is doing well.  They have several salvations just from street ministry that is coordinated through the church.  Total salvations (my guess) at this point probably about 10 to 15 from this team.

2.  Malaga La Luz
We attended services there on Friday night.  The church loves the team.  They are doing ministry in the parks and on the streets.  We have 3 men here, one from Argentina, one from California, and one from Texas.  They make a fantastic team!  They have had preaching every night and have also had about 10 to 15 salvations.   Probably half were in the church services.

3.  Malaga, First Baptist 
We attended this church on Thursday and everyone was very happy to  see us and the team is really in love with the people and don't want to go home.   Mike Arreola shared his testimony in Spanish and did a good job.  He had the entire service.  I think there have been some salvations, maybe 5 to 10.

4.  Canary Islands, Las Palmas 
Church is really doing a good job and the church really is being encouraged that we sent a team to them.  They have had about 50 salvations according to Curt and Vi Estel.   We hope to hear very soon what Armando says.

6.  Denia  
Apparently the visitors are learning about ¨fishing¨ [for lost people] and some are coming to Christ.   One of their team members (Mansel Trimble) is a new father.  His wife had a baby Wednesday morning.  No clear report on how many salvations, but there have been some.

7.  8 and 9  Benidorm, Alfaz and Gandia
We are waiting for the report from Rich and Blake

10.  Alicante
We called Thursday to check on them and Don Pate said that all was going well.  He said he had 10 salvations that day and 17 total. Euline Freeman broke her foot.  Steve Brown is the team leader and said that all was going very well and that there were no problems.

Thank you for your prayers on this campaign.  It has made a great difference!