Stage 11 Pau / Cauterets - Vallee de Saint-Savin

The people will be here crowding around the summits as they wait for the arrival of the riders who will master their bodies and their minds.    We cheer them on as they dig deep to demand more out of each stroke.  Lord, thank you for the joy these stages bring to our lives. 

Lord, we thank you for the people on these mountains.  We thank you for their excitement and their joy as they cheer on their favorites.  Thank you for those strong enough to ride in the tour this year.  We pray that each person will have the opportunity to learn about Jesus and how he endured all for each one of us.  He chose to obey the Father and climb to the top of Calvary and sacrifice everything for each of us.  We thank you, Jesus, for your love and your sacrifice for our salvation.  We stand here today and cheer for your return, so that all will know you as King of King and Lord of Lord.  We pray in the name of Jesus our King.  Amen

Rest Day, Pau

Pau France

I Corinthians 12: 9 a
And He said to me,  " My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Lord, our lives wear us down and even at our best we are weak, but yet you promise us that your grace is enough for all our needs.  Lord your strength is greatest when we are weak, because then we know it has been done by you and only you.  Lord, I pray that we rely on you each and every moment of our day.   We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen

A meeting on Sunday June 26th

Cafe Church holds its next afternoon time together on Sunday June 26th.
Oh, that’s this week! Doesn’t time fly nowadays!
Maybe it has something to do with getting older.

Most of you will have heard the report on the Graham Kendrick concert but just in case, here is a recap.
Graham Kendrick thought that it gone wonderfully well. The whole team felt a sense of freedom in their presentation and we have heard of some French speakers who understood Derek’s English as well as getting the translation. So they heard the message twice! Some people had travelled from the midi Pyrenees to be present!

Over three hundred attended. The Catholic Priest called in and was thrilled by the full church and the French Bibles. There was also a report of angels in the church during the concert. We'll tell you more about that sometime.

Emails have reminded us that “the presence of the Lord was definitely there.”
“how amazing was last night” . “people were so blessed by the message and the music” . “I would like to thank you and all the team for putting on such a good concert on Friday night”. “We all thoroughly enjoyed it.”

If the concert had been in the U.K. it would have been a great event, in the darkness of France it classed as amazing, bordering on the miraculous.
Let’s again give God the Glory for what He did on that day.

Now we need your help this coming Sunday to keep up the standard of music at Cafe Church! Remember that L’Eglise Evangelique have invited us to join them for a shared lunch and it is NOT at “Chaupine” this time but at the home of Roger and Sue Cheale, “La Coursonne” Rte Ste-Foy-des-vignes 24100 BERGERAC 05 53 57 16 74, Some folk from L’Eglise are to be baptised as Believers at about midday and then there is a meal. We will then return to L’Eglise Evangelique Bergerac for Cafe Church with Tea and Cake at 5pm, the music, the interruptions! and a thought for the month about God’s Power in our lives. Be there or please “be there in prayer.”

Please also pray for Bob and Jane Pearce who are looking at the possibility of re-locating to this part of France. Bob’s sister Dee is already here.
Bob and Jane have many years of Christian ministry experience. Maybe God is calling them to be “missionaries” to the English speaking people of the Dordogne?
Pray that they will hear clearly from the Father and know the Father’s plan.

Sunday June 26th starts our ten week series of consecutive Cafe Church events. So from now on we meet EVERY Sunday until the end of August. Maybe we need extra prayer for stamina and that visitors to the area will see our publicity and be attracted to Cafe Church. Shared lunch on the FOURTH Sundays – July 24 and August 28

Come if you can, or please pray if you can’t come. Your prayers are vital in winning the current battle between light and darkness in the Dordogne.

With our thanks and our love, Derek and Pam

A Gentle wave

A gentle wave of prayer is sweeping over the Bergerac area as people around the world feel called to cover this area in Prayer.

Pam and I and others are noticing its effect. An American missionary to France has spoken about the dark cloud of oppression which he has encountered here. But there are some glimmers of sunshine.

There are new Believers who are moving into the area and others who are feeling called to consider that possibility. All of it is an indication that God is at work.

So thank you for praying and please ask others to join the Prayer Team. We will happily send news to anyone who sends us an email address.

May Cafe Church saw the return of some who have holiday homes in the area and also some others who were with us for the very first time. The Cafe style tables were all full. Twenty five folk is a nice number but we are praying for twice that number this summer for God’s glory!

Derek spoke about being “Related to Royalty” and the privilege that we have in taking our prayers and the needs of others into the King’s presence. Under the old Jewish system only one man (the chosen High Priest) and only once a year, was allowed into the Holy Place. Now, you and I, can go into the presence of the King. Let’s remember what a privilege we have.

Please pray for the Graham Kendrick Concert. Pray for efficient team work in getting everyone in place in time. We expect between 300 and 350 which will make it one of or possibly the biggest Gospel Concert seen in Bergerac. Pray for safe travel, health and strength for all the musicians and a powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Pray that there will be rejoicing in heaven because someone comes to faith or is restored to faith.

Looking ahead to the June 26th Cafe Church which is the first in the series of nine weekly Summer Church events, there will be no lunch at Chaupine that day. Instead we are all invited to lunch at the home of Roger and Sue Cheale. There we will meet with French Christians from L’Eglise Evangelique and also see some of them being baptised.

Roger and Sue live at “La Coursonne” Rte Ste-Foy-des-Vignes 24100 Bergerac.
If you send them an email I am sure they will happily send you travel directions cheale@wanadoo.fr
We are looking forward to sending you an exciting report on the Gospel Concert.
Thank you for your prayers

Derek and Pam

Attacks again, naturally.

Thank you for praying for us since Sunday. How do we know? Well we have felt the presence of your prayers and seen the evidence of them over the last couple of days.

Just to remind you:

Cafe Church is THIS Sunday May 22nd. Tea and Cake from 5pm and then the fellowship and worship time from 5:30 for about an hour. “About” an hour, because I feel that I should give a slightly longer talk than usual this week. Please still come! The talk is entitled “Related to Royalty” and longer means about 20minutes.

Then the Gospel Concert with Graham Kendrick is just a couple of weeks away on Friday June 3rd. 7:45 for 8pm. Doors will be open from 7:15 and those who are stewarding will have a reserved seat so you won’t have to stand all night if the place is full.

So far we have about 310 bookings and 300 seats.

Pam and I drove back to France on Sunday after Morning service in Tunbridge Wells. With all the activity and outreach planned, it was inevitable that there would be some problems. We should all be used to it by now. Our problems were manifest in a dangerous situation in traffic whilst still in the U.K. Then, when we arrived here around midnight, we found that we had problems with some parts of our electricity supply and the heating system. We learnt today that a severe thunder storm in recent days would have caused the electricity failure.

Well, your prayers have been effective. We were kept safe on the road. Apart from losing the food in the freezer and having to clean it all (overdue anyway) the electricity problem is solved. One boiler seemed to “heal” itself and the other one, next door, is now back functioning again. Then today a small accident whilst sharpening tools resulted in nothing that a plaster couldn’t deal with.

So thank you for praying.

The weather out here in France has been very dry but colours are stunning, the bird song is louder than ever and we are already slowing down to a more sensible pace of life.

We are writing a separate email to some of you to ask for some help with driving musicians to various places, stewarding at the concert and helping take up the retiring offering. Do let me know if you have ordered tickets for the concert but not yet received them. They were sent out very efficiently on May 4th but, of course, some never get back from cyber space!

Please continue to pray for the concert and also for the Summer Church programme where Cafe Church meets EVERY Sunday from June 26 and right through July and August. We do have an enemy who is still very active but he is defeated every time by prayer.

There is the usual Bring and Share meal here at “Chaupine” in Bouniagues, this Sunday. Please let us know if you hope to come to that and we’ll set enough places for lunch at 1pm. The pool is open and so there should be time for a swim after lunch and before Cafe Church. It all sounds so idyllic doesn’t it?

Lots of love until we see you again,

Derek and Pam

Cafe Church

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD


“Blessed be the name of the Lord

He is worthy to be praised and adored.

So we lift up holy hands in one accord

Singing, blessed be the name, blessed be the name,

Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

That will probably be our theme song at Cafe Church next Sunday August 22nd.

Russ Banner from the U.K. is with us and he wants to encourage us to

“lift up holy hands.”


I had the privilege of speaking at the French speaking Evangelical Church in Bergerac last Sunday – August 15th. At least, I said the first two minutes in French and then my friend Lucie Bardiau translated my English into French!

I spoke about Jesus as the Son of God, crucified to save us from sin and raised from the dead. Afterwards I had the joy of hearing that two people who were in church for the premier temps that morning had understood everything.

There was also another man present who described himself as a “seeker”. Please pray that now, a week later, he will have become a follower!

Please continue to pray for Cafe Church.

SUNDAY AUGUST 22nd.

Tea and Cake from 5pm

Cafe Church event from 5:30pm for about an hour.

There is also a Bring and Share lunch again at Chaupine, Bouniagues from 1pm. Travel directions available if needed. Please let us know if you hope to come for lunch.

Be at Cafe Church if you can, or please take time to join us by your prayers if you are somewhere else in the world this weekend.

Blessings,

Derek and Pam

Here in Bordeaux is the Davey Family.  They have moved here to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Alan and Pat both have wonderful blogs which share this experience with the world.  Stop by their blog and let them know that they are being prayed for and that we are blessed by their faithfulness to the will of the Father. 

Lord, thank you for the Davey Family.  It has been good to know them and watch you work in and through their lives.  Thank you for using their gifts and talents so that others can know you more and more.  Bless them in all they do for you.  Bring many to know you Lord through their lives here in Bordeaux.  Provide for their needs and keep them strong.  We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

Blogs
Davey Family
Pat in France

Étape 19 - Bordeaux > Pauillac

Sorry for my delay in my post today, but I thank you for praying today.  Bordeaux is a beautiful city with beautiful vineyard in the countryside. 

Lord,

 Thank you for all who prayed for France over the last three weeks.  Thank you for their faithfulness.  Thank you for the answered prayers.  We are blessed by those who shared the gospel message from stage to stage.  Lord, I pray that next year more people will come to France to share the good news from stage to stage and more Bibles, track, balloons, and your love will be shared with all of France.  Thank you Father, for those who heard and believed.  I pray that they will continue to learn more about you and live their lives for your honor and glory.  Thank you for the country of France, and all our brothers and sisters who live and do your will in the nation of France.  I pray all these things in the name of Jesus, our Lord.  Amen

Étape 18 - Salies-de-Béarn > Bordeaux

Today we travel north to Bordeaux and as we go I would like to introduce you to a few ministries working here in Aquitaine. CSI Christian Surfers International has a surf shop and is starting a new church called Surf Church Hossegor in the city of Bayonne. Pray for connections to be made and relationship built so that many Surfers from all over the world will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and then become a part of their local Church.

In the north in the city of Bergerac there is the beginnings of a new Church called  Bergerac Café Church.  Derek and Pam Cook have been working in this area building relationships with other English speaking people in the department of Dordogne.  They send out a wonderful news letter.  Let us pray for them as the minister for our Lord.

Dear Father,
We thank you for both of these ministries here in the region of Aquiraine.  They are faithfully serving you among people who need you.  Open doors and allow friendships to be built.  Prepare hearts to hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Bless them as they continue to serve you, provide for them strength and wisdom to do your calling.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Étape 17 - Pau Col du Tourmalet

Using their superb natural resources, the Hautes Pyrenees has created a range of wellbeing, relaxation and spa treatments in naturally heated and therapeutic waters.

To choose a spa treatment in the Hautes Pyrenees is to discover the region with the most rivers, lakes and torrents. The air is so pure you can almost taste it.

Come and regenerate and recharge the batteries by enjoying all our mountains have to offer ; sunshine, superb landscapes, traditional villages, a superb local cuisine.With water massages and fresh mountain air you will benefit from all the virtues of our spas and our magnificent mountains. Steam baths, saunas, jacuzzis, mud baths, hot water lagoons, water massages, essential oils, defoliation, chocolate massages, oriental massages, we have everything! You may find your place at one of  the seven spa centres : Aquensis in Bagnères de Bigorre, Balnéa in Loudenvielle - Louron valley, Barèges, Les Bains du Rocher in Cauterets, Edenvik in Capvern les Bains, Luzéa in Luz Saint Sauveur et Sensoria in Saint-Lary-Soulan.

Many people read and see this add and come.  The come to wash away all their cares or find relief to to a stress for life.  The sad part about it all is that it is a short fixes, nothing permanent. 
Jesus said to the women at the well.

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Lord, I pray that they will come to you for a drink of water.  Your water produces life for and eternity.  As we come to you for our needs, show us how to live what you have given us.  Let the water spring up in us and for the people of the Pyrenees.  I pray in your holy and precious name. Jesus. Amen

Pau

Today is a rest day in preparation for the mountains tomorrow.  Today as we rest we will pray for the churches in Pau.  The pictures yesterday of Pau from the helicopter were wonderful to see.   Here are the churches in Pau  Pau is a city of 300,287 people with only 4 evangelical churches.  I live in a city of 150,000 and we have over 200 Baptist Churches alone. 

Église Évangélique Libre

Église Évangélique Tzigane

Église Protestante Évangélique

Réunions Chrétiennes

 For more information about each one http://www.eglises.org/france/64/?Langue=en

Lord, provide faithful men of God to come and build new Churches to reach the people of Pau and the surrounding areas.  Thank you for these 4 Churches.  We ask that you add to their households of Faith each and everyday.  Allow many to come to know you as their Lord and Savior.   Father let the Holy Spirit convict people of sin and show them that Jesus paid it all for each one.  We love you Father and we know that you love us.  Let the people of Pau see your love today.  We thank you for all you are doing in Pau.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray.  Amen

Pray for Cafe Church Bergerac

Aaron Frith

Worship Leader From 

 Holy Trinity with Christ Church

@

Cafe Church Bergerac

June 8th

10 AM

Coffee and Croissant

Admission Free

Christians in Dordogne

Bordeaux

Lord, 

Thank you for all that you are doing in Bordeaux.  Thank you for the need of a new building.  Give the Davey's Your wisdom as they look for a new building for the ministry.  Lord you know their needs today and what all of their needs will be in the future.  Provide for them the right building in the location you have in mind to reach the people of Bordeaux.  Thank you for the funds to buy the building.  Thank you for their faithfulness and bless them on this day.  Provide for them strength and encouragement on this day. Help the Tram to run soon.  We pray all these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Prayer Request from Cafe Church in Bergerac

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING - REPORT ON SUNDAY MAY 23rd
Thank you for praying for us. On Saturday the 22nd, we had a snake slide past us as we sat quietly drinking tea in our garden. Now in my mind snakes always represent the enemy and again he was at work over the weekend. Our guest speaker travelling out from England broke a tooth on the flight out, and a family who were looking forward to being with us for the very first time were prevented by a sudden lunchtime illness on the Sunday.

My training was as a scientist and so I am a bit sceptical of reading too much into things, but I do feel that the old enemy is attacking this project of Cafe Church in any way that he can.

The answer is more prayer please. Will you please ask your friends to pray, please ask your church to pray, we will happily send news to any email address sent to us. Let’s prove that our God is stronger than any residual forces of evil in this part of France.

Brian Lincoln spoke about the coming of the Spirit. He reminded us that Whit Sunday is derived from White Sunday when many were baptised and wore white as a symbol of the new life they had received. Then he spoke of the Holy Spirit as God the Communicator. Sometimes life in the Spirit is dangerous because He calls us to do different things.
Things that we would never be able to do, in our own strength.

Brian closed with a moving true story about an American lady waiting for a flight in an American airport. God told her to go to a man in wheelchair who was also waiting for his flight. She didn’t want to talk or witness to this strange, rather scruffy man. But the Holy Spirit told her she was not to go and talk to him, she was to brush his hair! She couldn’t do that, she said, because she didn’t have a hair brush. But the Spirit persisted and eventually she obeyed. The man just happened to have a hair brush in his carry-on bag. His hair was clean but untidy and she made a great job of making him look more handsome. It turned out he was returning home to his wife and looking good was important to him.
That “strange” act led to opportunities not just to speak to the man about Jesus but also to tell airline staff members about God’s love as well. God knew what He was doing.

Cafe Church Bergerac - Exciting Forthcoming Events

TUESDAY JUNE 8th Coffee and Croissant from 10am
Songs and testimony from 10:30 for up to an hour.
Special visit of Singer/songwriter Aaron Frith from Kent
Please encourage Aaron by coming if you possibly can.

SUNDAY JUNE 27th Tea and Cake from 5pm
Songs and testimonies from 5:30 for up to an hour

Please tell your friends to look at www.christiansindordogne.com

With our love,

Derek and Pam

Please Pray

Please come if you can, or pray hard if you can't, for Cafe Church Bergerac
Sunday February 28th @ 11:30am Speaker Dave Hankins
Visit our new professional website

Cafe Church Bergerac

Your Citizens

Lord,
Here in the cities of Anglet and Pau I have found two churches that are being faithful to you. In Pau there is Eglis Baptiste du Bearn a Pau and in Anglet there is Centre Biblique d'Anglet. Lord, I know that these bodies of believers are there because of you and your mercy. Lord, I ask for your will to be done in there personal lives and in the body as a whole. Provide for their needs so that they may continue to tell others about you.
Lord, Let the city of Pau and the city of Anglet see your love because of these churches. Thank you again for their faithfulness and Lord, I pray for all the other cities in this department that they to will have a body of believers to worship and obey you. Thank you for making us your children and Lord, I ask for you to pour out a blessing on to the churches in these area. Thank you for them.
I pray this in your precious name, Jesus. Amen

Virtural Tourist

Pyrenees-atlantiques Department 64

Regions Aquitaine

Today we move done into Basque country. This area is one of the seven providence of the Basque country. Even though this is France many of the people see themselves as Basque first and then French. Here you find the Basque culture throughout your visit. The food, customs, language, architecture and many other ways. Let us pray for the people here so that they will be come citizen of heaven as well.

Lord, I pray that your love and Lordship will come known the people of this department. Thank you for the Christians in this area and I pray that they will be able to let others know that there is a citizenship in heaven that you wish to provide for each and everyone. Thank you for this beautiful area of France. May your beauty be added to the peoples hearts. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

Christians together in France

Supporting the bringing together of God's people for fellowship and care of each other. Christians Together
The is a group of English speaking Christians who are trying to provide fellowship and worship for each other. Christians-together.net Has all the information that you might need to find out more. Bridget and Mike at Nerac/Condom in Lot-et-Garonne are trying to share their faith in Jesus Christ in this Department.

Lord, Thank you for taking Christians to France. I pray that while they are there they will have many opportunities to share their faith in Jesus Christ with others. Protect them and provide for them so that they will be able to stay in France as your light for years to come. Lord, I pray that you will bring others to Lot-et-Garonne to be and encouragement and a help so that many French people can hear the Good News of the Gospel of Christ.
I pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen

Lot-et-Garonne Department 47

Lot-et-Garonne

Here in Lot-et-Garonne one can step back in time to the middle ages and see wonderful Bastides towns. These cities were built in the middle ages to protect the land and provide safety to its inhabitants. This department has 40 Bastides and each one has a story to tell.

Lot-et-Garonne is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and they love to eat duck. The web site above is a wonderful site to let you see the beauties of this department.

Many outdoor sports can be enjoyed in this area and I have read that they do enjoy Rugby a bit.

Les Landes

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1:1-3



I have searched high and low but there are very few christian ministries in Les Landes. For 350,000 people I was able to fine 12 evangleical churches in this department. My heart has been broken all week as I search the web for ministries in this area, but in my sadness I see hope because I know that God loves the people of Les Landes and He died for them so as we are faithful to pray, go, and tell, the good news will be spread throughout this department and the body of Christ will grow and many will know God as the Good Shephard. So iff you are a missionary or a pastor or lay person, or believer in this department please let us know so that we can pray for you and I hope encourage you to stay strong and faithful.



Lord, I pray that you will increase the labors in this harvest field. Bring many christians to the area so the seeds of the Good News can be planted and there will be planted strong christians who are like trees planted by the river bringing forth fruit in its season. Lord, we know that trees are able to grow here, so Lord I pray that Christians will grow strong and bare much fruit, for your honor and glory. I pray in the name of Jesus Amen