Written by Ed and Sylvia Christy
A couple of weeks before Christmas of 2004, we were driving back from the first of two cantata performances given during that special season by our church and two sister churches in the Bordeaux, France, area. On our way home, we were dropping off one of the newer members of our church, Jean-Pierre, at his apartment.
Jean-Pierre, sharply dressed in his choir outfit, including dress shirt and tie, looked over at us and commented, “Who would ever have believed it? A few years ago I was just a homeless drunk. Look at me now, dressed up and singing in a choir for the Lord!”
It came home to us with great clarity: That’s what it’s all about—transformed lives! Jean-Pierre is not just the fruit of the ministry of our church here in Floirac. Many Christians have played a part in his spiritual life. While wrongly imprisoned in another city in France for a crime he didn’t commit, Jean-Pierre heard of Christ’s love for him and accepted God’s pardon for his sin. For a while, he floated in and out of churches, including ours.
But little by little, he became more stable and grew. He was baptized in 2003 and is now one of our most faithful members. He arrives early each Sunday to unlock the church. His favorite role is that of greeter at the door. His presence is a joyous testimony to the power of Christ to change lives.
Ed and Sylvia joined Baptist Mid-Missions in the mid-1980s and have been involved in church planting in France for more than 20 years. Ed is also integrally involved in BMM’s Pastoral Baptist Bible Institute in the city of Algrange.