Today, our team took the train into Paris for lunch and a historic tour. On weekdays, the rush hours in Paris make driving and parking very impractical. Taking the train allowed everyone to relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside on the way to the city.
When we arrived in Paris, we enjoyed a delicious meal in a French restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to try some classic French foods – everything from escargot to duck to profiteroles.
After lunch, the team met up with Pastor Emmanuel Bozzi for a special tour of Paris. Pastor Bozzi is an expert in church history and took the team on a tour of important sites in the Protestant Reformation. He wrote a booklet entitled “The Four Heroes of the French Reformation” which corresponds to the key parts of the tour. We started at the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the oldest church in Paris. It was at this church that Jacques Lefèvre d’Ètaples came to faith after reading a Greek copy of the New Testament. He ultimately translated the Bible into French in defiance of the Catholic church.
As we walked through the various sites, we noted that the sites were either claimed by the Catholic church or else were not marked in any way. For example, the site of the first baptism in Paris is a private home in a narrow street with no marker or any indication of the historical significance of the location. We walked through beautiful areas of the city and saw the
Seine River, the French Academy, the Louvre, and the Notre Dame cathedral. As we passed through each location, we learned about the church history that is hidden from view.
Telondra Reynolds, a 2019 Business Management graduate of Pensacola Christian College, shared the following testimony about her experiences today:
“The French have done an extraordinary job of preserving the historical sites all around the city of Paris. People from all around the world come to gaze at the Cathedral de Notre Dame and the other popular landmarks around the city–sometimes without a clue of their historical significance. My personal feelings concerning the tour were a mixture of grief and inspiration. Grief for the hundreds of thousands of people who come through the doors of every cathedral in Paris expecting to find a way to God only to leave with a false hope of salvation. However, I cannot help but be inspired by the powerful influence of God’s Word upon the historical figures of the Reformation in France. The one word that comes to mind is courage. These ordinary scholars and educators read the Bible and discovered the truth of God’s salvation by grace through faith plus nothing. Once they embraced this truth, they felt compelled to share it with world.
Near the end of the tour, Pastor Bozzi asked us as a group if we were prepared to face persecution. That question brought all the remarkable sights of the day to a very intimate conclusion: would I be willing to face the hatred of the world for the sake of my Father’s love. I truly pray that I will have the courage to stand up for Christ–no matter the cost. Until that happens, I will always be grateful for the sacrifices of my brothers and sisters in Christ who have died to further the Gospel.”
The photos of the group today include a couple of photos with David Larson. We are so thankful that he is doing very well after his hospitalization last week. He shared the following testimony about the Lord’s goodness and protection through an appendectomy surgery here in France:
“Last week, over the course of a couple of days, I felt a little carsick, but I thought I was fine. I was able to play soccer in the evening but that night, my stomach started hurting. I laid down but could not fall asleep. It was a little funny because I had prayed earlier that night that one of my roommates would not snore, and he didn’t. So I prayed that I’d feel better and fall asleep, but I kept feeling worse. I was awake all night tossing and turning. I wondered if I was experiencing jetlag because I just couldn’t sleep. In the morning, the pain got worse to the point that it was constant. I went to breakfast but could not eat. The team leaders told me that we needed to go to the hospital, and I figured they would be able to give me some medicine and I’d be fine. We went to the emergency room in Bayeux, and they did a lot of tests. There was a bit of a language barrier with the staff, but they spoke some English and we were able to communicate. It was not until they told me I had appendicitis that I realized the seriousness of the situation. My appendix had not ruptured, but I had to have surgery right away. The Lord had already prepared the way – I had not eaten breakfast which would have delayed the surgery. The surgery went smoothly with no complications, and I was finally able to get a good night’s sleep. I was originally supposed to be in the hospital for three days after surgery, but they released me after a day and a half because my recovery went so well. The surgeon told my team leaders that my healing was “extraordinary.” He released me back to normal activity as I felt able. I am completely fine and functional and keeping up with the team and all our activities (other than soccer which I am sadly sitting out for a while)! Thank you all for your prayers and praise the Lord for His goodness!”
Tomorrow, our team leaves France and flies to Rome, Italy. Please pray for safe travels. Pray that all of our team members and all of their baggage will arrive on time as scheduled. Pray also for the upcoming concert and the outreach ministries.