Paris at Heart

OM International

"This mission made my faith so much stronger and made me desire to share the gospel daily in my own life. And now I have the 'equipment' to share the gospel in different ways." (Johanna, Finland)

"I've been praying for quite some time now that God would break my heart for something that breaks His. I experienced that for the first time with the women and children in France, especially the immigrants. It's been amazing to see how God has brought them to us, willing to learn and listen. It has been an answer to my prayers." (Lexi, US)

"I wasn’t sure I’d be very helpful on the team reaching immigrants. In addition to my limited French there was my lack of knowledge about immigrants's beliefs. However, I saw God’s provision in my team leader’s insight and experience, and the different giftings of my team-mates. We could see how everything worked together in God’s good and perfect plan. Just as my example, I was able to easily introduce myself to new people and seek conversations. While my limitations stopped me from continuing, I had team-mates who were fluent in French who could take over. They were actually uncomfortable initiating conversations, so it worked for them being the follow-up. This perfectly showed God’s wisdom in placing us together and our need for each other." (Melly, US)

"It was so awesome to share the gospel with the kids, especially with the immigrant kids because this could be their only contact with a Christian person. And all the members of the team were so surprised how open these kids were to us. They were really listening to us and we were even able to pray with them. I think that the joy in us really got into the children, too." (Johanna, Finland)

One man continued to meet the team during the open-airs. After talking and praying with them, he finally said, “I want to ask Jesus into my heart. I want to have the same joy I see in you.” And after praying with him, he added, “Are there people like you Paris? I want to be with others like you.” He received a brochure of area churches.

"I feel very encouraged by all the teaching to keep on being a witness for God. Sometimes I would get discouraged when I didn't see dramatic conversions happening, but the teaching has helped me learn to keep on running for the Lord, to see more of His kingdom come." (Chloe, UK)

"Before I came here, I prayed to God and asked him what He wanted me to bring. He told me I should bring three Bibles. On our last day at the park with the kids, I had an awesome conversation with a family. All of them were very open and I had a really good connection with one girl (daughter). She is about 12 or 13 years old. I felt strongly that I should give her one of the Bibles I brought along. And she was so happy about it. We even exchanged addresses (with her mother's permission)." (Linda, Switzerland)

"I learnt that evangelism should be a lifestyle, not just something we do on trips."   (Lexi, US)

"I had contact with a woman who was in deep depression. After several of us spent a long time talking with her, it was greatly encouraging to see her smile then ask about churches in the area." (Doug, UK)

At first I was afraid of talking to immigrants, but in the end God really gave me a heart for them. We went out in pairs to meet women. I was happy to see how interested they are in Jesus and the Bible. One time we talked to two women in their mid-twenties. One of them was really fascinated by what we told her. She wanted to have a Bible. She was staring at us with big eyes and in the end, both of them gave us their contact information." (Mirjam, DE)

Activities:

• 3 large evening open-airs (including: music, mime, dance, drama, rap, sketchboard, testimonies, preaching)
• 5 evening evangelistic drama presentations
• 9 immigrant survey sessions/literature distribution
• 9-day kids club in low-income housing area
• 9 days of service at a local homeless shelter
• around 25 afternoon open-air presentations
• distribution of Bibles, NTs, Gospels, tracts, church listings

Credit: OM International
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