Foxes – July/August 2009
Dear praying friends, July/August, 2009
Then Samuel took a stone…, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
FAMILY NEWS
Life in the military: Sarah and Michael continue to serve the Lord faithfully wherever Uncle Sam sends them. Michael is in his final phase of training as a Marine pilot. Word has it that he may be deployed early in 2010, so he and Sarah are cherishing their remaining months together before a prolonged separation. Wesley is about to start his third year in the Marines but has yet to be deployed. He had been training with a Special Forces unit, but he is currently considering other options which could take him in very different directions. He acknowledges that he doesn’t know what God would have him to do, so please pray for him. Wesley and Michael are both stationed at Camp Lejeune (NC).
Life in college: Blake is back at Clearwater Christian College (Florida). If he is able to get in enough credits, he may be able to graduate next Spring. Blake had a great summer at Camp Chetek in Wisconsin. The lives of many young people were impacted, and Blake was very encouraged to be an instrument of God’s blessing. Alyssa has returned to Northland Baptist Bible College (Wisconsin) to begin her sophomore year. While she is thankful for the blessing of staying with Michael and Sarah this past summer, she is glad to have scooped her last scoop at Coldstone Creamery. She continues to maintain a sweet testimony as she seeks to grow in grace.
Life in France: Charity will be a senior this year! In France, one’s senior year can be very stressful due to the end-of-the-year, all-comprehensive exam that determines whether one passes or not. It also is very challenging to be the only Christian (that she knows of) in the entire 12th grade. However, several of her friends come out to church from time to time. As for Lori, she continues to serve the Lord with gladness. She remains very active in different areas of ministry — music, counseling, evangelism, children’s ministry, and hospitality, just to name a few. However, she still suffers from arthritis, which more and more often limits what she is able to do (playing the piano, for example, or even writing emails!). As for me, I just celebrated my 50th birthday last week — 50 wonderful years! I praise the Lord for my parents and 10 siblings, for my wife and children, for our sending church in Pottstown, for all who support us in the ministry, and for the church here in France. And above all, I thank Him for my salvation. We serve a wonderful God!
MINISTRY NEWS
Well, 65 years later, the Battle of Normandy continues! Only this battle is fought with spiritual weapons. Here are some examples of the spiritual battle taking place…
Open-air VBS: Lori, Kristi, and several church members did a great job organizing this year’s VBS. There was a good group each day. One day when the children were asked who made the world, one boy shouted out (very seriously), “Santa Claus”. Another day the question was asked, “Where is God now?” An older girl responded, “He’s buried in a church in Amiens.” (I suppose she was referring to some relic she saw in some Catholic Church.)
The journalist who wrote the article for our Bible Exposition: We have kept in touch. Last week when we met, he told me that he had finished reading the book of Genesis but didn’t understand a thing! I was sitting there wondering, “What’s so hard to understand about Genesis?” I guess it’s a solemn reminder of the biblical truth that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them.
The lawyer who also came to the Bible Exposition: She came to church a week ago for the first time. She told me several days later that she felt very uncomfortable during the whole service, thinking that she was in some way betraying her Catholic heritage, culture, and family — simply by going one time to a Baptist Church! However, her 11-year-old daughter loved the service and is asking to come back. No wonder Jesus said, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God.
The university professor and his girlfriend who came to the Bible Exposition: They came to our house last week for a visit. For over two hours we discussed spiritual matters. The girlfriend, a teacher, admitted to feeling an emptiness in her life, however she was quite emphatic that she cannot believe in “myths” such as the Creation story, Adam and Eve, etc. Indeed, not many wise men after the flesh are called. However, they, as well as the other contacts mentioned, readily accept Christian literature. So, they remain open and continue to search. Please pray for them.
Two major setbacks: Ricardo, my right arm in the ministry here, announced just before going away for the summer that he no longer wants to be songleader or to preach in the church. He claims that he is struggling with certain doctrines (some of the sign gifts and the pre-Trib rapture) and that he is troubled by some other issues, but he would not explain what those issues are. He just got back from summer break, so I’m anxious to find out more. Another major setback was learning just recently that Jared and Rebekah Stevenson are no longer planning on coming to Rouen. Jared feels that God has opened a door for them to stay in Paris, so apparently that is what they are planning to do. This unexpected turn of events concerning two key men definitely puts a serious kink into our plans to start another work on the other side of town. But God knows all of that, and we trust Him to provide and to direct. After all, it’s His church!
Here are some important prayer requests: September 16 will be the trial for one of our church members who is in prison. Some good news — the man who accused him has stated that he is sorry and wants to change his statement! On October 4, our church will celebrate its 15th anniversary. Also in October I will be headed to Romania to teach a group of pastors for a week and to the city of Strasbourg to preach a series of evangelistic messages. Thank you for upholding us in prayer. Also, several having recently asked us for our address, allow me to share it again:
15 rue Olivier Poullain
76380 Canteleu
FRANCE
telephone: 011-332-3282-0550 // email: kimlori.fox@gmail.com
To the praise of His glory ~ Kim, Lori, Charity, Kitty (that’s our cat), and kittens four