Update from the Paul Dedeyan family - missionaries to France

Dear Friends,

November was very special to us in France, for we were able to baptize five people! - Colette, Gisette, Bibi, Jordane, and Nicholas. The first three are ladies, the last two 10- and 11-year old children. Nicholas, who accepted Christ this summer at camp, is living as a foster child in the home of some of our members. Although it is sad that his parents’ situation has made it necessary for him to live elsewhere, God used it for good by placing him in a Christian home, where he could be exposed to the Bible. He has always shown a keen interest in God’s Word, which is now coming to fruition.

Jordane’s baptism was special to us in that she is of the fourth generation of the Minard family whom I have baptized! Her great-grandfather, Marcel, built our baptistry before he was saved. We were privileged to lead Marcel and his wife, Micheline, to Christ and baptize them in 1974. Later their son Lionel and his wife Patricia accepted Christ, and I baptized them -- then their daughter Celine and eventually her husband Laurent, and now their daughter Jordane. It was a thrill for me to realize that - it is such a blessing to us and a lesson in perseverance.

In December, the church’s Christmas program was particularly delightful, as we were able to take advantage of our new, spacious sanctuary to proclaim again the real meaning of Christmas. A few days later we flew to Texas to spend Christmas with our family there, a rare privilege for us, and to visit with some of our supporters. We’ll be in the States for seven weeks, the longest we have ever been out of France since moving there in 1971. We have some responsible Christians taking care of things in our absence, but still no pastor to take over the leadership. Please continue to pray the Lord will send us a national pastor, or a missionary who will be ready to take over the work in Champigny.

Again, thank you for your faithful prayers and support. We wish each of you a blessed year in 2010, in which we will draw always nearer to our Lord and learn from Him.

Yours in Christ,
Paul & Alexis Dedeyan