In our last update, we shared how God had opened a door and moved us into a new building. We closed by asking you to pray for growth and fruit at our new home. Let us tell you what happened!
Twelve people have been baptized since our move in March. It has been amazing to have people baptized so often. Guests are walking in just to experience the peace and presence of the Holy Ghost.
Thank you for praying with us. Thank you for giving. We covet your continued prayers for wisdom, protection, and provision as God accelerates this work.
EASTER IN PARIS
Easter Sunday this year is one we will not forget. We had services across both of our campuses, and I preached from 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us.”
Our creative team worked tirelessly and developed an unforgettable experience as we had church “in the round.” With 158 people in service with us that day, the atmosphere was filled with expectation and thanksgiving for what the Lord has done and will do.
The Friday before, we gathered at our campus in the 17th district for a Good Friday communion service to remember what He did, what He paid, and what He conquered.
JESUS IS A HEALER!
Words fail to fully express the goodness of God.
There is a precious couple who drive over two hours from Orleans, south of Paris, to be in service with us every week. A few weeks ago, at the end of a service, she shared with me that she was facing some serious health issues, and we prayed together. A few weeks later, she and her husband pulled me aside to tell me what God had done. A growth in her throat that had made it difficult to swallow was completely gone. A condition in her brain that had caused severe migraines for years, one that doctors could not operate on, stopped instantly. In all, five significant health conditions had plagued her, and after a prayer of faith she was completely healed.
Another man in our congregation had been injured in a traumatic gas well accident. A pressurized pipe exploded and struck him across the face, forehead, and right shoulder. It is a miracle he was not killed. Since then, he had been unable to raise his right arm. During a service, while he was worshiping and without anyone knowing, Jesus touched him. His shoulder was healed. The arm that would not extend now lifts to heaven in worship. Oh, how Jesus loves us!
We have lost count of the number of healings in the last few weeks. In one Sunday alone, three more testimonies came to us. A young woman who had been on crutches for months with hip trouble set aside her crutches and walked unaided. A woman who had been under medical treatment for months for a throat condition was instantly healed. A woman whose heart condition had left her struggling to breathe found her respiratory trouble completely gone. That same day, five people were baptized.
These are only a few of the reports that we are hearing. To God be all the glory.
THE WATER KEEPS MOVING
In May, after a message on God’s promise of a new heart, three people decided not to wait and were baptized that same day.
In June, five people were baptized in a single Sunday along with several others through the early summer. By the third Sunday of July, twelve people had gone under the water since our move.
In our previous location, we were unable to hold public baptisms during our services, but with the blessing of our new location, we can now hold spontaneous baptisms. The congregation of PCC has been so excited to celebrate public baptisms with new brothers and sisters in Christ!
A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR FRANCE
In April, we joined with believers from across the country for the French National Convention.
Adam Hunley, general director of UPCI Global Missions, came and ministered along with Pastor Art Wilson. At that convention, one of the most significant developments in French Apostolic history took place.
Our French ministry constituency voted on a preliminary constitution to move France toward nationalization. In plain terms, this means the ministerial body and constituency of France would be granted autonomy to make their own decisions about the future, operations, and leadership of France.
This is what missions is for. A French church, led by French leaders carrying the Gospel to their own nation. Please pray for our leaders as they continue to walk through this process.
THE STREETS OF PARIS
On May 9, for the first time, we had TWO prayer walking teams covering Paris at the same time. One team blanketed the streets around our campus in the 17th district. Another covered our main campus in the 12th district.
This movement of prayer came out of a congregation that is genuinely hungry to see souls saved in Paris. Nearly 30 percent of our church family is now meeting for nightly prayer. Each month this year we are giving the first three days back to Jesus in prayer and fasting. This rhythm has become the backbone of everything else. We are so grateful for people who passionately pursue revival!
PENTECOST IN PARIS
We also set aside three full days of fasting and prayer leading into Pentecost weekend. We welcomed Pastor Jack and Kathy Leaman of Capital Community Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to minister at both campuses. He preached at PCC 17 on Friday night, and at PCC 12 on Pentecost Sunday. 165 people gathered across our two campuses. The worship was outstanding, the preaching was powerful, and the presence of God was undeniable. Three people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit for the very first time. We are so thankful for Pastor and Sister Leaman pouring their hearts into PCC for Pentecost weekend.
NORWAY
In June, I traveled to Oslo to minister for Friends Day at Life Tabernacle. It was a wonderful weekend with Pastor Andreassen and their incredible ministry team. God is doing a great work in Norway. There were new people at the altar, and I had the joy of watching Pastor Andreassen baptize three people that day. One of the great privileges of being based in Paris is getting to see what God is doing across Europe. There is a powerful revival sweeping across this continent that crosses denominational and generational lines. Thank you, Jesus!
SUMMER SUNDAYS
July and August are Summer Sundays at PCC. We pause our teaching programs and community gatherings as people begin to leave for the summer, and we make sure that each service is unique in some way.
We opened the summer with Dan MacLeod and his family from Terre Haute, Indiana. Dan brought a strong word, and the team traveling with him, led by his wife Hailey, took over the worship service to give our worship team a break. Before the service, we gathered around the Lord’s Supper to set the tone for the whole summer.
ANOTHER YEAR IN FRANCE
A couple of weeks ago we received our new French visas, which allow us to stay in France for another year. If you have never lived as a foreigner, it is hard to explain what that piece of paper means. Every year we build, plant, disciple, and pour ourselves into people while holding a document with an expiration date on it. We are grateful beyond words for the opportunity to keep working here in this great nation that Jesus wants to save.
AI AND THE CHURCH
On May 25, at the request of Pastor and Sister Nowacki, President of the UPC of France, I taught a seminar for the ministers of France called “Artificial Intelligence and the Church.” We enjoy teaching and equipping leaders in the Body of Christ.
A world growing more artificial by the day will eventually produce people who are desperate for something real. When they come looking, the church has to be ready. You can download the handout below if you are interested in more information about this topic. We are thankful for the vision and leadership of Pastor and Sis. Nowacki to equip the church.
TEACHING THAT GOES DEEP
We are consistently developing new material to equip the saints for ministry and guide them on a path of discipleship. In May, we began a seven-week series through the seven letters of Revelation. We spend a great deal of energy worrying about what the world thinks of the church and what we think of ourselves. Those seven letters are the one place where Jesus tells the church directly what He thinks of her. The series notes are available below if you would like to utilize it.
>> DOWNLOAD THE SEVEN CHURCHES SERIES <<
Our CityGroup semester wrapped at the end of June, including the Money Talks group I taught on biblical financial principles. Creating community is not an accident; at PCC, we are intentional about creating community so that people can grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and in relationship with one another.
THANK YOU
None of what we do happens without you. Your prayers and generosity are what allow us to be here.
If you are not yet a monthly partner, joining us at $50 a month makes a direct and immediate difference in what we are able to do here. Every contribution, either one-time or recurring, is a seed in the ground of revival that is bursting forth in France and across Europe.
There is much work left to do. If you want to join the team and be part of what God is doing in Paris, reach out to us.
Together, we are bringing hope to Paris.
Baron & Jen Carson
Missionaries to Paris
Together, we are bringing HOPE to Paris!!
Prayer Requests
We have a few things that we would love for you to help us pray about:
- Pray that the outpouring we have seen these last four months would deepen and continue.
- Pray for the twelve who were baptized, that they would be established, discipled, and all filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Pray for the ministerial body of France as they move toward nationalization and autonomy.
- Pray for our CityGroup leaders as they prepare for a new semester.
- Pray for the students of Purpose Institute as they are formed for ministry.
- Pray for rest and protection for our leadership team and volunteers through the summer.
- Pray for divine connections with people who are ready for the Gospel.