December
2001
The month of November was a good
month, but I must say the same thing my father has said! Where has 2001
gone? It's terrible, it really seems as though the year just started and
we are now at the end of the year. But one question we cannot ask is
"Where has God been?" Because I have seen him move in many ways
throughout the year.
Before I go any further in this
letter I would like to take the time to let you know that if you would
prefer reading this page on paper; You can click a button at the end of
this page and it will print out.
As for this last month's news, we had the privilege
of receiving Pastor Fo who gave us a teaching on "The
Tabernacle". It was a very good time and many were blessed by this
teaching.
We also had the opportunity to
do our year end giveaway. At least twice a year, before the summer and
before the winter, we have a clothes giveaway for people in the community
who cannot afford it. Of course there are not only clothes, we also have
toys and dishes and other similar things for children and adult
alike.
We also had the privilege of
seeing three people dedicate their lives to Christ by being baptized in
water. It was a blessed time to see these people obey yet another of God's
commandments. You might say "Only three people?!?" First, let's
look at the fact that these are three more more names that were written in
the Book of Life. But also you need to take into account that most of the
French people have only know a the Catholic culture, where they were
baptized (or rather, had water sprinkled on their head), so it is
difficult for them to understand why be baptized as an adult? Then there
are those who understand fully what God has done for them by sending His
son on the cross and they don't hesitate to get their life right with God
and to get baptized.
This month of December is
another very busy month for us. This past Sunday (12-09-01), the choir
sang at church for a special concert. Again another blessed time, where we
saw the hand of God touch many lives. Many came to forward to receive a
special touch from God. What was a blessing to see was that many who came
forward were not Christians, but first time comers. May God continue to
reveal His love to them. As for upcoming events, this coming Sunday, the
children will be putting on their Christmas presentation. Then just like
every year the church has an all night get together for the 31st of
December, where we spend a time in prayer, in worship and after midnight,
we have a meal together and a time of fun and games. This event is
important to us, because we have the privilege of starting the year out
with God, but because it give the opportunity for many non-Christian
people to come and find out that Christians are people after all, and that
they like to laugh and play also. But of course, there is a time and a
place for everything.
Finally, let me give you a few
more details about the construction here. As some of you may know, the
church is planning on building a new Sanctuary. Here again, we have seen
the hand of God on this project. The church was miraculously able to buy
the last buildable piece of property in Cannes. That's right - there are
no more empty properties in Cannes, all of the places that do not have a
building on it is reserved as green area. If everything goes as planned we
will be able to start construction between March and September of 2002. We
have to get the building permit and then we will be set. The new church
building consists of three levels. One ground level, a first floor and an
underground parking. The sanctuary (on the first floor) will seat
approximately 600 people. The way that the sanctuary is set up, there is
access from the ground floor but there will also be an entrance at the
rear of the sanctuary because of a small elevated road which runs
alongside the rear of the building. The ground floor will have the weekday
meeting hall, fellowship hall, offices and Sunday school rooms. I would
like to leave you with yet another prayer request. Please pray that God
will lead everything in this project, but that He will also provide all of
the finances needed. Thank you.
As I come to the close of this
letter, I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year!! May God's blessings continue to fill your life each and everyday of
this new year!
Micaël
Riviera
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