A lot has been going on since our last newsletter, so here is the news in short sections with a bunch of photos and videos!
Launching Geneva Bible Church -- It's a go!
Great news! The launch of the Geneva Bible Church (an English-speaking expat church) has been officially approved by our home church, Grace Community Church. Geneva, which is home to the United Nations and many other international organizations, is one of the most international cities in the world, giving it a high concentration of English-speakers. Geneva Bible Church will be a doctrinally conservative church whose signature will be robust expository preaching. Two couples will be joining us to help launch the church, Jonathan and Sharon Moorhead and Frank and Barbara Tetrault. We are shooting for a Fall 2023 official launch. More news will follow. Thank you for upholding this project in prayer.
Sharing from the Pulpit at
Grace Community Church
On Sunday March 5, 2023, in the context of Grace Around the World, I was asked to briefly share our lives and ministries from the pulpit. What a great privilege. If you would like to watch the two-part 9-minutes video, you can click HERE for part 1 and HERE for part 2. Paul Washer preached an awesome message just after our share time!
Family Funeral in Tennessee
Meg’s mother passed away on October 10, 2022, at the age of 98 in Tacoma. By God’s pure grace, we were able to be with her during her last days of life on earth. She knew the Lord and is now with her Savior. Her body was cremated according to her wishes and we buried her ashes in Tennessee on April 21. The ceremony was simple but beautiful, in the presence of Meg’s oldest sister and her husband along with a few other relatives.
Speaking at the UN Ambassador’s Easter Lunch
Recently I was invited to speak to a small group of UN Ambassadors during a special Easter lunch organized by Global Leadership Geneva. My assigned topic was John Calvin and the Reformation in Geneva, and specifically how it impacted Geneva and the world in the areas of democracy, (Switzerland is one of the foremost democracies in the world); education (Geneva was the first city in the world in 1536 to make education compulsory for all children); work (the Protestant work ethic comes right out of the Reformation); and the care for the poor (Calvin’s “French Fund” helped thousands of Huguenot refugees as they fled persecution and came to Geneva. This social system was later adopted by other cities in Europe). The feedback to my Gospel-centered talk was extremely positive.
The Inauguration of Geneva’s Remodeled Reformation Museum
A few days ago, Meg and I were invited to the inauguration of the new Reformation Museum of Geneva after a 2-year total remodel. The result is stunning! In the photo I am standing with the curator of the museum, in front of a Catholic Indulgence (on the left) dating from the late 1400’s which was the very Roman Catholic practice Luther reacted against which started the Reformation in 1517; and to the right a painting of l’Eglise du Paradis (The Paradise Protestant Church of Lyon, France) which represents a typical Protestant church in Calvin's day, dating from the 16th century. I was encouraged to hear the curator say that he loves my book, A Walking Guide to John Calvin’s Geneva, and that he is impatient for me to re-write my chapter on the museum to be able to sell it at the museum. Hence one of my jobs over the next few weeks is to study every inch of the new museum to be able to re-write the chapter and reprint the book before the summer. I would appreciate prayer for this project. Thank you.
Leading a Reformation Tour for Mark Dever
A few of weeks ago I was asked to give a Reformation tour to Mark Dever and a few members of his staff and other friends. We started with a typical Swiss lunch (Fondue and Raclette) which was followed by the tour. It was an amazing opportunity to pick Mark’s brain about starting a new expat church in Geneva.
The Stress TestChair - Meg’s Latest
ACBC Article
Meg continues to be a regular contributor to the ACBC website on Biblical Counseling. You can read her latest article HERE.
Gleaning Wisdom from Redeemer Church
in Dubai
Travel benefits through our daughter-in-law gives Meg and me really cheap flights on Emirates Airlines. So, last weekend we headed to Dubai for a few days. We not only had a wonderful time with our son James and his wife Salomie, but had the great privilege of having lunch with the staff of Redeemer Church, including pastor Dave Furman and his wife Gloria, and with Scott and Eric Zeller and their families, both of whom are on staff at Redeemer Church. The purpose was for us to learn from their experience how to start an expat church. What a rich 2 ½ hour conversation we had – we are grateful for their wisdom.
Just for Fun
On the way home after our trip to Tennessee, Meg and I stopped in Florida to visit a couple of supporting churches and also to visit our son, John William, who lives in Miami and attends Grace Church Miami, pastored by Eric Bancroft. As you can see, Meg dared to sit on John William's motorcycle!
Thank you for your interest in our ministry and for upholding us in prayer. Let us know how we can pray for you.
