A trip down "Memory Lane"

This weekend we had the opportunity to share our heart with Barkers Chapel Baptist Church in Crockett County, TN.  We drove in on Saturday night and spent the night with "nanny".  Nanny is Brandon's grandmother.  She has always been very influiential in Brandon's life and since we have been married, in mine as well.  Brandon used to visit her as a kid and has lots of memories of those visits.  He even mentioned to me on the way to her house that he remembers her taking him to her church to shoot hoops.  We don't get there as often, but our kids absolutely loved visiting with her.  She had mentioned a while back that it would be great for Brandon to come and speak at the church sometime and we finally made a point to connect with them and set something up.  It was a weekend full of craziness as is the theme of life with three littles under four years old, but we had a great time.  Brandon sang a couple of songs and then preached the message that morning.  Along with that he shared our story (the brief version) of how we came to missions and specifially missions in France.  All three children sat in the service with us, so I must say I was a bit distracted trying to keep Micah from army crawling under the pews.  However, it was a neat experience to all worship God together and I loved that they got to see their daddy in this role.  As a friend reminded me, this is most often the way it is in France, everyone worshipping together, "sans nursery".  Maybe God is giving me a glimpse of what is soon to be the norm for us.  Everyone at the church was so welcoming and so encouraging to us.  We have already received some financial support and lots of prayer support.  We are so thankful for this church family and for nanny who continues to be a positive influence in our family. 

  Ok, so Micah is not crazy about pictures these days, but everyone else looks great!

The Shrimp to our Goby Fish...

Recently, I had the pleasure of hearing missionary to Argentina, Joe Andrews, speak to our church. He gave the best presentation that I have ever heard about how the missionary/supporter relationship works, so I thought that I would share it with you. He started by talking about what he called "mutualism". As a mom of young kids, we watch quite a bit of Diego.  Diego refers to this relationship as symbiotic. (I am singing the song right now as I type) Diego talks about the rhino and the oxpecker. The relationship that Joe gave reference to was the shrimp and the Goby fish.  On a side note, Brandon was not able to hear this presentation and when I came home describing this mutualistic (or symbiotic) relationship, he needed a visual. He found the above video on youtube, so in case you, like him, need to see it to believe it, I have included it for your enjoyment! Basically, the shimp is virtually blind, so the Goby fish acts as his eyes. He stays with the Goby fish who makes him aware of potential danger. The Goby fish, while able to see well, cannot dig. The shrimp just happens to be a great digger and thus makes a hole for them to live in together. (and they do live together) The missionary/supporter relationship is mutualistic as well. You are the shrimp to our Goby fish. It may not seem that way since we are the ones who are asking you to give out of your finances to support our ministry. What do you get in return??: "Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God." This passage comes from Phillipians 4 where Paul is thanking the church at Phillipi for their financial and prayer support of his ministry. What did they get in return? He says that the profit is to their account. They get the credit for his work as a missionary.  The people who came to Christ because of him...they get credit for that! Paul also talks about their gift being an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. When you give to missions, you are reaching people outside your realm of influence. You are a part of something much bigger, reaching places you may never go. THAT is credited to your account. There is no doubt in our minds that we are called to go to France. We know that not everyone is called to be a "Goby fish". We are looking for those people to be our "shrimp". The great thing is this: "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever, Amen" We believe that God WILL provide the funds for us to go and that HE will get the glory. So, the question is not, "Will you give SO that we can go?" The question is, "Are you called to be a part of God's ministry in France whether you ever set foot on French soil or not?"   Are you willing to be our "shrimp"??!!

Prayercast | France

T-shirts For Sale..

These are the t-shirts that we are selling.  You can come to the Bartlett Hills Baptist Church craft fair tomorrow from 9-4 and find us there.  Otherwise you can contact us to let us know if you want one.  They are $15. (Donations Welcome)

The Power of Prayer, Its as Easy as 1:23

We have had a lot of people tell us that they want to partner with us, but at this time they cannot support us financially.  We definitely understand that.  They have joined us as prayer partners and we don't take this partnership lightly.  We will be sending out newsletters to let you know specifically how you can be praying for us.  If you are not currently on our list of contacts currently receiving our letters and would like to be, please let us know.  So, here is one way that you can remember to pray for us and for France every day.  I got this idea from a friend.  So here'e the plan...at 1:23 say a quick prayer for us.  I tried to think of a super spiritual time, but I ended up going simple.  Maybe its because I play with children all day long, but if nothing else its easy for me to remember.  It also happens to be during my kids naptime, so there is a good chance I might have a free moment to focus on France as well.  You could also go with 1:23 am, but as late as I stay up, I am usually in bed by then.  Its totally up to you.  We appreciate you thinking about us!  Last week I really wanted to focus on prayer in my life as well as with my kids.  I was able to start some really neat things with them during our prayer time together.  We also had some answered prayers.  Brandon has been working part time at two different jobs.  As of Monday, Brandon will be full-time at TopRX.  We have been praying for this for a while.  It will be helpful as far as his schedule and with insurance.  We also had some friends offer to make T-shirts for us.  Very soon, we will be selling them to raise outgoing funds.  We are planning to start selling them at the Bartlett Hills Baptist Church Craft Sale this weekend if they are ready in time.  I will get a picture on here as soon as we have them!  Thanks so much to all of you who support us in whatever manner.  We can't do this without you!  And now, just because its too cute to pass up...

                                     My Pumpkin!

BIG Things

"Your picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today
Matching up socks
Sweeping up lost cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip
Color on your lips and head out the door

While I may not know you,
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?

Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you,
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do"

These lyrics come from a song by Steven Curtis Chapman.  I had never really listened to the words until the other day.  I had been complaining to Brandon about how many times I clean the living room in one day and how long it takes  does not take my kids to destroy it again.  He told me I reminded him of this song.  That got me thinking.  I absolutely LOVE being able to stay at home with my children.  I am so thankful that God has blessed us so that I am able to do that.  That being said, I also realize how easy it is to feel unproductive and insignificant when you spend all day with the "littles".  And then I read the words to this chorus.  I may not be reaching the lost in a way that I hope to be able to do someday, but I am making a difference in the lives of my children and teaching them to love Jesus and others.  We are planning to make a lot of changes in our family over the next year or so.  I know it is so important for me to help them through this transition.  I am so thankful that God considers the "little things" BIG things.

And, you knew it was coming...pics of my littles:

From Bitterness to Forgiveness

This is a recent story shared with us by WT missionaries, David and Katryn Lohness.  The story is true, but the names have been changed.  Its great to hear what God is doing there.  We can't wait to see how God will use our family when we get there!... 


"It was 1986, a wintery November morning in Méru, France. Brigitte was late for work which is why she was driving too fast to get to the train station.  Her car suddenly spun out of control on the ice and hit a tree leaving her crushed and in a coma for the next three months.  A year of hospitalization, surgery and rehab followed as Brigitte’s crushed hips were replaced. Even though she felt lucky to be alive there was always a nagging sense of loneliness that permeated her soul.

Twelve years have passed. It’s now January 7, 1998, another cold winter day in Méru.  Night falls. Suddenly there’s a knock at the door.  A policeman is standing there talking to her husband in hushed tones.  Other family members gather; screams, commotion, chaos break loose as Brigitte learns that, Jean, her 21 year old son, has been murdered.  It was that day her loneliness was replaced with hatred and bitterness towards a God who would permit such an injustice.

11 years pass.

During that time World Team chooses Méru as a new target city and in 2002 sent us there to begin the work of planting a new church.  It happened on September 13, 2009 – our paths crossed.  The Brigitte we met that day was searching desperately to know God!  The anguish had not extinguished her longing for relationship and meaning.  Days later she came to faith in Christ and was radically transformed by the Gospel.  She forgave her son’s murderer understanding that to harbor unforgiveness in her heart is to limit her growth as a new creature in Christ.  Less than a year later, after watching the radical changes in her mother’s life, her daughter, Nathalie, gave her life to Christ and, following her mother’s example, will be baptized at the end of this month. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still the power of God for the salvation of those who believe!

David & Kathryn Lohnes

World Team

Méru, France"

For the Glory of it All!

"Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all

oh he is here
for redemption from the fall
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all"

Brandon started the night of "Music and Missions" with this song, "For the Glory of it All" by Dave Crowder.  It is for His glory that we met together for this night of worship.  It is also for His glory that we are asking people to support our call.  Here are the three ways that you can support us...

Ways that YOU can partner with us…

1.  Prayer Support- Sign up to receive our newsletters so that you can know how to specifically pray.

2.  Community Support- Feel free to send birthday cards, notes, emails, etc to encourage our family as we are far from home.

3.  Fund-Raising Support- Find out more about how you can be a part of fulfilling our financial needs through monthly or one-time gifts.

    I added a section on the top left of the blog that should take you directly to the "Giving" page on the World Team website.  There are also some simple instructions on how to fill out the form.  I have had several people say that they could not find where to go and how to give, so hopefully this will make it easier for you.  I welcome any feedback on if this helps.  Finally, Brandon and I wanted to thank John Finley, pastor at Bartlett Hills Baptist Church, Steve McPherson and the missions committee at BHBC for giving us this opportunity and supporting us through it, Leslie Tisdale and Linda Reed for helping us get all the copies of our information sheets.  It was way more complicated than it looked!  We are so thankful for this opportunity and look forward to how God is going to continue to work through it!

August 2011 Newsletter...             It's hard to believe, but a new school year has begun and what we tend to call "summer" has come and gone. God is doing some neat things regarding our pursuit of the mission field and we wanted to keep you up to date so that you may rejoice with us and continue to pray for His guidance and provision. Current Progress Things are progressing slower than we'd like but we know that God's timing is perfect and that He loves to create circumstances that will bring Him the most glory! And so we rejoice in faith that He's doing just that in our case as well. (If you want to read more about my thoughts on this, check out my blog post entitled, "Obstacles, or Opportunities?") Our current monthly support is around 8% of what we'll need and our outgoing/moving costs sits at around 1%. This does not include the many of you that have verbally expressed to us your desire to partner with us but have not yet given that information to World Team. We are so thankful for the verbal support and encouragement we have receieved from you week by week and we will be glad to help you in this process if you're not sure how to begin. Find out more about our progress by clicking here. What's up ahead? Watch the caller ID... It's our desire to connect with each of you soon to share our heart and to hear yours as well. Michelle and I (or possibly some of our close friends and family that make up our accountability team) hope to speak to each of you over the phone over the next several weeks. Please feel free to voice any questions or concerns that you may have and let us know what God's doing in each of your lives as well! We look forward to speaking with you! We are excited ... for the opportunity to share during the Sunday Night service at Bartlett Hills Baptist Church this Sunday, the 28th, at 5:30 P.M. It will be our first chance to share with many of you in person about our call to France. I'll also have a couple of video to share and they even talked me into singing some that night. Following the service we'll be available to answer any of your questions. We are thankful We want to again express our gratitude for each of you! We value your input and are desparate for your prayers. Please let us know if there's anything we can do for you as well. Friend on Facebook Forward to a Friend Micah, Asher, and Karis Please join us! at 5:30 Sunday night, August 28th for Music and Missions! I'll be singing and sharing about God's call to plant churches in France. We hope to see you there! Want to find out more about World Team? Check out World Team’s Statement of faith at http://www.worldteam.org/ about?page_id=52 or Check out a 2010 recap video of World Team’s missions at our blog: www.michelleburch.blogspot.com

Until next time! Brandon & Michelle Burch P.S. You can also check out our blog: www.michelleburch.blogspot.com or World Team’s website: www.worldteam.org. We'd also love to hear from you and share more about what God has placed on our heart. Feel free to call or simply reply to this email. Thanks!

Music and Missions Anyone???

Hey all!  This will be a short post to make you aware of an upcoming event.  On Sunday night, August 28th Brandon will be leading a worship concert and sharing a testimony of our calling to missions in France.  We invite anyone who wants to know more about our timeline and how you can be a part, to join us at Bartlett Hills Baptist Church at 5:30 pm.  We hope to see you there!

Obstacles, or Opportunities?

     Hello to all.  Normally Michelle will be the one to chime in on our blog, but I (Brandon) may occasionally check in as well to share the things God has been showing me during this journey.  I've actually thought about posting a couple of times before this, but this time, I simply couldn't resist.  As most of you know, our goal is to leave for our pre-field training in the spring, and then leave for France in the summer of next year.  For this to happen, God would have to move in an incredible way!  And that's exactly how I'd want it, and I think God does to.  Isn't that just the way our God works?
      I just read again recently the story of Gideon, and then saw it presented again during the children's musical at BHBC.  That story illustrates such a great truth about God.  God directs certain circumstances in such a way as to bring Him the most glory!  32,000 Israelites against an army of 135,000 Midianites?  That's too many.  10,000?  Still too many.  Take 300 men Gideon, so that Israel will not be boastful and let me (God) show the world what I can do.  I love this about God.  And He does it over and over again throughout scripture and throughout history.
     You can see our little "progress thermometers" over there in the sidebar.  When Michelle was setting them up, I told her that I thought we should only publish the percentages and not focus on the actual numbers that we need so that people won't be scared of the amount of money that it will take to make this happen.  But I think that was a little misguided.  Yes, the numbers are big.  As the rates continue to go up each year, we now require $8,400 in monthly support while our moving/set-up costs now exceed $88,000.  In addition to that, we also have student loans in excess of $25,000 (not part of our support raising)  that we must still have a plan in place to pay off while serving in France.  In addition to that, both of our main support bases come from two Southern Baptist Churches that already systematically give money to the International Mission Board through the Cooperative Program in a bad economy.  Add in to that the fact that we have three kids under the age of 4 and that I'm working two part-time jobs in the meantime, and yes, the odds don't look so good.  Almost as bad as 300 men against an army of 135,000.  Praise God that when we finally touch down in France and look back at the road it took to get there, there will be no way for me to be boastful or think that I could have in any way pulled this off on my own, but I can only say "may God receive all glory for the great things that He's done!"  I have a feeling He will continue to operate the same way once we're ministering to the French as well...So I ask myself, and I ask you:  Are there really obstacles in our lives?  Or are they really just opportunities for God to demonstrate His greatness to us and the world around us.  I think faith says the latter.  Thanks for praying with us and being a part of what God is doing in France!

I (Michelle) couldn't let Brandon post this without a few pics! :)

No gift too small...

As I have mentioned in previous posts, we are currently raising our support to get to France.  That means that we are asking people to give.  Whether that is in the form of a one-time gift or ongoing monthly support, we are asking you to share our passion for the French people and to  help send us to share Christ with them.  So many of you have already expressed your intention to give in some capacity and we thank you for that.  There have been a few people who have shared a desire to support us, but can only give "a small amount".  We want you to know that there is no gift too small.  In fact, we welcome the small gifts because that means that we have even more people directly connected to our cause, praying for us and those we are reaching, and keeping up with how God is working.  I am reminded of the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 with only the lunch of a small boy.  We trust that God is able to take any small amount that you can give and use it to His glory.  Its great that there are those who have more to give and are willing to do so, but we know that God has a plan for every cent that goes into our account and how it will be used.  We have been called to go.  Maybe you have been called to give.  We are excited about how God is already working.  As I said, we have already had many people express a desire to be a part, whether financially or prayerfully.  We are in the process of planning some exciting events over the next few months so stay tuned for more info! 

Feelings for France

The term "missions" brings a lot of places to mind, but for most people, France is not one of them.  Many people do not realize their need for the Gospel.  After living there, Brandon and I were affirmed in the fact that we were called to share Christ with the French people.  We have been back in the states for 6 years, only visiting once, and at times it is easy to put our feelings for France on hold and to lose momentum in our pursuit to return.  Its easy to get comlacent and comfortable in our lives here and that's when God gives me these little reminders of my feelings.  Last week there were several of these reminders.  The first reminder was when I was looking at the facebook page of one of the missionaries that just moved to France in December.  She had a baby boy about a month ago and since I love to look at baby pictures, I wanted to check them out.  As I was looking at the pictures of this infant in front of the Eiffel Tower, having a meal with our missionary friends, David and Kathryn, and even at the hospital with the French doctors and nurses, I was admittedly a little jealous that they were there.  I look forward to taking my kids to the Eiffel Tower and showing them all the things and people that we love about France.  Karis has been to France once, but she was too young to remember it.  There are many things that we will miss when we move, but also so many things that we will enjoy about being there.  Don't misunderstand me, we don't feel called to France because we think it will be a great place to live.  As beautiful as it is, I struggle every day with the idea of being so far away from friends and family here and I think that is why God uses these reminders to show me that I do have feelings that He has given me to reach the unsaved and unchurched people of France.  The second and probably more important reminder was reconnecting with my friend, Angelique.  She attends the church that we went to while we were living in France and we became very close.  She even visited us once here in the US about a year after we came back to the states.  I was able to chat online with her a couple of times last week.  It was not something that I planned, but it, again, made me realize my love for the "young people" that Brandon and I had the opportunity to work with while we were living there.  I was worried that I had lost a lot of my French since I don't use it very often, but I was able to communicate fairly well all things considered.  The third reminder was a little different.  I was reading the blog of another World Team missionary who is currently raising support to go to Africa and do Bible translation.  Their most recent post was titled "I'd rather be in Africa".  It just made me think about how there are many times that I, too, think "I'd rather be in France".  I won't say I always feel that way, but I think that's why God gives me these little reminders so that I don't forget about France.  Let me finally say that missions and ministry is not fueled by feelings or emtotions and even when I don't "feel" that passion, Brandon and I are without doubt that God has called us to reach the French people.  However, I think God in His mercy allows me to "feel" that passion so that I will be excited and push forward with an urgency that these people need to hear about Him and see His love through me.  

baby Luca in front of the Eiffel Tower

Angelique holding Karis during our visit to France

The Biblical Side of Support Raising

One of the biggest differences between joining with the International Mission Board (IMB) and choosing World Team as our sending agency is that we are responsible for raising our own support for our time on the mission field.  I have to admit that I have had a very hard time with this so far.  Whether it is the culture that we live in that tells us we should be able to accomplish anything on our own if we just try hard enough, or the many organizations that solicit our money, I have wrestled with whether it is Biblical for us to be asking others to support us financially while we are serving in France.  World Team supplied us with this great Bible Study that points out many scriptures that speak on this exact topic.  I won't share them all with you, but I will share this one passage...

 

Philippians 4:10-20

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[a]from want, for I have learned to be ^[b]content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[c]through Him who strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[d]first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; ¹⁶ for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the ^[e]profit which increases to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[f]amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus ^[g]what you have sent, ^[h]a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will supply ^[i]all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory ^[j]forever and ever. Amen.

God is continually showing me that this is bigger than me and my family.  We are a part of what God is doing in France (or will be on His timing).  He will provide our needs through whatever means He chooses and it is through His strength and not mine that His will is accomplished.  Here are some practical things that I do like about people being able to support us specifically:
*Whether you support us financially or in prayer (which we need just as much) we can update you on prayer needs, praises, and what God is doing in France.  You will know how to pray specifically for people and situations by name.
*You will be able to know what your money is being used for.  We will be able to share the ministries and events that will be planned because of your support.
*You will be able to visit us in France if you want and see firsthand how God is working.  You can, of course, visit any time, but there is an annual prayer conference that World Team hosts in France every year.  If you have never been on a mission trip, this is a great first trip.  You can see the needs up close and prayer walk in the cities where World Team missionaries are serving.  Also, when we come back to the states on home assignment, we will be meeting with our supporters in person as much as possible to share as well.
I am so excited to be a part of support raising (even if it is extremely difficult and humbling at times) because I get to see God do something that is bigger than me, something that I could never do on my own!

                   Asher is excited about support raising too! ;)

What Now??

After we got our fourth letter in the letter campaign sent out and added to the blog, I found myself asking "What now?"  If you are wondering the same thing, here are a few things to think about...

-If you were not on our list to receive the four letters explaining our calling to church planting in France and how you can be a part of what God is doing there, and you would like to receive them via mail/email, please let me know.  We have a second group of them going out soon.

-If you would like to meet with Brandon and me indivually or with a small group so that we can share with you in person more about our calling, we would love to arrange a time to do so. 

-If you would like to be added to our list of prayer supporters, so that you will receive our updates in the form of newsletters while we are on the field, please send us your contact information to chelle374@aol.com

-Finally, if you are intested in supporting us financially, you can do that by going to the worldteam website, www.worldteam.org or simply click on the Worldteam logo on the left of the blog.  There you will see a "Giving" page where you can pledge to give monthly or give a one time gift.  If you put our names (Brandon and Michelle Burch) in the Missionary/Project section, the money will go into an account set up for us.  You can pledge to start giving as we get closer to going to the field, but we do need to be aware of people who plan to give later, so that we know where we stand as far as our progress of raising support.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

-If you did not get a chance to look at the 2010 Recap video for World Team and you want to know more about who they are and what they are doing around the world, I have added it to the bottom of the blog.  Feel free to check it out as well as other changes that have been made to the page. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Michelle =)

 I had to add a few pictures just for fun! ;)

Final Letter...How you can partner with us!

Our family, this time including our new addition!

Dear Reader,
At this point we have given you an overview of what is happening both in France and in our lives. In our previous three letters we’ve discussed... our story, the spiritual need in France, and what World Team is striving to do. Many of you have already asked us how you can get involved. We’d like to take this chance to describe the different opportunities you have to partner with us in what God is doing in France.


Confirming the Calling:

We believe that God is calling us to participate in His work by starting new churches in France with World Team.  He has faithfully led us step-by-step, carefully preparing us for our future ministry. From Michelle’s experience as a French teacher to Brandon’s studies at Rhodes College amidst a spiritual climate very similar to that of France, every aspect of our lives has built a foundation of experiences on which we can draw.

The people around us have affirmed our skills and gifts; mentors and close friends have communicated their appreciation for our teaching, service, and wisdom. Our churches—Bartlett Hills Baptist Church and First Baptist Church Millington—have supported us in our spiritual journey and have prepared us by means of valuable hands-on experience. From teaching Sunday school classes and leading Bible studies to leading worship and serving as youth minister, we are thankful for our time serving in our home churches.

Additionally, I have completed my Masters of Missiology at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in what I think has to be one of the top missions programs available. I will never forget my time under the teaching of those professors, each of whom served or were serving as missionaries, as well as pastors.Each of these steps in our faith journey has led us to this point of complete confidence in our calling.

The Planned Work:
It is our hope to arrive in France by the summer of 2012.
In our first year there, we will go to language school and immerse ourselves in the culture. Shortly after, we will take part in an "internship" with an established French church before being placed in a strategic location for a new church plant.

Will You Join Us?: We know we cannot do this alone.
We desire your partnership to make God’s calling on our lives a reality. First, we need your ongoing prayer support. We are completely reliant on God and His wisdom, guidance, and grace as we pursue this challenging ministry. Moving ahead is only possible by joining together in prayer to call on God for His constant help. We will be sending out regular email prayer updates to our committed prayer partners.


Secondly, we are seeking partners to support us financially. We must raise about $8,000 in ongoing monthly support which includes our living, insurance, ministry costs and World Team operating costs. One-time donations and ongoing monthly gifts given before our departure will go towards our outgoing expenses and set-up costs. By contributing one-time or monthly, in any amount, you truly are participating in the work God is doing around the world.

*All gifts are given to World Team and will be used to support the expenses of World Team and for our assigned ministry. Gifts are tax-deductible and will be receipted for your records.

*Giving options are explained on the enclosed response cards.
If you plan to support us monthly, giving may begin immediately or you can indicate on the response card when you plan to start. It is recommended that monthly gifts begin at least 3 months prior to our departure to ensure full support by the summer of 2012.

Finally, we need you to help spread the word. It’s not about us! It’s about God making Himself known among the French. We encourage you to keep up to date with us and what is happening in France through our blog or World Team’s website. If you have any questions, we would love to talk with you more. Additionally, we would love to share at your church or with a small group of people in your home. The body of Christ is seen fully at work in partnerships such as these. We ask you to consider using your gifts and resources to take part in the work of starting churches in France. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank You!
Brandon & Michelle Burch

What's happening in France?...God is working!!

This is one of the recent newsletters that we received from our friends, David and Kathryn, who are serving as missionaries in France.  It is very encouraging to see how God is working there.  We can't wait to be a part of what He is doing!...


                        
                                   My friend, Lambert in Ault, France 2004

"Thank you for praying these past 9 years for Lambert.  He passed away last Friday morning.  He just celebrated his 89th birthday in May.  I miss him already.  I went to see Lambert almost once a week since we arrived in Méru so many years ago now.  And all those years I preached the Gospel to this man, and you, along with many hundreds more from around the world, prayed for his salvation.  On my Outlook calendar, at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday the 30th of March, and marked in bright purple to emphasize a very extra/ordinary event, are these words: “Lambert, reconciled to God!”  I didn’t really feel like visiting Lambert in his assisted living facility that day, but there I was, once again, leaning in close, pleading with my dying friend to open his heart to the love of God and to receive His free gift of life in Christ before it was too late.
Why that day? Why not in 2004? I don’t know, and I guess it doesn’t really matter.  What matters most is that on that eventful day, 2 months before his death, Lambert understood something that he had never understood before.  His lifelong efforts to be moral, kind and good would not impress God nor would it earn him the right to eternal life with the Father in heaven.  I offered to pray a prayer to God on his behalf and suggested, if he was sincere, that he repeat the prayer after me, out loud, to God.  He said he would, and he did! It was a simple prayer of faith, an invitation for Christ to come into his life and to save him from sin’s awful salary: eternal death and separation from God.  He stared at me intently as we prayed together.  He had tears in his eyes; I had tears of gratitude
running down my face.  Three different times he said to me, as I guided his wheel chair to his table in the dining room, “maintenant je suis heureux, je suis heureux maintenant”. “Now I’m happy, I’m
happy now.”  I call it an extra/ordinary event because it involves God’s “extra” and my “ordinary”.  You and I are just the messengers, faithfully doing what God has commissioned us and enabled us to do – ordinary!  Only the Word of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, can break down the barriers in a man’s heart,
save him and restore him to fellowship with the Father – extra!
Do you ever wonder if it’s really worth persevering in prayer? Is it worth the astronomical expense of sending missionaries to another part of the globe to tell people that through Christ they can be
reconciled to God?  Do you ever wonder if you’re making any difference for the Kingdom of God on this planet, or how you “measure” success when it comes to planting churches in a foreign land?  I have, and I do!  But… it’s on days like this, when my friend Lambert dies and steps into the joy of his salvation, that I sense the power of Christ on me, that my faith in God and in the saving power of the Gospel is renewed, that I’m grateful for each one of you who has sacrificed financially to keep us here in such
trying times as these, that I encounter, first hand, the victory of persevering prayer!  A very heart-felt thanks for your partnership in bringing Lambert to faith in Christ!  I’m sure he’ll want to thank you personally one day! 

Changing the landscape of eternity one person at a time,
David (4Kathryn2)"

Letter # 3

Waiting for the service to begin at our church in Beauvais, Église Protestante Évangélique

David and Kathryn Lohnes, serving in France with World Team  for over 25 years

Dear Reader,
In our previous letter, we explained the dire spiritual need that exists among the French. You remember that currently there are not enough active, Bible-teaching churches to reach the population in France. So what is being done about it? World Team’s vision is to plant 50 churches in France over 20 years! When you consider the average French church takes around fifteen years to be firmly established, this is a God-sized dream. And that is exactly the type of vision that we want to be a part of! We’d like to take a moment to introduce you to World Team and how we fit into this plan to reach the French.
Defining Characteristics: World Team is an interdenominational organization with a long history and over 350 members serving in 28 different countries. The organization emphasizes teamwork (within World Team as well as with other organizations and national leaders) and the humility it requires, believing that God produces greater results when we combine our efforts, gifts, and talents with one another. They emphasize discipleship, going beyond conversions and intentionally pursuing and cultivating growing relationships with God resulting in the development of national leaders. And the goal is always reproduction and multiplication of believers and churches, so that the work of reconciling the lost to God continues gaining momentum and influence for the glory of God. This is the only way that a goal of 50 churches in 20 years can be reached!
“World Team exists to glorify God by working together to establish reproducing churches focusing on the unreached peoples of the world.” The goal of this agency is to glorify the Lord, specifically by preaching the Gospel to the lost of all cultures so that people of every tribe, tongue, and nation will one day be found worshipping Jesus Christ. We appreciate World Team’s specific focus on church planting because we know that in God’s wisdom, He chose the church, the community of believers, to further His kingdom to the ends of the earth. Paul talks about Christ loving the church by “giving himself up for her to make her holy,” and he calls the church the “pillar and foundation of the truth” in our world today (Eph 5:25-26; 1 Tim 3:15). It becomes obvious that starting new churches should be a focus in our mission, especially in places where so few exist.
A Great Fit: We first encountered the work of World Team while living in France in 2004-05. It was during this time that we witnessed firsthand what “church planting” and being a “career missionary” would look like and we hungered to know more. We were given the chance to walk alongside our new World Team missionary friends, David and Kathryn Lohnes, who in turn introduced us to the rest of the France team and they definitely made an impression on us. It was obvious that God had gifted the France team, but what impressed us the most was their passion for the Lord, for reaching the French people, as well as their fondness for World Team. Additionally, we deeply appreciated the Biblical philosophies and beliefs that were driving their ministry and mission. 
As you may know, our situation is a little unique being that we are members of a Southern Baptist Church and are eligible to apply to go as missionaries with the International Mission Board, the Southern Baptist missionary sending agency.  Nonetheless, through our relationship with the Lohnes family, our interaction with the France team as well as World Team as a whole, God has affirmed to us again and again what we already felt from the beginning... World Team was the best fit for our family.
A Proper Perspective: But beyond being a great fit for us, we appreciate that World Team is centered on the Gospel and having a dependency on God through prayer. World Team recognizes that no amount of strategy and effort can change the hearts of men and women apart from the hand of God. This fact is emphasized among the various teams as well as in the lives of the individual missionaries that represent Jesus to the people around them everyday. For example, the France team demonstrates their dependency on God by holding their annual prayer conference. Each year they invite people to travel to France for the main purpose of prayer, both during the week and beyond. We simply cannot underestimate the promises of God which declare that when we humbly seek Him, He will respond! We are honored, humbled, and excited to be a part of World Team. We are eager to join in the church planting work taking place in France.
Until Next Time!
Brandon and Michelle Burch

Letter # 2

"Dear Reader,

Are you familiar with the term, "unreached people groups"? It refers to people groups who do not have a national community of believing Christians large enough to evangelize the rest of that people group. But what images come to mind when you hear that phrase? Many think of tribes living in primitive jungle conditions, or the closed hostile environment of Islamic countries. However, believe it or not, the French people are also an unreached people group. In our last letter, we shared with you our calling to go plant new churches in France. Perhaps that left you asking questions like these: Is there really a need in France? Is the need in France any greater than in the United States? Yes, the French are classified as unreached, and while the need for the saving message of Jesus Christ is the same in France as it is in the United States, the opportunity to hear it is drastically less. Let's take a look at the current state in France... The Cultural Backdrop: France has a rich Christian heritage and was once a major player in the Christian world. Today, however, it has become a center for postmodern thought and existential philosophy where religion has been forsaken for more fashionable ways of thinking. While Catholicism is the predominant religion, few take their role in the Catholic church seriously or believe in its teachings. In France, Christianity is the source of some valued traditions but has no relevance for their daily lives. The majority of the French people have never opened a Bible and many equate evangelicals to cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses.  Is there a need in France?  Yes, the French are in dire need of the truth of Jesus Christ.  The Church...Missing: Imagine having only one evangelical church for every 80,000 people.  That is an accurate description of the Paris region in France's current post-Christian state.  Yet throughout much of the United States, churches can be found throughout every city and small town, especially in the "Bible Belt".  But this is not at all the case in France.  Even the large cathedrals function more as art museums and cultural centers rather than places of worship.  The evangelical church is all but invisible to the French.  With strong opposition from the local government- often prohibiting churches from erecting buildings or meeting in public spaces- the few Bible-teaching churches that do exist are kept hidden from view.  These small congregations (often 4-40 people) are forced to meet in living rooms and basements, only occasionally gaining permission for a once-a-month service in a community building.  Without the influence of the Church, France has become dominated by atheists, agnostics, members of the occult and a rapidly growing Muslim population.  France severely lacks the number of Bible-teaching churches to be the "salt" and "light" to their world.  Walking in Darkness: The French people have a beautiful culture that unknowingly reveals the image of God in so many meaningful ways.  But sadly, they are left searching for truth in places that are ultimately leaving them empty.  Only the power of the gospel clearly taught through the ministry of Spirit-led communities of believers can make an eternal impact among the French.  "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God...Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."  -1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Until Next Time!
Brandon and Michelle Burch"