First, I would like to say thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to go on this trip. Thank you to the College Missions Program, who selected us and gave us this opportunity. Thank you especially to Leslie Nichols, who endured my many questions and gave us invaluable information and advice that guided us through the fundraising preparation process. Of course, I would also like to thank every individual who donated to our trip, and I would like to thank Cushing FWB and Pleasant Hill Fwb Church for inviting us to come raise funds. This would not have been possible without the help of everyone who supported us.

Second, I would like to thank Jonathan and Michelle Chereau and their children, who allowed us to stay in their home and welcomed us into their family. They are truly an incredible family, and we are blessed to know them and to have had the chance to serve alongside them, even for a brief time.

The trip itself wasn’t exactly what I expected. As we discovered, ministry in France looks very different from other countries. Our time in France didn’t consist of preaching the Gospel in the streets, digging wells, building schools, or any of the activities that might come to mind when you think of a missions trip. Ministry in France tends to be very slow-paced and relationship-centered. The fact is, the people of France tend to be very resistant to religion of any kind.

One example in particular comes to mind: one of the Chereaus’ primary outreach ministries is an English learning night, which gives attendees the chance to practice their English in a fun environment. One woman had planned to attend the event, but upon learning that it was being held inside a church, she decided to leave. This instance reflects the general attitude of the French toward religion. Religion, especially Christianity, is seen as something for the weak and foolish.

For this reason, sharing the Gospel in France has to take on a much more relational approach. The English learning nights that the Chereau’s host at their church are not explicitly Christian. There are no prayers spoken or Bible passages taught. These events exist to provide them with an opportunity to form relationships with the people in their community, relationships that will hopefully allow them to present Christianity in a positive light to people who might otherwise be entirely closed off.

However, this kind of ministry can be extremely draining. It may not be physically taxing or dangerous as in other mission fields, but it can be very emotionally and mentally exhausting. The Chereau’s told us the story of another missionary’s attempts to convert his French best friend. It took his friend 10 years to finally make the decision to convert to Christianity. Ministry in France can be incredibly slow-paced, and the lack of immediate fruit can be discouraging.

I think my biggest takeaway from this trip was realizing how deep the spiritual need is in France and how much support the missionaries there need. During our time, we didn’t lead any individuals to salvation, but for a short time, we were able to help ease the burdens of a very busy missionary family, a family whose faithful work has and will undoubtedly continue to win the people of France to Christ.

My encouragement to those who have followed our trip is simple: support our missionaries in France. Support them with your prayers. Pray that God would give them the strength to endure what can be a slow, discouraging, and thankless ministry. Pray for the people of France that their hearts and minds would be open and receptive to the Gospel. Pray especially for the Chereaus, as they have a lot on their plates in addition to their ministry.

Support our missionaries with your finances. Missionaries in France are often entirely funded by donations from churches and individuals in the United States. They cannot do the work that they do without that support, so consider giving or encouraging your church to give to missionaries in France.

Finally, support them by going. France as a mission field is often overlooked due to the fact that the physical needs there are far less than those of other countries, but it is a spiritually dark place. You may not be called to full-time missions, but you can still look for opportunities to go and support the missionaries who are already there. Sometimes, just having an extra set of hands can be all the encouragement and support that a missionary needs to keep serving. Of course, if you do feel called to be a full-time missionary, consider France as a mission field. The harvest there is great, but the workers are few, so take the time to consider whether France is the country God has called you to go to.

I want to close by sharing what Dennis Teague, another full-time missionary in France, told me. He said that what brought him to France wasn’t a special calling or a feeling that it was where he needed to be. What made him devote his life to ministry in France was simply recognizing the spiritual need of the country. He knew that whenever he walked into a room, he might very well be the only Christian in that room, and that fact broke his heart. That is why he decided to become a missionary to France, and that is why he and many others have chosen to remain and serve in France for the rest of their lives.

“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'” – Romans 10:14-15.

– Ethan and Emily McBride, CMP France 2025

August 2025