Boxing day

started with the journey to Blaye to preach. It's very cold here and on the way to the church there's a few underpasses where the sun don't shine. I felt the car slide a little but I don't think the family realised anything and we got there safe and sound to drop off the children before going on to Blaye. At Blaye I preached on the shepherds going to Bethlehem and we sang lots of Christmas songs. We were almost 20 people, which is a record for a Sunday morning that I've been there.

We got a message from the kids - could we go and eat with a family from the church, the kids wanted to spend time together, so we gladly went along and ate delicious fresh fish. There had been fewer folk in Cenon than in Blaye. Predictable what with all the folk that have travelled away for the holidays.

We got a message from some of the Chinese asking if there was an English service. We said yes, and so we met happily and thought of how God moved the heart of the Roman Emperor and sent people everywhere scuttling around so that the Saviour could be born at Bethlehem and we could be saved. So don't be afraid, rejoice.

The Chinese are very encouraged after about 70 people turned up for their Christmas Eve event. There have been around ten professions of faith this year so far. We plan to meet up soon to discuss how best to support the group, to encourage the converts and to integrate the group into the church / the churches.

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