Leigh Family Prayer Newsletter - October 2003

September 27, 2003

In Deuteronomy 5:16 one of the Ten Commandments is listed as:

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

In the last verses of the Bible before Jesus was born (Malachi 4:5-6) it says:

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.

An angel tells the father of John the Baptist (in Luke 1:17):

And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Honoring one another across generations is a huge key to preparing a Church for the things that God wants to do in these days. It is also a key for preparing the lost to receive the message of salvation. Difficulty in honoring others, and especially our parents and forefathers is a problem in many parts of the earth, but in Europe and in France in particular, criticism occupies the "seat of honor". That is to say, "critical thinking" or testing every person or idea with criticism (to see if it is really true/valid) is lauded in French society and taught in the schools from an early age. It flows from French philosophers in the Enlightenment era...the birth of Humanism.

Judging something "critically" is woven so deeply in the French culture that it has become difficult even in the church to give Godly honor to another. Lest you think I'm either deeply discerning or quick to judge, it's the French who have told me this!

What is important to see in this issue of honor and criticism is the very significant results of walking down either path. Generational honor does not end with simply honoring our biological parents, though this is the vital foundation. Right now one of the big issues in the French Church is honoring the generations of leadership and the generations of the move of the Spirit that have come before...either immediately before or in French history. The dishonor, that continues to be repeated, thwarts the multi-generational flow of the Spirit of God that is absolutely necessary for God to move powerfully in a region.

You'll note in the verses in Deuteronomy and Malachi above that whether honor or dishonor is the path chosen, the land or territory is affected. You are either blessed in the land or a curse is on the land. France can certainly attest to this.

God wants to prepare France for an outpouring of salvation and a spread of His Kingdom that overflows so that the world can know the spiritual riches that He placed here, in this people, in this land, that uniquely reflect His character and glory. We feel, in our School of Reconciliation, that God has given us the above verses in Malachi as a theme for this school, and that the Lord would have us be a bridge between the previous generation of leadership in the church and the next generation that He is raising up. We need to facilitate the reconciliation between the "fathers" and "sons" and foster the cross-generational honoring that will help make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Please pray for the Lord's direction, blessing and protection for this school as this activity of reconciliation is deeply on the Lord's heart and our adversary hates it passionately.

Praise Report!!

While it's tempting to only look at what we still need, I wanted to make sure that we said "thank you" to the Lord for His gracious provision for us and "thank you" to all of you for your prayers! When my faith is being tested (and it is), it is so important to try (operative word for me) and have a thankful heart.

• Finances - It's been tighter than we've ever experienced but God has provided for every need.
• Administration - We've started the administrative processes (all in French, of course) connected with living here (schools, car registration, lodging, residence permits, etc.). Some are actually finished and the French didn't kill us as previously thought!
• Houses - Our house in Scotland sold quickly and for a better price than we had originally hoped. We have relatively in-expensive lodging right now which is where the YWAM school is located. So it is convenient and much cheaper than last year.
• Kid's School - The kids are liking their school. Olivia and Noah walk to the primary school where they are in a class with two grades together so they have the same teacher (who is wonderful) and they have each other. Rachel is liking her school situation too and takes the bus too and from school. There is a girl who lives in this same complex (a Christian Retreat/Conference center) who goes to the same school as Rachel so that has been helpful.
• Reconciliation School Prep - The time of staff orientation has been fabulous! It's a great team and I have been welcomed so warmly. The teaching and ministry times have been great and deep. I feel like it is a team that will work well together.
• Language - My comprehension is climbing steadily. I'm much more immersed right now than we were in Albertville. Very little English being spoken except in our home. The entire team, except for me, has been francophone (an English guy will be joining the staff this week). I had to share my testimony and do a teaching on a book this week. Nearly 2 hours of solo French talking and teaching with from my notes in English. The French was very rough and mistake-filled, but it worked. Probably a high point so far of my time here.
• Welcome - From the mayor of the village, to the Center staff, to the school staff, to the schools, we have been welcomed with open arms. It has been a real blessing.
• Region - I had not really wanted to be in this region but we're finding it to be very nice here and very beautiful. I know it can be quite hot in the summer but right now it's wonderful. It's also one of the most Christian areas in France. If you know the reputation of Colorado Springs or Orlando in the States, it has that kind of reputation in France. Keeping in mind that the penetration of Christianity in France is still only about 1% of the population, there about 20-30 Christian ministries/businesses here in the Valence area and a greater unity among the churches than in most areas in France.

Prayer Requests

Do we still need prayer? Of course we do! We can't live without it any more than you can!

• Finances - We have been going back and forth with whether to buy or rent here. Our current decision is to take the money from our house in Scotland and find something here. This area is highly sought after in France. Thus it is expensive...just like most things in France. We need a miracle from the Lord to find the right housing situation here. Pray for patience, wisdom and provision.
• Administration - Much in France depends upon our residence permit (carte de séjour). It would appear that we have the right to some assistance with expenses for the kids and maybe for the rent we have now. Unfortunately, when I started the process to get the residence permit, all they could do for me was make an appointment for an interview...in December! So now we wait...and wait...and wait... We don't really anticipate any other problems with the process but the wait has implications with other things. So, we'd appreciate your prayers as we wait and for the process to speed up a bit once we finally have our meeting.
• Housing - Our current situation is a blessing in its proximity, cost and Christian environment. It's a struggle in that it's a hodge-podge of rooms and a shared kitchen and bathroom and no personal phone line. Instead of moving to another place while we're looking for a house to buy, our current thought is to stay here. We need patience and love to live in community and in shared, ill-equipped kitchens, bedrooms that have to be our living rooms at the same time, etc. Pray for our time here that we can be a blessing and that we can find the house that God has for us soon.
• Moving Issues - We need wisdom in our choices in how we move things from Scotland and financial provision for the actual cost of the move and a storage solution for the stuff once it comes here.
• Reconciliation School - The students arrive tomorrow (Sunday)! Pray for the staff team as we transition to this new schedule. I was just getting used to the school-prep schedule and getting to know the folks on the team and working to understand all the French. I feel like it's about to be kicked up another gear and I don't feel ready! Please pray for this school, staff and students, that we would truly be instruments of reconciliation for the Lord, for it's the Father's good pleasure to reconcile all things to Himself (Col. 1:19-20).
• Language - Noah needs a breakthrough in the language department. He needs to start trying to speak! Please pray for a longing in his heart to communicate that will help him actually open his mouth and try. Comprehension is going quite well for the rest of us except for the occasional SuperFastTalkerWhoDoesNotArticulate!! What is hard is actually...speaking! This is difficult and humbling often as I try to spit words out of my mouth. Pray that we have the grace to persevere through discouragement in speaking...even through the mistakes and strange looks that we get!

I know...way too long. I guess there's a lot on my heart!

Until next time!
David