Paul often exhorts us in his letters written from prison to rejoice in the Lord. Moreover, he not only says it, but we can feel the joy in his words. The example of the miracle he experienced in prison with Silas through worship is very revealing of the power of such an attitude (Acts 16:25). So, I would like to do this exercise for this newsletter which comes more than a year after I started working at GBUC.
« Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! » – Philippians 4 :4
I rejoice for the Church. I praise the Lord for the faithfulness of you, Christians everywhere. For after such a long period of crisis, you still seek the face of Christ. There has been no greater miraculous sign in this exhausting period of pandemic than the perseverance of many Christians, even of different opinions, in Quebec and all over the world. For me, Christ has sustained me since the beginning of my ministry in times of doubts and trials, through his Holy Spirit, his Word and his Church. And I rejoice that He has done so for you too.
I rejoice in our identity, hidden with Christ. Even if circumstances tend to make us forget it, let the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and the Church remind us that our Father is there in our lives. The Lord used our Bible studies at GBUC to strengthen our sense of that identity which is solidly anchored in Jesus. The example of Paul spoke to us greatly. Paul portrays in Ephesians this extraordinary reality that is beyond our comprehension but is already being fulfilled today in all aspects of our lives. Indeed, this former persecutor of the Church who “breathed out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1), becomes, for Christ, this mature man who rejoices and weeps with fellow Christians (Acts 20:37). Moreover, he says in Acts 20:22: “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”. Through Christ, in Christ and for Christ, he goes in a hurry to a place where he will face persecution (Acts 20:16).
I rejoice because God uses our five loaves and two fish. The miracle of Jesus feeding thousands with very little to begin with is my favorite in the gospels. It brings me back to my condition as a disciple who has very little to offer to a multitude of students each with their own particular circumstances. God works with what we are beyond our expectations. We see it in John 6:13 ” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” We were surprised this Fall session to have the authorization to have stands on campus to share our faith. We were also able to do face-to-face Bible Studies at ETEQ. This was very timely as we didn’t know what to expect when the school year started. I am happy to see a new face at each meeting: a student who has questions about faith, another who wants to return to his first love for the gospel, and another who has just moved to Quebec and is looking for a community…
I rejoice to show faith in God. His victory does not depend on our circumstances. I want to imitate the wonderful attitude of Paul and Silas, worshiping God in their chains (Acts 16:25). There is no certainty regarding the next semesters; except that there is hope for more students to turn to Christ. One of our challenges is to do face-to-face activities again on the Polytechnique campus to facilitate the participation of these overworked students. That said, I rejoice because even if some of them are less regular at our weekly meetings, their light shines brightly wherever they go and they keep on being faithful witnesses of God’s grace. Another challenge is to be more and more creative and committed to evangelism as the crisis seems to be ending. We have to be faithful and not just go back to our old habits from before the pandemic. I am excited because student initiatives are quietly and strongly growing. They are an inspiration to me. Explore the following links and be encouraged by Knowing your identity, Eding Agapeo, Revivre & Briller, Le bon Camarade.
I rejoice for a God who provides. I recently had the opportunity to participate in several courses and also in a research project at Polytechnique. I found myself sometimes doing more than 40 hours a week, teaching, correcting exams, doing research… For me, it is the grace of the Lord that keeps me close to my old university so that I can continue to work there with GBUC. He provides for my needs.
I rejoice for all the donators and those who pray for me. This spring of water, which is the testimony of your faith and is expressed in your generosity and prayers, makes a difference for the students of GBUC and me.
Yes, I rejoice in the Lord, for my family, for the students, for the fellowship, for GBUC and its directors… for Christ and His wonderful Church.
If you would like to share the joy of what is done at GBUC, please feel free to pray for us or make a donation. May God, “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20), bring you to experience His joy. May God be glorified in your lives!