Eric Célérier

Eric Célérier

Eric and Paul Goulet in Paris

“If God put a dream in your heart, write it down, keep it like a treasure … persevere oh oh persevere …” Olivier Cheuwa’s song tells us. For me, this song was an encouragement to persevere. I even made it my cell phone ring to remind me to never give up.

In 2009, Muriel and I were on a trip to Israel with our friends from Las Vegas, Paul and Denise Goulet. We were helping them discover this country that we love so much.

We were in Jerusalem in the hotel swimming pool, and there we began to dream together about Biblical training online for Christians and new believers. We even imagined a series of courses, lasting long enough to  produce a real change in lives!

We were so enthusiastic that we literally stayed in the pool for hours and we came out with very wrinkled skin. It was a little like as if we had just invented the iPad for Biblical training! A new tool that would make way for the transformation of thousands of people’s lives through the Holy Spirit’s action.

Then, we saw God begin to open doors. He put outstanding teachers in our path. John Maxwell gave his permission for  “leadership” training in French, which was filmed last month in Las Vegas.

Our team developed the application after months of research and improvements. It is called TopFormations, and it is actually being tested with the course called “40 Days to Revolutionize Your Finances”. I think a revolution is beginning!

Eric Célérier

IMAGINE is also the beginning of the statement which sums up the dream of Jesus.net (a network of international partners whose goal is evangelism through the Internet). Here it is: “Imagine a world with every single person having free access to the Gospel, knowing God, growing in Jesus, and sharing faith easily…” This is what we want to do through this tremendous network, Jesus.net. Share the Gospel with everyone and everywhere.

IMAGINE is also a vision for the future. I want to imagine, by faith, everything that God is going to do. I already imagine Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, reached by the Gospel. Did you know that in Jakarta alone (capital of Indonesia) there are 17 million Facebook users? Would you join me in prayer for this country?

IMAGINE is just a simple word allowing us to dream and to see what God can do through ordinary people like you and me. When I started Top Chrétien in 1999, I think I was far from imagining all that it has become today. Would I have imagined such developments? Such encouragement? Such an impact in the lives of Internet users of whom you are perhaps a part? Here are some testimonies to illustrate my point.

“My brother decided to return to church after many messages received via PassLeMot. Thank you Lord.”

“A cousin who isn’t a Christian thanks me because PassLeMot does him a lot of good and reminds him not to forget God.”

“I was an atheist and my life changed on this website. It’s too immense, and there is no word on earth to describe it.”

“Thanks to the Top I have the feeling of really being part of a big family.”

“I knew a young Christian through your website, oh so helpful. He gave me a Bible in Arabic and he put me on the way of the Lord Jesus. Since then, I never cease to grow in faith and obedience (despite difficult conditions) because I was born and live in Algeria.”

“Thanks to your messages, my life changes from day to day.”

“Top Chrétien is a revolutionary tool that allows us to receive and share.”

So keep moving forward and IMAGINE what God will do. ”The sky’s the limit” as the saying goes. And I think that’s what God wants for the Top and for each one of us …

Thank you for being a part of this dream of God. I imagine you like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms on the mountain while Joshua and the people of God were fighting in the valley. Thank you for holding up our two arms, our vision and our passion, while our team is in the battle.

Together, IMAGINE what God will do with us in 2012! And let him use us as he sees fit. What do you think? Do you have stories to share?

Together for changed lives,

Eric

Muriel

ONE TEAM …

The team is incredible. They are all passionate. For example, Muriel handles very seriously our donor relationships. She prays with them and for them. We thank Muriel for her devoted service and her empathy for each person she contacts. Muriel now has a new assistant, Iris, who came to replace Sylvie whose contract ended. Sylvie did a great job and our prayers and best wishes are with her.

Stef and Christine, two pillars of the Top Chrétien team. are a blessing for many.

PLEASE PRAY FOR  …

1. Transformed Lives
Our websites for India and China were relaunched thanks to a donation. This allowed us to buy advertizing in Google and to increase the visitor rate. A large number of people accept Jesus every day ever since the relaunch. Pray for them!

2. The Team
We still need team members called by God to serve with their talents as missionaries at the Top.

3. Eric & Muriel
Some traveling is foreseen. May the Holy Spirit direct us in managing our schedule.

4. Creativity
May the Lord help the team to discern between good ideas and those that come from our Creator.

5. The Finances
May divine provision be accorded to us in abundance so that more souls are put in contact with the Gospel. May we be able to finance the “couples” and the “singles” courses, expected to be filmed soon.

Your prayers are essential!

Thank you,

Eric Célérier

Things are happening in Israel! Jews for Jesus, an international evangelistic organization, is ready to become our partner for the Hebrew website.

Things are also happening in Indonesia. We are testing an original evangelism approach in French via Facebook. Did you know that in Jakarta alone (capital of Indonesia) there are 17 million Facebook users? We are now in contact with an organization in the country for our first steps. Let’s pray…

Curious to see our Facebook version of ConnaitreDieu? Click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/connaitredieu Great, isn’t it? I like it!

Our “video learning platform” is ready. TopFormations is already running on it and soon we are going to use it to offer training specifically for people new to the faith like “12 Days to Discover the Bible” or “40 Days with Jesus”.

Take heart, friends. The journey will be long, but our cause is wonderful.

All the Best for Jesus,

Eric Célérier
Founder, TopChrétien and ConnaitreDieu.com

ONE VISION …

Our ministry developments are impressive. They are occurring nationally with Top Chrétien and internationally with Jesus.net. Opportunities present themselves one after the other, and the list of projects is getting longer and longer. As our Anglo-Saxon friends say “Every one of them is very exciting.”

Recently the president of a big international ministry told us: “I want this project for 5 million churches…” All of this seems very good but one question keeps growing in me: “What does God want? What should we accept, refuse, put off until later?” I have an evangelist’s heart. I would like everyone to know Jesus but I cannot save the world. It’s Jesus who is the Savior!

I am also feeling the pressure on our small team. Lots of work but few workers. I do not want them to “burn out.” They are very precious, especially my wife.

So what should we do? I know the spiritual response: “Pray, ask God, let the Holy Spirit lead you,…” That’s true, but it’s not that simple! God also speaks through opportunities, divine connections, circumstances,… What I understand is that God expects me to become more and more of a “true” spiritual leader, that is someone who listens to him and obeys him. God says: “My thoughts are not your thoughts!”

It’s a challenge for me. The future of a family, a team, and a ministry depends upon this listening and divine direction. Would you like to accompany me with your prayers? I never want to stop learning, growing and, when necessary, changing.

Thank you for your friendship and your advice which are so precious to me.

Eric Célérier

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus could have chosen a thousand and one words for his last speech to his followers. He could have told them again: “Love one another!” or invited them thus: “Relax after all these difficult events” or why not tell them: “Stay together and have fun, you’ve earned it!” But instead he asked them to separate, to move away from each other, and go far away. He could have told them to go to the next town, but at this moment, his call is to reach the nations.

Jesus’ call embraces all nations. It is not limited to my area, my circle of friends. The call of God is beyond me. It is open to all creation! Why? Because God desires that all men be saved, that all people hear the gospel wherever they may be.

In this time of Christmas, Jesus’ words still echo in my heart and I realize even more their significance: “Go, make disciples of all nations …”

But what do these words  “make disciples” really mean? How do you understand them? For me, this video explains it so well that I could not help but share it. It really touched me …

And you, what do you think? What is your mission?

God bless you in this holiday season and may he help us to rediscover our mission.

Together for changed lives,

Eric

P. S.: A little bonus? CIJEM Force’s Top visit … To view after leaving your comment of course

It was there that this vision and this passion for the salvation of souls were birthed in my heart. On the platform, behind this great evangelist, I prayed: “Lord, use my life. I would like to be an evangelist like him.”

Just one year prior to the campaign, I had been offered the opportunity to study at a technology university in my hometown, a job,  my driver’s license… but God had told me: “This isn’t my will.” With a heavy heart, I obeyed him.

Fortunately… If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had that tremendous experience in 1986 and today, Top Chrétien and KnowingGod would probably not exist. Neither would I have met the most marvelous spouse  of whom a man can dream.

Thank you, Lord, for insisting that I take the narrow way. Twenty-five years later, I do not regret this choice, and I am so blessed to see the vision realized. Never would I have imagined that one day our team would help the Billy Graham Association announce the Gospel… in the USA! It’s happening today. Thousands of lives are reached every day. And we are delighted to give back what they did for us.

Thank you for your involvement in Top Chrétien’s vision. Each one of us has a part in this extraordinary plan of God.

“Whatever he tells you, do it” said Mary, the day of the marriage in Cana. Could you ask Jesus what he expects from you concerning Top Chrétien? Do just what he tells you to do

Together for changed lives,

Eric

PS: I am currently en route to the United States with two Top Chrétien teammates, Michael Foucault and Marc Ariberti. In fact, we are going to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) as part of our partnership with Top Chrétien. I will once again meet with Franklin Graham (President of BGEA). Can you pray that God blesses this trip and that His grace be upon all of our appointments?

We, French, wrongly tried to import Halloween to France, and I am glad that organizations like the Protestant Evangelical Committee for Human Dignity mobilized against it successfully. Congratulations to you, CPDH -  Protestant Committee for Human Dignity! You do a great job. You are so brave and efficient. Please do keep it up! The road is long and difficult, but your fight is just!

Now it seems that we, Christians, can mobilize ourselves FOR something. Being the light of the world and the salt of the earth means to have a positive influence on society. It’s not lighting a lamp in the manner of old police films and “shining” it in the eyes of the accused and saying, “Go! Confess your sins now!” Fortunately, the love of God that leads us to repentance is gentler than that

I propose that we influence our society through a new holiday in France and in French-speaking countries, “One Day to Say ‘Thank You’.”

Say “thank you” to God, of course, but also say “thank you” to those we do not appreciate enough: our wives or husbands, parents, the teacher, the mayor, the deputy, the sports club volunteer, the garbage collector that picks up trash every day, the mailman, etc..

When I looked at the origins of the North American festival of Thanksgiving, I found some very encouraging elements: the French, oh yes! Cocorico! God at the center! An important and symbolic date 1777 … And values: family, prayer, etc.. Not to mention an origin in the festival of Sukkot, the harvest festival; therefore, in the Bible and Israel. You can find all these items in the following article in Wikipedia: Thanksgiving.

Would you support me in this proposal to create for the French-speaking world: “One Day to Say ‘Thank You’”?

And if we Christians showed an example for once? If we tried to be ahead instead of being late? If we forgot for one moment our church differences to join hands and say thank you together? We can, of course, replace the turkey with a boiled chicken in Henri IV sauce or with a good French chicken, but the key is not there!

Let’s learn to say THANK YOU. Let’s express our French creativity. Do you have any ideas for this? I tried to inspire you with an idea that is on my heart. For many years, I have prayed and believed that among our Internet users, someone will start – “One Day to Say ‘Thank You’” … And in advance, I say, “THANKS!”

Together to say “Thank You”

Eric