Every two or so years, Alongsiders and their families gather together to pray with, learn from, and encourage each other. It is a time of sweet fellowship, reconnecting with friends from across the world and seeking the Lord’s direction for future ministry.

Last fall, we joined with eight Alongsiders and their families in the beautiful country of Estonia. During the week, we visited multiple churches, ventured  into an Estonian bog, fished from a trout pond for our dinner, climbed the medieval wall surrounding, the capital, Tallinn, and built new friendships over home-cooked meals and late night conversation.

The purpose of the trip for us, Donald and Hannah, was to serve the Alongside group by caring for the seven children while their moms and dads met and worshiped together. We came away from the week feeling more blessed than the blessing we intended to be.

Truly God blesses the time we share together in His name.

Donald is a Sales and Marketing Manager for the Utility Cost Management Company. Hannah, a Project Coordinator, manages grants for a non-profit called ”First 5” which equips parents to effectively care for their children, years 0-5. Donald and Hannah live in Fresno, California and are active at 1^st Presbyterian Church.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

A team of 13 Americans from churches in Alaska, California, South Carolina and Florida with Albanian Alongsiders, Gail and Doni Lilo, ministered under the direction of Albanian believers in Albania, Greece and Macedonia during the last half of July.

In Bilishti, Albania, the team partnered with Albanian teen and adult leadership to conduct Marriage Enrichment, Grief, Women’s and Men’s seminars, Sunday worship and programs for children and teens. We made numerous home visits with folks seeking to know Jesus.

During the same period, another Albanian (Bilisht)/American team traveled to Berea, Greece and Monastir, Macedonia to plant and nurture churches among Albanians living in those countries.

During July, Alongside Ministries sent a small, international team alongside L’eglise Apostolique (The Apostolic Church is a small French denomination) in Roubaix, a city in Northern France on the Belgian border. Roubaix is a city of 110,000 people, at least 60% of whom are Muslims. The city suffers extreme unemployment (45%!) and has only six or eight evangelical churches with a few hundred believers in Jesus Christ.

The uniqueness of L’eglise Apostolique is that it reaches both traditionally French people and those from a North African, Muslim background with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Alongside’s multinational team included Americans, South Africans and a Britisher. We came alongside through ministries of worship, intercession for Roubaix, distributing literature and videos on the streets, visiting in homes, and encouraging young believers.

Evangelism in France is often a gradual, individual, and highly relational process. We were encouraged when a French couple attended worship – for the first time in their entire lives! At a barbeque lunch after worship, this gentleman, an atheist, said, “I believe in nothing, but during the worship service I felt SOMETHING!” He is now seeking God and church leaders are following up.

France needs Jesus. Please pray for France!

In this issue of Voices:

“Come Alongside for the Harvest!” – By David Pierson

“Prayer Breaks Down the Wall” – By Morgan Gilbert

“New Alongsiders and Trustees”
Michael Benefield serving in Scotland
Hasan and Jacquelyn Bytyqi serving in Kosovo
Rob Burns from Richmond, Virginia

“Alongsider Notes”Download “Voices – May 2011″