December 2002

Dear Praying Friends,

Well, the year 2002 is quickly nearing the end and we are about to embark upon a new year.  We trust that God has blessed each of you abundantly, as He has blessed us.  We wish you all a very merry Christmastime and a happy new year.  Please use this holiday season to witness to family and friends, sharing Christ with those who might not listen at any other time.

We can all thank the Lord for good health this year.  Apart from a few colds and the wonderful flu virus, our church folks have all maintained a steady good health.  Our young ones are growing fast and learning new things each day.  We had our fourth child, Benjamin Daniel, born on September 17, 2002.  He and Tracy are in good health.  Samuel is growing in his Christian faith and we would like to baptize him as soon as he understands the meaning of baptism.  We are praying for Leah-Beth to make her Bible knowledge personal in her heart.  She understands all about salvation, but somehow does not understand how or why she needs to accept Jesus' payment for, and forgiveness of, her sins.

God has been truly working in our midst!  We are seeing our small church being tightly knitted together in the fellowship of Christ.  We are all growing stronger spiritually.  We have had many visitors in church this year.  We receive calls nearly every day concerning our church practices and beliefs.  Please pray that we can continue to get new contacts, and that God will be working in the hearts of those who have visited our services.  The work is oftentimes difficult and lonely, but God constantly reminds us that He is with us enabling us to do His work.  He blesses and encourages us when we least expect it and most need it.

We have been given two professional printing presses to be used for French literature.  Praise God!!!  We need to do a little bit of cleaning and tuning them before we can start running them.  This is a great blessing and answer to prayer.  Now we can print French flyers, tracts, church bulletins and even some Sunday School material.  Pray that we can get the needed supplies (paper, ink, accessories) and the place to run them effectively.

God bless each of you for your faithful and fervent prayers for us.  Have a wonderful Christmas season, celebrating the Christ of the Cross who was born to "save his people from their sins."  Mt. 1:21.

The Filiatreault's

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."  Mt. 1:23