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FranceFrance covers a geographical area slightly smaller than the state of Texas, yet serves as home to nearly 61 million people compared to Texas's 23½ million. France's modern-day borders are virtually the same as ancient Gaul, which was conquered by Rome in the 1st century B.C. As with much of Western Europe, that strong Romantic influence dominated speech and culture for several ensuing centuries. Eventually some of the Germanic tribes known as the "Franks" gained a foothold. It was 5th century Clovis who is credited with the uniting of the various Frankish tribes into one country. Clovis had made a vow that if he won the Capetian territory around Paris, he would convert to Catholic Christianity (versus its religious counterpart Arianism). His keeping of that vow after he had established himself as sole king over the region made France the first of all the conquering Germanic tribes to become part of the Roman Church, thus giving her the title, "Eldest Daughter of the Church." In the many centuries that have passed since that time, the influence of the Roman Catholic Church has maintained a strong grip on the country. It was the bloody French Revolution of 1789 that deposed the kingly crown and ushered in France's first republic. The current government is known as the Fifth Republic, which began under the leadership of Charles de Gaulle in 1958. France has been a leading member of the European Union since its inception. Tourism is France's largest industry. With about 75 million foreign tourists per year, the country is the most visited in the world, its attractions ranging from vogue Paris to its many beaches and ski resorts to the Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes. France also maintains an important hold in the aerospace industry. Though at least 50 percent of present-day French still classify themselves under the umbrella of Catholicism, a recent survey has categorized only 8 percent as "practicing" (attending mass at least once per month). The traditions of Catholicism and its "saints" are ever-present, but the country?s population is becoming increasingly secular in respect to religion. Only 2 percent claim the designation "Protestant" (compared to 30 percent in Europe generally), a label which includes Lutherans, Pentecostals, Seventh-Day Adventists, and Evangelicals of all stripes. There are three times as many Muslims as Protestants in the nation. A 1995 commission on cult activities led to the labeling of several Protestant groups as cults, though generally they have been classified as "non-dangerous." |
Ducal Palace 
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Tim & Ruth BixbyTim and Ruth were both born into Christian families, and both accepted Christ as Savior at an early age. Both also graduated from homeschools before attending college. Tim was born in the Central African Republic where his parents were missionaries. Several years later the family moved to the field of Bordeaux, France, where Tim's folks continue to minister. Ruth grew up outside of Raleigh, NC. As college students at Bob Jones University, Tim and Ruth became close friends while traveling several summers with the BJU Musical Mission Team to Europe, and they were married in September 2000. Tim received a Bachelor of Arts in Bible in 2000 and a Master of Arts in Bible from the BJU Seminary in 2003. Ruth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism in 1998 and a Master of Music in Church Music in 2000. Tim has been the pastor of Cleveland Park Bible Church since 2003. You can find out more about the Bixbys and their ministry at HopeForFrance.org. Tim and Ruth have two children: Micaiah and Miriam. |
Ruth, Tim
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Michael & Liz ColeMichael and Liz both made professions of faith at the age of 5 years old. However, while working at Northland Camp in Wisconsin, Liz realized her doubts of salvation were well founded. It was then that she truly put her trust in Christ. Raised in Georgia and North Carolina, Michael returned to the city of his birth, Greenville, SC, to attend college. He and Liz, who was from Indiana, met during graduate studies at Bob Jones University and were married in 2003. They joined Cleveland Park Bible Church in Spartanburg, SC, where they became a vital part of the ministry. Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Missions in 1999, a Master of Arts in Theology in 2001, and is nearing completion of a Ph.D. in Theology. Liz received a Bachelor of Science in English Education in 2000 from Maranatha Baptist Bible College and a Master of Science in Biblical Counseling from BJU in 2002. You can find out more about the Coles and their ministry at HopeForFrance.org. The Coles have a daughter, Viviane, born in March 2007. |
Michael, Liz, & Viviane |
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Team MinistryIt was while ministering together at CPBC that the Bixbys and Coles began discussing the possibility of forming a mission team to serve in France. In June 2007, EMU accepted these two families into the mission. Their first phase of missionary ministry will be to raise the needed support. In France, the Bixbys and Coles plan to first live in Bordeaux, in the south of France. They will spend most of their first term learning the language and culture. They plan to minister with Tim's parents while in Bordeaux, a large university city. It will probably not be until their second term that they will move to another city to establish a church and begin accompanying ministries.
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