France is a country of some sixty million inhabitants, with a constitution that makes no reference to religion. Thus, in state schools there is no religious education of any sort. However, this is not a barrier to the preaching of the gospel, and there are literally hundreds of evangelical churches and denominations throughout the country. Despite this liberty, New Testament assemblies are virtually non-existent and those gatherings that claim to be the descendants of the so called "Brethren Movement" have by and large introduced innovations of an unscriptural character.
For the last 29 years, I have been editing a three-monthly magazine for the ministry of the Word called "La Sentinelle". I send out copies to different French speaking countries seeking to underline the truths and the principles of the New Testament assembly. In France there are many isolated believers and so we seek to encourage them and, as the occasions arise, answer questions on different issues. There is undoubtedly much deterioration in assembly testimony and that not only in France. Gatherings are getting smaller, and when you try to get someone to a meeting, they almost invariably ask you how many people are in the assembly. But this is not our preoccupation, and we are to remain firm until He comes to take us to be with Him.
At the beginning of November, we were present at an all-day Bible Reading in the region of Marseilles. The subject was the Rapture, the events of the 70th week of Daniel, the Lord's return in glory, and then the millennial reign. We were less than thirty present but the participation was most encouraging as the object of the day was to reiterate those things that are believed among us and often neglected in ministry. On 1st May we had another all-day Bible Reading, again near Marseilles, devoted to the seven letters to the assemblies in Revelation 2 and 3.
We keep at gospel work, mainly in door to door distributing of gospel literature and texts. Back in the summer when we were having tent meetings in a village a few miles away, we were helped by a number of brethren from Northern Ireland, and they covered several villages in the outskirts with gospel texts.
I continue my visits to Morocco, visiting Arab believers in different cities. In Islamic tradition there is a deeply rooted belief in the importance of visions and dreams. In rural areas there are individuals who are consulted to interpret the dreams. Last year I was asked to go and see a woman who said she had become a Christian. When I asked how she had got saved, she described a vision that she had had of Christ speaking to her. But she knew virtually nothing of the truths of the gospel and her soul was resting on a subjective vision. It should not be thought that she is an ignorant illiterate person. Quite the contrary: she is a senior university lecturer in one of the biggest universities in Morocco.
This explains why the modern charismatic movement is making inroads into the country as their activities are very similar to this person's experience. We pray that God will raise up teachers to deal with these problems. When I travel around, I am frequently asked to give help on these matters. In January I returned with my wife for a short visit and we were able to visit a number of Moroccan saints in different parts.
Last year I was again in Belgium and Holland for meetings, seeking to help a little in the assembly testimony. In Holland I was asked to speak on the seven feasts of Jehovah. This was an unusual experience as I was using a large chart in French, speaking in English, and being translated into Dutch. In that particular assembly it was the first time they had seen such a chart and it was appreciated. In March I returned to Belgium for meetings for the gospel and for ministry in different assemblies taking up "Tabernacle Truth", again using a chart. Then last month I sought to give help at the Malines conference north of Brussels; a number of Dutch brethren were present including brother Lou Swaan.
