Paris, France and Hoensbroek, The Netherlands

From 2-4 March, the Emmanuel International Church of Paris had their annual men’s retreat. As a former member of EIC Paris, I suggested to Paul Ho (EIC men’s minister) and Parker Windle (EIC senior pastor) that a group of men from Emmanuel Baptist Church of Hoensbroek, The Netherlands, join them this time. In total, a group of approximately 30 men were together for the weekend.

EIC Paris has gathered their men in an evangelical centre on the beautiful coast of Normandy for several years. This is a time when everyone can not only get to know each other better in fellowship but also learn what the Word of God expects from men.

This year our main speaker was K.J. Pugh, who recently joined EIC Paris as a church planting missionary for a new church in the heart of Paris. K.J. led us on a four-session journey over the hills and valleys of Romans 1-8. He insisted on the importance of living as sons of light, remembering Christ is the only way and trusting in His Spirit to transform burdens into blessings.

We were blessed to have four pastors with us who were brave enough to face a Q&A session after every teaching. This allowed us to treat very important themes and see them with the filter of the Bible.

Our group was very international, with every continent represented as well as different cultures. Our discussions in small groups as well as the time of fellowship allowed us to understand and share each other’s joys and struggles as brothers.

We also had some time to discover the beauty of the region, including the historical sites of D-Day, the splendor of the coast, and the hidden jewels of some nice villages. And, of course, the local gastronomy!

This was a time very well spent and everyone left hoping to see each other again, in Paris, Hoensbroek, or wherever the Lord will guide us!

Grégoire Gaffet and Paul Ho

photo by Paul Ho