For a number of years, a mosaic has been hanging on one of the Guingamp church walls, inspired by John 11:25; “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…” However, there is currently a blank space where the mosaic usually hangs.
That’s because it is one of a series of 24 works created by Magali, a retired arts teacher and church member. Seeking to share the good news of Jesus through her God-given gift as an artist, the project of a mosaic exhibition took form under the title “SDG” (“soli Deo gloria” /”glory to God alone”). With so much interest in the arts in France as a whole, the vision is to bring God’s Word to those who might not otherwise think about it and to open the opportunity to any church in France that wishes to use this means of outreach.
The exhibition guide lists each work along with the Bible verse that inspired it, so everyone leaves taking God’s Word with them. God opened the door for the first exhibition to take place in the centre of Paris during last summer’s Olympic Games, something we would never have imagined. Then this February, a small town not far from the church displayed “SDG” over a three-week period in the town library. Local contacts were able to attend, and it was encouraging to know that for a town with a population of around 3,900 there were an estimated 700 visitors. On the last day, the librarian asked for extra leaflets to give to those who missed the actual exhibition. How amazing that God’s Word is being distributed by a local library!
Currently, the exhibition is in the city of Chartres, a large city south of Paris and a city of reference for mosaic art in France. SDG is included in a popular cultural event, “Le chemin des arts 2025”. We pray that God’s Word would speak to visitors there and in other areas of France where churches make use of “SDG” as part of their witness.
While being concerned about what God is doing in France as a whole, we look to Him to save and transform lives in our corner of Brittany. We have been encouraged in recent months to have had a number of visitors to church as well as enquiries through the church website, and look to set up a series of Bible studies for newcomers. The development of a young people’s group at church has been an encouragement, and we pray for spiritual growth and conversions.
Jean-Claude’s story
A church plant project in Rostrenen, central Brittany, is a slow work in spiritually hard ground. It is very hard to get new people to attend meetings and there is a need for locally based believers in the town. But we persevere and sow, prayerfully leaving the rest in the Lord’s hands.
We were reminded of the importance of persevering in prayer through Jean-Claude. As he accompanied his Christian wife to church, we prayed and asked for prayer for him over 20 years before he came to faith aged 72. Emmanuel had the joy of baptising him in 2023. It was a very emotional day this January when Jean-Claude’s funeral took place following his sudden passing. But although he is missed in the church, the Lord’s working in his life has led us to praise God and has been a great source of encouragement to us to persevere in prayer, knowing that ‘He makes everything beautiful in its time’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Emmanuel and Maria have served with UFM in Brittany, France, for over 20 years. In a country with one evangelical church per 25,000 people, they focus on church planting, evangelism, and discipleship, persevering in prayer to see lives transformed in an ever-increasingly secular country.