When Encompass deployed church planters Paul and Louise to France in 1987, they had a long-term commitment in mind. Little did they know their conviction would only grow stronger over the years. They’re still serving in France today, over 37 years later! 

By the end of their first year on the field, they recognized their passion for working alongside people who were coming to Christ and developing as leaders, so they moved to the university city of Dijon. They helped plant a church there that’s now in its third generation of leadership. Paul and Louise still attend that church today. 

As the young couple settled into their new life in France, their two children, Phillip and Elise were born and raised in that church. Now adults, Phillip and his wife Hannah share a love for Jesus and work as professional musicians in France. And Elise followed in her parents’ footsteps by also becoming a France-based Encompass worker. 

As time went on, that tiny church plant became part of an ecosystem that has contributed to other churches and church plants in surrounding regions. Paul eventually took on a new role as Encompass’s Europe Director, then Church Planting Director requiring him to work with our staff in 10 different countries. This gave Louise the opportunity to accompany him for international travel, where she poured into women who were also serving as cross-cultural workers.  

“If I have learned anything over our many years of ministry,” Louise says, “in addition to God’s faithfulness—it is this: being global workers isn’t just a job description, it’s a life of discipleship.” But God doesn’t always give us discipleship opportunities in the ways we’d expect.  

While Louise has spent many years discipling university students, she has also spent countless hours shining God’s light on various professionals at her own medical appointments. Louise has had to endure acute illness, chronic illness, and two rare diseases that are hard to pin down…yet she says, “As a patient, the Lord has gifted me with an opportunity to help improve the healthcare system by highlighting ways doctors build trust with their patients.” She now spends time interacting with the faculty, staff, and students at various medical schools in Dijon, where she offers them valuable insight while exemplifying God’s love. 

It hit the family as a huge shock when Elise was recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer in her thirties. While Elise describes it as “an ongoing grieving process continually running in the background,” God has been using that difficult situation to draw others to Him.  

As one Encompass worker says, “We use our story to step into their story with the greatest story of all: the good news of Jesus.” No matter what has happened in Paul and Louise’s lives, they’ve always used their stories to tell other about God’s story. Louise confirms, “God has used our stories to intersect in ways that reach far beyond our family, touching the lives of so many different people in so many different ways.”  

How might God be weaving your story to share His story with someone else?