Ever wondered whether all the hard work is worth it? Andy and Carol Herzig worked together in Marseille years ago and sometimes it was hard going - here's what is going on now....
The background - prayer and pioneering
As some in GCC may remember, Andy and I first met during our time working with World Horizons. Prior to our marriage, we were both part of a small team, whose main goal was to plant a church in the oldest, and one of the poorest, quartiers of Marseille, the “Panier”.
High on a hill overlooking the Old Port in Marseille, the name “Panier” derives from the basket used by the fisherman to carry back the fish. The houses, tall, narrow and terraced, are centuries old, with neither lift nor air-conditioning - and are often in very poor repair. A vast proportion of the Panier’s inhabitants are immigrants - muslim Algerians, West Africans, Comoreans, Rumanians... and even ten years ago, the area had a very bad reputation for drugs, alcoholism, unemployment and crime.
When Andy first went to Marseille on prayer trips fifteen years ago, he had a strong sense that the Place Des Moulins in the Panier was the place for the new church to be based. That conviction grew as, in 1992, he and Bjorn Lutke - then, with Bjorn’s family, the only team members - prayed and worshipped daily in the Place Des Moulins. They were once even given a franc by a passer-by, who took pity on them in the empty square, imagining them to be buskers!
Now - growth and birthday parties!
Today much in the Panier has changed - and the church, under the leadership of Bjorn Lutke and Richard Forward, whom some of you will have met in the past, has grown to over seventy people. The premises they rent for church meetings (on the Place des Moulins) is now packed to capacity : it doubles in the week as a cafe - bar, with accommodation for new Christians (often homeless or unemployed) above. Church members also live in, to befriend, disciple and give practical “on the job” training.
On Saturday 15th May the Panier church celebrated its tenth anniversary (as a registered church) open-air in the Place des Moulins. Andy and I felt honoured to be invited to fly out to attend the celebrations as “special guests”. The “birthday” celebrations were organised in conjunction with the local mayor, who abandoned her prepared speech to thank the church from her heart for all that they had done for the people of the area and to wish them continued success. She then allowed the church leaders to pray for her and her deputy mayor - this in a country where most new, especially protestant, churches are viewed with suspicion as sects; where the church has been separated from the state for centuries, and no religion is allowed in state schools. But one final surprise was yet to come. To everyone’s amazement, a 20-piece brass band dressed in Provencal costume then struck up “Happy Birthday” as they marched into the square - again a gift from the mayor. They played traditional party music for over an hour, as more and more people were drawn into the square, just before the final worship celebration of the day.
As the day ended, another typical “Panier” scene... The square had to be cleared of a cafe-bar, tables, chairs, bench seating, a stage, PA, a children’s activity area etc.. Everyone in the square pitched in: one man carried a trestle table top, two elderly women another - but as I saw five young children (none church members) aged between four and six carrying another between them all, I nearly cried. That was the crazy Marseille that I knew and loved - and it was good to be back.
For us both, it was an immensely moving experience to be there - and testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness over the years, as the church (still as chaotic, exuberant, Spirit-filled and crazy as ever) has indeed “gained favour with both God and man”. Thank you to everyone who has supported and prayed for Andy or me in Marseille - it was wonderful to see how from small beginnings so much had grown.
One final postcript - we stayed with Richard Forward (Andy’s ex flat-mate from Bournemouth) and his wife, Yvonne, and two small children. Their finances (in spite of both now working part-time) have never been great. Richard’s home church numbers only twenty people and he has lived in France continually since first going to France in 1992, (at that time having no idea that he would be called to stay!) We had the “joy” of driving their battered 20 year old Ford Escort - which needs to be double declutched to get into first. Richard tells very amusing stories, but many, unfortunately for Yvonne and the children, are based around the car and its breakdowns. As used cars in France are incredibly expensive compared to the UK, we would like to help them replace this car - the sooner the better! If anyone has a used (ideally) left -hand drive diesel estate that they would like to give away, please speak to us! Equally, if you feel you could help them in any other way...
Thank you all once again for your support in the past. God is doing amazing things in Marseille, and the Panier church is now reaching out also into Algeria, Tunisia and beyond. We both feel very privileged to have been a part.
Andy and Carol Herzig |
