The first time I met Dr. Wes Stepp was in 1996 on a short-term mission trip to Guyana, South America.

For a two-week period, our mission team worked with Wes and several churches there. It was a challenging yet enjoyable experience as well as a big step of faith for me.

I had already taken several short-term mission trips. None, however, were as far away and culturally different as this one.

I had been with Teen Mission, USA a little over one year and still was not sure what God wanted me to do with my life.

Knowing he could allow me to make such a journey went a long way in solidifying the concept of becoming involved in ministry full-time.

I was very interested in Wes and his ministry. Wes did not look like a typical missionary to me. He looked more like he came out of a wrestling ring than a seminary. He is a big man and when I shook his hand, my own hand disappeared in his grip. He just didn’t look the part. I came to learn Wes played college football for Miami (Ohio) University as well as having brief stints with a couple of National Football League teams.

His ministry work was fascinating, too.

As the director of the Bible Institute for Christian Missions, Wes traveled to different countries (Guyana, Trinidad, the Philippines and others) helping to start churches and train ministers and church leaders.

He makes many trips to these mission posts for support, encouragement, and further training.

As I continued in ministry, Wes and I stayed in touch. We even worked together on a few more short-term trips to Guyana.

I hoped there would be more opportunities to work together.

In 2007 I was invited by Dr. Stepp to take part in a mission trip to French Guiana, a small country on the northern coast of South America.

Dr. Stepp had been visiting the country since 1997. During his visits he would take time to meet people and study the Bible with them. Over a period of years he came into contact with several leaders of a local English-speaking church.

The people were interested in the idea of an independent church that used the Bible as its only authority.

After much study and prayer, the leadership decided to leave their affiliation and become an independent Christian church. Despite losing their land, building, and some of their congregation, they felt it was what God wanted them to do.

In 2005, the group reorganized, began meeting in a home, and became incorporated as the Christian Church of French Guiana.

Shortly after, two French-speaking churches became interested in this concept. Dr. Stepp then organized a team from the United States to teach these church leaders and others about the Restoration Movement and ministry opportunities in the Christian church.

In October, 2007, the team put together a three-day convention in Cayenne, French Guiana (the capital city). The convention was called First Journey, as it was the first time for much of the audience to hear about the church in the Bible.

The convention was a huge success.

Following the convention, a government official told Dr. Stepp, “You should do this again next year.”

In 2008 Wes made several trips to French Guiana while he and I began recruiting a team to hold a second convention there.

In October 2009 a team returned for a second convention called “Kept by His Power,” covering topics such as preaching, church leadership, worship, and women’s ministry. Among the team members were Dr. John Caldwell (minister at Kingsway Christian Church in Avon, Indiana).

Currently we are working with members of the English-speaking church to help them find and purchase their own property to build a church building.

The two French-speaking groups are in the process of organizing and incorporating. Plans are underway to prepare several new locations for new church works.

Future short-term mission projects are also being planned to help the churches in French Guiana with building and ministry projects. |L

If you would like to get involved with the work in French Guiana, please contact:

Dr. Wesley Stepp
Bible Institute of Christian Missions
3839 Luth Dr. E.
Jacksonville, FL 32250
Ph 904/992-8140
www.bicm.org

OTHER COLUMNS:
November 1, 2009 - Walking the edge
October 18, 2009 - Watch what you say
October 4, 2009 - Proposing a new proverb
September 20, 2009 - Fear and trembling
September 6, 2009 - Elwyn
August 23, 2009 - Where did the Bible go?
August 9, 2009 - The public school: a local mission field
July 26, 2009 - Astonishing the judges
July 12, 2009 - Letting the past go
June 28, 2009 - Line up
June 14, 2009 - The path to spiritual growth
May 31, 2009 - A tribute to one of my heroes
May 17, 2009 - Silent soldier
April 19, 2009 - Operation Resensitization
April 5, 2009 - The temptations of ministers
March 8, 2009 - Conversation over shoes
February 22, 2009 - By their plurals you shall know them
February 8, 2009 - What is missing from your retirement plans?
January 25, 2009 - Turn the page
December 28, 2008 - Abba, Father
December 14, 2008 - Elementary truths
November 30, 2008 - The illusion
October 19, 2008 - Acting like a toddler
October 5, 2008 - Don’t miss this
September 21, 2008 - Foolish schemes
September 7, 2008 - God’s hand is everywhere
August 24, 2008 - The dance
August 10, 2008 - Strange land
July 27, 2008 - God’s amazing grace
July 13, 2008 - A best seller
June 29, 2008 - My grandfather’s clock and worship
June 1, 2008 - Reclaiming the name
May 4, 2008 - God is not our fairy godmother
April 6, 2008 - Success: what is it and who can measure up?
March 9, 2008 - Need to know
February 10, 2008 - The top three myths of singleness
January 13, 2008 - By invitation only
December 5, 2007 - Yes, Abbie, there is a Jesus
November 18, 2007 - 10 Ways to be a good Christmas customer
October 21, 2007 - The dividing line
September 23, 2007 - What do you fear?
September 9, 2007 - A life well lived
August 26, 2007 - To murmur, or not to murmur
July 29, 2007 - The cross and the Christian
July 15, 2007 - Turning the other cheek: still a valuable biblical principle
July 1, 2007 - Why the tie?
June 3, 2007 - The death of a son
May 6, 2007 - A prayer for the dying
April 8, 2007 - The omnipresent God
March 11, 2007 - Do the Amish have superheroes?
February 11, 2007 - What’s your black history?
January 14, 2007 - The split branch
December 31, 2006 - The house of regret
December 10, 2006 - The redemption of the innkeeper
November 26, 2006 - Too many choices
November 12, 2006 - Break the bashing habit: Learning to love the unsaved like Christ does: November 12, 2006
October 15, 2006 - Be ‘salt and light’ this Christmas!: October 15, 2006
September 17, 2006 - Who is a legalist?: September 17, 2006 Issue 38
July 23, 2006 - God speaks through our brokenness: July 23, 2006 Issue 38
June 25, 2006 - 'What I am looking for in my church leaders'