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Missions: Here and Worldwide
Lausanne, Switzerland
Go directly to the latest news from Lausanne (as of March 28, 2008)
The best way to keep current on the work in Lausanne is to read their blog often. It's consistently updated!
Some Background on the Smith Family, Missionaries in Lausanne, Switzerland
Brady and Stephanie were invited to Lausanne, Switzerland in January, 1985 by the local French-speaking church there. They now have three faithful children (ages 20, 18 and 16) and continue their teaching ministry with the local church. Outreach activities include neighborhood evangelism and continued follow-up of the Let’s Start Talking projects through individual and small-group studies. Brady also serves the Geneva church through personal evangelism and by grounding new Christians in their walk with God, as well teaching some of the weekly studies.
The entire family is active in youth ministry. Stephanie is a cook for the two-week-long teen and children’s camp, while Brady, Jordan and Justin serve as counselors, teachers and workers. Brady also plans the Autumn “All Saints” retreat, a highlight of the teen’s year.
Stephanie’s father, Stephan Bilak, evangelized Ukraine until his death in 2004. Brady spends a week each year in Western Ukraine teaching Christians (http://www.ternopilchurch.com/). He also spends 2 to 3 weeks every other year in French-speaking Africa (Toga, Benin, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mauritius Island), edifying future Christian leaders and encouraging missionaries.
Stephanie is a translator and proof reader for the Bible Study series “Truth for Today” (http://www.biblecourses.com/outreach.asp).
The Latest News from Lausanne
Dear friends:
Greetings from cold Switzerland. It snowed our first day of Spring. A week
earlier Steph and I had run a 15K in shorts and t-shirt. The caprices of the
weather…
Steph has spent much time in the kitchen the last two months. The French-speaking
Women’s retreat was in Lausanne. She was in charge of inscriptions and kitchen,
along with a good team from Geneva and Lausanne. We moved our Sunday worship
to be with the 60 women retreat-esses.
Steph and I accompanied 14 youth from Lausanne, Geneva, Lille and Marseilles
to Naples, Italy for our first ever, one-week Teen Mission Trip. We taught the
church, sang in the street, invited people to concerts, gave food to the homeless,
accompanied their youth group, ate ice-cream, taught in the public schools, visited
retirement and orphan centers and gave a concert in a nearby restaurant. The
Naples church was refreshed and we praise God for our youth’s dedication. Nine
hours after arriving home, Steph left to cook for the Advanced Bible Studies
Series in Gemunden, Germany. She got back to Lausanne in time to celebrate our
25th wedding anniversary.
One-Week
Teen Mission Trip in Naples, Italy
This month the church has met in 4 different places for Sunday worship:
at our regular place; at the retreat center in north-east Lausanne with
the Geneva church; at Pepperdine’s Lausanne Campus with students and their
Board of Regents; and Easter Sunday at Bethanie, the neighborhood Retirement
Home.
On a personal note, it is difficult for me to describe exactly how we are
dealing with our lack of effectiveness in “growing” the Lausanne church.
People come and stay for a while, then move on after some dissatisfaction,
never to be heard from again. This has happened so many times that we are
wondering what road to take in the future. We ask for your prayers. There
is much work to do, but the discouragement is deep. Do write if you need
more specifics.
The Geneva work goes well. I continue with 5 studies a week. A 13 year
old girl and a 45 year-old hairdresser meet together in her salon for study.
You never know what question you’ll get in that situation! At the university,
I meet with a young Christian who’s finishing his Masters in pharmacology.
Others study at home or at the church. We’ve convinced the church to welcome
the Marseilles “Harmony Chorus” for an outreach concert on April 8.
We try to be a spiritual help to the Pepperdine students. 5 attend our
worship regularly. We attend the weekly convocations and between 8 and
10 students come over on Monday nights for meals and relaxation, always
an energizer. We were spiritually uplifted by our contact with gracious
Christians from the Board of Regents.
Steph and I organize a monthly worship time for Bethanie, the local Retirement
Home. They invited the church to meet there on Easter Sunday. Two families
from Geneva came, as well as 4 Pepperdine students, a handful of members,
and about 50 residents. That local “witness” continues to grow.
I’m recording (mp3) 130 simple worship songs for African churches who often
ask for help with their congregational singing. French is a popular trade
language in over a dozen African countries, and this is an easy service
that I can offer them. I also correspond with a priest in Bujumbura, Burundi,
who is making big decisions about his walk with the Lord. Please pray for
Joseph. I am also preparing guided study questions for reading the book
of Judges and the Gospel of Matthew. These are used by individuals and
groups. Already finished are John (Gospel and Epistles), Acts, Romans,
and 1 & 2 Corinthians. I’ve made others in English
for Let’s Start Talking follow-up.
That raps it up. FYI: The dollar (as I write) will not even buy one Swiss
Franc. It is already down 20% from its 2007 average, which is not good
for us.
We love you and covet your prayers.
Brady and Stephanie Smith
Av. de France 77, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
Visit our blog, the best way to keep up on life in Lausanne
Our blog: http://evendays.org/