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Why are we going to
Aix en Provence, France?

A letter of explanation and overwhelming gratitude!

(The article below was featured in the VBC Porthole newsletter)
This has definitely been an obvious God thing.� Many of you have asked, "How on earth did you choose France??" Believe me, I didn't.� God choose it for me!� Here's how it came about: Daniel Van Dellen, a guy in our young adult group told us about the church that he had been attending for the last two years while he had been living in France.� He didn't know that I had been eagerly seeking God's will for my future, knowing that He was stirring something inside of me.� He told us that I.C.C.P. (The International Christian Community of Provence) was looking for a pastor and he began to describe the ministry of the church and the impact that the people there had had on his life.� We were both very excited as we discussed the amazing potential that this church can have in reaching both the international community as well as the French people with the love of Christ.� We had this conversation over lunch at Baja Fresh on Jan 23.� By the first week of April, I had accepted the position.� In the mean time, Julie and I had traveled to Aix (pronounced "X", located just north of Marseilles) where I had been interviewed, preached and met just about everyone in the church.� They voted and we took a few days of prayer to confirm what we were thinking and what we believed God had been saying through the process.� On April 2nd I wrote to accept the position.� What a whirlwind!!� But what an amazing process of learning that, when God calls you, you must jump and trust that He will catch you!

During Easter break we had the privilege of going back over and taking Sawyer and Mckenna.� I preached Easter Sunday and we were able to begin getting things in order for our move.� However, the best thing about this trip was seeing our kids grow in their excitement about God's next step for our family.� They made some great connections with several kids their age and were able to have some fun experiences that have helped them to look forward to living in France

Julie and I are very excited about all that this huge change is bringing us because we know that God Himself has orchestrated it! This is the only English speaking church in an area with approximately 50,000 English-speaking residents from around the world! I.C.C.P. currently has a congregation of about 100, consisting of college students, missionaries and their families and international business people. The potential for outreach and growth is staggering!� And we know that we have some great new friendships to build on as we have already made personal connections with families at I.C.C.P.

On the one hand, we are excited about this transition, on the other, leaving our wonderful family at Voyagers (as well as our own families) is quite difficult!� We love you and continue to care deeply about your growth in Christ.� Our children have so many wonderful friendships here that they have a difficult time discerning to whom we are really related.� Thank you for opening your lives and hearts to us.� Thank you for sharing your children with us, first in high school ministry and now with the college and young adults.� Thank you for your patience as I learned so much about how to be a pastor.� Thank you sharing your wisdom with us as we began the wild adventure of parenting.� Thank you for loving, teaching and pouring your lives into our children.� Thank you for the great times of laughter, tears, fellowship and prayer...� You will always be in our hearts!

Au'revoir,

Darrin Jones
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