In the city of Hem (meaning Dwelling Place), a suburb east of Lille, until recently had no evangelical church for its 19,000 inhabitants. It began in 2013, and, to this day remains the only evangelical voice for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Hem.

An Historic Strategic Land – A Strategic Spiritual Harvest Field

Historically, this region, because of its strategical location and wealth of coal and mineral mines, has been most fought over since pre-historic times. From Rome to the Burgundians, to Spain, to the countries of the north [Flemish influence], to Germany from the East, this area has been under many influences until it became officially part of France.

The region over the past century has become quite a destination for immigrants from many nations and people groups from Europe, Africa and even Latin America. This has also changed the religious profile for the area. Although 85% are considered Roman Catholic, few are active. North Africans have introduced Islam. Asians have brought in Buddhism. A remnant of the Jewish population remains.

These dynamics provide the Protestant Church of Hem a unique area to reach out and share the Good News.

A Young Church with Mission and Vision

“We are convinced that Christ called us to make disciples who in turn make disciples. We rejoice in what God does through those who have open hearts to his leading.” - Gary DeGraaf, Pastor

The Evangelical Protestant Church of Hem possesses a God-given vision to expand the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Love of God throughout the Hem vicinity. A pastoral team with Christopher Savage (a native Picard (Ch’ti) who grew up in the Lille area), his wife Katherine (British) along with Gary DeGraaf (American) and his wife Kate (British) planted themselves into the Hem community. In 2013, they began worshiping in houses. Eventually they moved to a hotel room and are outgrowing its capacity. Finally, with 30 regular attendees and no facility to adequately serve the community around them, they were prayerfully led to set into motion the purchase of a building in July 2017. However, before opening it to the public, many renovations are needed to comply with building codes and to welcome all whom God sends.

Their mission, while simple, is large: The Protestant Church of Hem exists to love and serve the people living in Hem. How? By welcoming all who come and loving them just as they are. All their activities and programs are purposely designed to love their city. In addition to their weekly Sunday service, there are Weekly Women Bible Studies, monthly community meals, ministry for children and youth, and street evangelism.

Their continued growth, in the words of Gary, boils down to everyone personally inviting others to come. Here are just a few testimonies of how God is moving in their midst:

• Another member of the church freely shares her faith to those around her. Through her initiative, a man gave his life to Christ, later his partner became saved, and now their two sons are interested in learning about this Jesus. In the coming months, this couple will be married and baptized!
• During their weekly street evangelism, an entire family came to Christ one after the other, from a grandmother to grandsons.

How Can We Pray for their Congregation?

As we join in prayer with them and for them, we become a part of what God is doing in Hem for an eternity. Much fruit is being born through this small growing church, and, there is much more to come.

Pray for their pastors and their families: For their finances, health, and that their wives and children remain strong and firm in their faith. That they hear clearly from the Lord for His strategy for Hem. That they would continue to reap a harvest in every area of their lives.

Pray for the Congregation and their families: For strengthened marriages, for whole families coming to Christ, for the children and youth fall in love with Jesus and grow in intimate relationship with Him, that they not grow weary in well doing. For unity and passion for Jesus to grow ever stronger to be that light in their workplaces, family, and daily living.

Pray for the Harvest to Come in: For greater anointing in evangelism, outreach, and street ministry. For increasing divine appointments. For continued love to radiate to from each of them in their daily lives in Hem.

Pray for Abundance to be Raised for their new Building

To keep up with the growth that God is bringing them, the completion of their new building is an immediate need. They have raised almost half of the required estimated 75,000 Euros to complete their building for opening in 2018. Where two or more agree, it shall be done.

As a worldwide community of believers with a passion for France, let us intercede for donations to overwhelm them so that they have more than enough for their building.

For more information on how you can donate as you led, please see: https://www.helloasso.com/associations/eglise-protestante-de-hem/collectes/un-local-pour-l-eglise-protestant-hem