Derek and Jane French were commissioned for service in Spain at a service held in Drumbo Presbyterian Church on 14 January 2001, and in early February that year they left for Spain to commence a period of orientation and language study.
By June 2001 they were settled in Valencia where they began to work in the Levante Presbytery of the Spanish Evangelical Church (IEE), principally involved in evangelism. They soon began to initiate a number of new ventures, including ‘Christianity Explored’ courses, initiatives in both youth and children’s work, one-to-one Bible studies and reaching out to people outside the church through the teaching of English.
At the beginning of 2007, Derek and Jane moved to Bilbao in Northern Spain to take up a new assignment with Grupos Bíblicos Unídos (GBU) – a Christian student organisation affiliated to the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). Their work with GBU principally involves evangelism among students and the discipling of Christian students.
GBU’s vision is to reach all non-Christian students with the gospel and to develop student leadership which, in the future, should contribute to the growth of evangelical churches in Spain. GBU also seeks to contribute to the transformation of Spanish society through evangelical graduates and professionals who have been helped by GBU. Currently, there are 17 GBU groups throughout Spain involving more than 500 university students.
In October 2009, Derek and Jane travelled to China to complete the process of adopting one-year old Gabriela. The adoption process had been long and drawn out, lasting several years, and with many ups and downs along the way. Naturally, Derek and Jane were relieved when the uncertainty was finally over and that all worked out so well. They are thrilled to now be a family of three, and that Gabriela is adjusting so well to this big change in her life.
General Prayer Points
Our weekly Overseas Prayerline bulletin contains up-to-date information and prayer requests from our mission personnel and partners overseas.
