HAHarvey Walden
1 week agoLocal Church of God of Prophecy Reflects on Future Mission
In 2025, France celebrated 40 years of witness as the Church of God of Prophecy. We are acutely aware of the challenge: What will be our witness in the next 40 years? Will there still be faith? If so, we will need to pass on the mantle to the next generation.
So, what will 2026 hold? We do not believe God is looking for a church, a family, a household, or an individual with their own mission, goals, and vision already planned out. God already has a MISSION! Is it possible we could have missed it up till now? Matthew 28:18–20 (LSB) states, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
God is so invested in His MISSION that the Father sent the Son (John 3:16).
God is so invested in His MISSION that the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17a).
God is so invested in His MISSION that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have sent the church (Acts 1:8).
We are all “On Mission”—in church, at home, at work, in school, in the community—and the mission is to GO.
Blessing follows obedience (see Genesis 26:1–6, 12). After many struggles in France (where the Church was birthed in 1984)—after going through its Esek (quarrel; contention) and Sitnah (hostility and opposition)—God has made room or Rehoboth (wide places; open spaces), an open door where the gospel can be preached. We now have seven preaching points and two more developing. Isaac knew how to unstop the wells that his father had dug, until eventually he learned to dig wells for himself at Beersheba (well of the oath; well of seven; see Genesis 26:18–25.) God has promised to bless us in France, but the real test will be the passing of the baton to a new generation that will know God for itself and learn how to dig its own wells when the pioneers have gone.
Everywhere Abraham went, he did two things: He built an altar and he dug a well, both of which speak of worship and Holy Spirit leadership. Isaac copied this example, and the world had to testify, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you” (Genesis 26:28 NKJV), and “You are now the blessed of the Lord” (v. 29).
At the 100th International Assembly in 2018, I was inspired by a prophetic report by a general presbyter who said, “You do not plan for revival when revival comes; you plan for revival before revival comes.” He followed up by stating that 300 leaders had been trained! We have adopted this strategy in France by using the Minister’s Development Program to develop a pool of leaders who are qualified and experienced from which new pastors for new churches that have been planted will be drawn. We have also established a specialized training and development arm—the French version of Spirit and Life Seminary called Institut Francophone de Théologie Ésprit et Vie (IFTEV) with Director Pastor Jean-Renel Amesfort—focusing on leadership development. We have graduated the first French cohort of 13 leaders, out of which ministers have been licensed and ordained; a second French cohort of 26 leaders is being developed. Also, our first Spanish cohort is nearing completion, with seven students set to graduate. We are thankful for the support of Bishop Edgar Rossini Ortiz, the national bishop of Spain, Portugal, and Italy, for coordinating the Spanish program.
ALSACE
The work in Alsace was pioneered by Stephen and Rose Oladipo 20 years ago when Stephen was told in a dream to go to Ottrott. Not knowing where it was (Alsace region of France), he sent his wife, Rose, who went to the region and began street ministry that has grown into two churches, 60 members, and now requires licensed ministers. Notably, all six licensed ministers (three in Alsace and three in Paris) are workers and servant leaders. They are as follows:
Cristine Bilz
Married to Jean-Jaques, they have three adult children and are members of the Church in Barr, Alsace. This local church started 20 years ago, and 40 percent of its members are from the indigenous population. Christine was one of the first to join. She has made history by being the first French national to become licensed and has recently become one of the local pastors, substituting for the senior pastors when called upon.
Christine has been the national secretary for the Church in France for the last eight years. She is responsible for drafting model legal constitutions (especially important for new fields), policies, and procedures, while maintaining accurate records. She handles the administrative affairs of the Church (e.g., minutes and reports) and helps train and guide local church secretaries.
Christine is passionate about the Lord in a gentle yet stable and firm way. She is passionate for people and recently conducted her first funeral service.
Scheila LouisJean
Married to Richard for six years, Scheila is the mother of three children. Part of the original membership of the Church in Barr, she and her husband pioneered the work in Hochfelden, 60 kilometers (37.9 miles) away. Through many trials—health, relationships, family responsibilities, and distance from church—she has persevered, and the local church was born.
Her calling includes pastoral ministry alongside her husband, serving women and families, hospitality, worship, and intercessory prayer. Her daughter attends the local university and is the youth ministries director.
The Church at Hochfelden, 80 percent which are indigenous, started with 22 members and has now grown to 30. Couples who were living together have gotten married or are being challenged about their lifestyle as the Holy Spirit convicts.
Richard LouisJean
Richard, a building contractor by trade, is married to Scheila and was recently appointed senior pastor of the Hochfelden Church. He was a long-standing member of the Church in Haiti and continued to serve when he migrated to France, and Alsace in particular.
Richard served under Senior Pastor Stephen Oladipo and his wife, Pastor Rose Oladipo, learning to follow before being qualified to lead. He has disciplined himself to a life of studying the Word of God and obedience to the Holy Spirit. This has given him confidence to not only be a pioneer but to become a servant leader in a cross-cultural environment.
Notably, following in the footsteps of his mentor Rose Oladipo, who caters for the local mayor, Richard has also reached out to his mayor. He has held civic gospel concerts with the mayor in attendance, sending a clear message: “We are here to pray for you and the town and to be a blessing.”
PARIS
Lumène Laujar
Lumène is a long-standing member (some 16 years) of our mother church in Paris, Villeneuve-le-Roi, where Pastor Claudette Longin is senior pastor. She came to know the Lord in a spectacular display of power by the Holy Spirit when Bishop Daniel Longin was still alive—seven demons were cast out of her! Now she lives for Jesus Christ with her husband, Lubin, and daughters, Julie and Ludy, who are all Christians.
An evangelist and intercessory prayer leader, she serves in the local church as part of the evangelism team and in the national “Fishers of Men” ministries, travelling to the regional capitals of France to preach the Word and sow seeds to expand the kingdom of God. She is very serious about her calling.
Stéphanie Duverly
Stéphanie has been married to Dudal for 14 years, and they have three children together. As a couple, they place all on the altar of God in His service. On both the local and national level, Stéphanie serves as Children’s Ministries director. She has also partnered with Chrétiens de France to help run an annual children’s camp for children in the community who would not be able to have a holiday. There, the children receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and have a fun time!
Stéphanie, along with her husband, empowers local leaders through visits to Alsace and Toulouse, the two other major regional centers of our church. She, in turn, is empowered by regularly attending Europe-wide events like “Get Plugged In.”
She is “on fire” with God’s anointing; some have witnessed the Holy Spirit fall at youth camp and numbers of young people get saved and delivered. Strategically, Stéphanie is at the “cutting edge” of winning the next generation for Christ in France.
Dudal Duverly
Youth Pastor Dudal came to the Church of God of Prophecy through the camping ministry in France, eventually becoming a member in 2012. He, along with his wife, Stéphanie, now serves as the director of the camp, taking over from PastorDaniel Cadet and his wife, Carlene, who had pioneered it in 1995.
Since then, they have expanded the camping ministry internationally, taking the camp to Luxemburg, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and many regions in France.
They have kept interest alive through camp reunions (called retrouvailles), youth retreats, leadership training, and conferences. In addition, numbers of young people (up to 20) have attended Europe’s “Get Plugged In” conference with them. The camp has developed a Bible school, with Pastor Amesfort as the main teacher, complete with exams and prizes to encourage learning. A bridge has now been formed into France’s MDP program, with a strong proportion of MDP cohort #2 candidates having come through youth camp.
Not only is Brother Dudal instrumental in discipling our young people but also in developing systems to manage youth programs. For example, the CRM system called AssoConnect is being rolled out to the wider Church community so every church may keep records of members, aid communication, and promote key information, like prayer strategies, throughout the organization.
Conclusion
All of the foregoing is an investment in the future generation in preparation for the paradigm shift. Before every major move of God in the Bible, God raised up “vision-bearers” who carried God’s coming vision, BEFORE its time. They were usually out of step with their time—seeing and experiencing a future paradigm while living in the current. These ministers and young people are preparing for God’s next move while being faithful now. Please pray for this change management process, and the leaders of this process, because change must come. As God brings the changes, we need to be ready, despite the opposition of the status quo and the enemy.
Acknowledgements
Bishop Clayton Endecott, for his leadership and support
Bishop Tedroy Powell, for his support in ordaining ministers in Paris (November 2025)
Bishop Gena and Sister Larissa, for their support in ordaining ministers in Alsace (October 2025)
Sister Tessa Dietze
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