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Steve Petty/Mih

10028 Peeble

Cincinnati, Oh

Dear FelLow Workers and Friends,

The past three months have been busy and exciting ones for the team here in
France. As ve mentioned in the last update that ve might be moving into another

building in the center of town, well, we have moved. Charles Crane, president
of Boise Bible College (who was with us for a week of encourgement in January)
has said that the

three most important

location 2. location 3. location,

things in planting a new church are 1.

well, we have those three things wrapped up.

There are two main squares in town and ve are now in one of them. We do happen
to be on the third floor which is the only inconvience - the two flights of

steps

that

historical

is.

The building is well over

monument.

400

years

old

and

listed

as a

Zacharie calls it the "castle" church because the steps

are in a winding staircase made of stone; most of vhich is the original stone
of the building. We now have a large meeting room and three other smaller
rooms used for children's church and foyer.

families.
One lady that
Reformed Church in town

We hope

now to

begin to

attract

now comes and brings her children told us that the

has no Sunday youth prpgran and we ali'eady knew that

the Catholic Church here does

not provide a Sunday youth program. Another lady

was really surprised but enthusiastic that we actually teach the small children
about Jesus and the Bible.

PLAas, &
This is what we've

been

needing,

students but for planting a

community.

We

praise

God

follow up with this important

some stable family groups.

church

Nothing against

we do need people who live and work in the

for the students we heve now and will continue to

aspect

of

our work but we realise that many or

most of them will only be in Poitiers a maximum of two to four years and for
planting the church in Poitiers we wonder if there will be anything left when
they leave. For church planting in general it can be a great thing as each one

will take his faith with him.

our

work

Jonl and I had already decided

to

put most of

effort into reaching the couples or families and leave most of the student

to the other team members since they themselves are still students in the

university language program.

We moved into

Continue to pray for our efforts.

the building on March first and planned a public opening for the

25th. We had about 40 counting the kids which was. a good turn nut.considerlng_
that our regular attendance has been running around 20 for this year. The day

of the opening we broke 100 toward our personal Bible study invitations. As you
remember our goal was 170 well ve are at 104 to be exact. Of the 104 there are
18 people involved in or have completed a personal Bible study and of the 18
three have been immersed; Bernard, whom we mentioned in the last update, and
since then, Alice (Chinese) and Serge (Martinique) both students who have
obeyed the gospel. 1 have continued with the door Lo door^which for the moment

hasn't been very fruitful but seeds have been planted and I've met a few people
who have shown an interest. We have had opportunity in just the last month to
meet a bunch of new people through a traditional dance program that Joni and I
participated in. DANCE!! Yes, the waltz, tango, and the like. Thanks lo this
program ve now can dance but we now also know four couples and scattered others

that we didn't know before. Joni is also doing an english mini-school during
the Easter vacation for 3 to S years old (Zacharie's school buddies) which we
hope will open up some doors with the parents.

We will be in the States again this year during July and August.

There are two

primary reasons that we are returning again this year. One is family, we desire
that Zacharie, Rachelle, ourselves and our families have the opportunity to be
together as often as possible.
This decision comes from a long time of
struggling with the whole issue, in fact we_had decided while we were home
last to return lo the States ,.ermenanLiy in July 1990 primarily due to Joni's
"seemingly" inability to cope with the separation for long periods of time.
But arriving back in France and once again seeing tha ne'ed and experiencing the
harvest of some of our efforts, she has decided our task is not yet finished
here so we plan to stay on.
We do plan to return to the States more often,
every summer perhaps or arrange for the grandparents to come to France.

Many will question the cost as we did ourselves but others have helped us
realise that the greater cost would be lo return to the States considering the
investment of time and money that has been

made

in learning the language, the"

culture, and the work in France. To return permenantly at this particular time,
we feel would mean that this investment would be lost.

It is true we will need

some extra support to work this out but at

efforts

least

our

in France will

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Creek
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Four

things have happened which have brought about our need to up our support

First,
living
of the
strong

is just the simple fact of inflation and the high rise in the cost of
in France. Much of this can be attributed to the drop in the value
dollar on the european markets.

Our

budget figures

were

based on a

dollar but as the dollar weakened our budget eroded away as well.

Second, our decision to return home more often has uped our monthly budget by
SlOO (not really that terrible - but if it's not coming in, it canH go out).
Third,

the house we are renting is being sold and we must now move.

We have

been really blessed by this house because the owner (who died recently) was a
very rich old lady and she didn't bother to keep up with

so

we

were

renting

the current rent fees

for about half the price than what we normally should've

been paying. Now, we will have to pay .the full price which ups the budget by
$250 (housing is definately a need not a extra).

Fourth, our move to the building in town is going to cost the mission an extra
$50 a month.

The new budget falls around $3550 per month and our current support is at
about $2700

per month so we need an increase of $850 per month.

824

AND ^2,476

^38

78

Needed Monthly Budget Figures

Salary 8 Benefits

2400

A word about the

Gas, meals, furlough

420

Most household and

Auto-ins., taxes, etc.

Postage

120
50

cost of livung in France

food items are two to

Printing & Copying

40

Telephone
Miscellaneous

30
15

three times higher than in America. Any

petroleum by-products; gas, oil, plastics,
are all three times higher. Clothing is
from two to four times higher. Car parts two to three. Car insurance "llability"-

Educational Hat 8 Eguip

50

$1000 / year.

There

are various french

Noatinggtapaaiura-, eLe-y85-

laxcs

French visas 8 fees

Bank Chgs, exchange loss,

wouldn't have to pay if we weren't here.

These come to $1000 / year. We have tried

commissions
50
Building rent, work fund 150

we welcome your comments and guesti-ons.

90

Publicity 8 evangelism

TOTAL

plus visa lees

that

we normally

to be very realistic with our figures and

SO

$3550

BUDGET

current

amount

TOTAL

giving

needed

$3550 . -

$2700

$850

WORKING TOGETHFR

with ui that iiH

"lio hava already teamed up

could^meet the cha!lengr- w[iryo^'be ilnfof\her??'^""^"

individuals

been met 7! If yo"want'to'^join ul'." our efforts in France

JrGod^"Pe"n'o,1c;K"e:'rnc?'
With our Love and His,

Steve, Joni, Zacharie, and Rachelle

address
CHANGES

checkt p:ya%u

Cincinnati, Ohio 45247

10028 Feeble Creek

4 4 :i-

fc!"

God's Fellow Workers, In

Steve Petty/Mike Dummitt

37901-2427

Mission Services Resource Dept -

P.O. Box 2427

Knoxville, TN

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0!^
God's Fellow Workers, Inc

Steve Petty/Mike Dummitt

10028 Peeble Creek

Cihcinnati, Ohio 45247

God's Fellow Workers, Inc. Financial Report through Septeniber 1990

1,656.78

1989 TOTAL

INCOME BREAKDOWN

INCOME--> Sept

+23,445.93

CONTRIBUTIONS

EXPENSES

-25,613.64

INTEREST

-510.93

SEPT TOTAL

21,418.75
66. 15

'86 AND
SALE OF CARS FROM '
479.05
FURLOUGH
33.66

BOOK SALE

1 .080.00
,

CAR RENTAL

RE-IMBURSAL RENT DEPOSIT

368.32
..

23 ,445.93

TOTAL INCOME

EXPENDITURES THRU SEPTEMBER

TELEPHONE

452.63

MISCELLANEOUS

102.37

HOUSING

7,655.50
4,830.42

EDUCATION MAT.

MEDICAL INS.

2,151.30

RETREAT,CONFER.

SALARY

LIFE a RET.

495.00

GAS,MEALS,TRANSPO,. 3,845.86
AUTO INS,TAX.UPKEEP 2,344.53
POSTAGE

584,85

PRINTING,COPYING

136.80

3.76
370.51
1 ,493.67

VISA a FEES
EXCHANGE LOSS

312.09

WORK FUND

968.13

BANK CHGS

41.22

25,613.64

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

Needed Monthly Budget Figures

Salary S Benefits

2400

Gas, meals, furlough

-Jcuto-^ins. , -taxes,-etc.

A word about the

420

Most household and

120

thr-QO times

cost of living in France

food items are two to

higher - than- -in Amer ica

Any

Postage

50

petroleum by-products: gas, oil, plastics,

Printing & Copying

40

Telephone

30

Miscellaneous

15

are all three times higher. Clothing is

from two to four times higher. Car parts two to three. Car insurance "liability"-

"ducational Mat & Equip

.;.-etings, speakers, etc.

50.
85

$1000 / year.
There are various french
taxes plus visa fees that we normally

French visas & fees

90

wouldn't

50

These come to $1000 / year. We have tried

to be very realistic with our figures and

Bank Chgs, exchange loss,

commissions

Building rent, work fund 150

Publicity S evangelism

TOTAL

have to pay

if we weren't here.

we welcome your comments and questions.

50

$3550

amount needed

BUDGET

current

TOTAL

giving

per month

$2300

$1250

$3550

We

have

very much appreciated your concern for

our

work in

France and

the

prayerful support we have received from you. You will find enclosed our latest,
update information which will catch you up on our status. Also enclosed is our
latest financial report and as you can see we are in the red.
I

This is the first YEAR

that we have ever been in the red since our beginning
back in 1981. That is a good track record but now the budget has outgrown the

income. This is primarily due to the rise In the cost of living in France
(many budget items are as high as four times the cost in America) and the
continuing drop in the value of the dollar on the European markets.

Our budget was set on a ratio of "8 French Francs to the Dollar" and now the
dollar is at 5.19 FF to the Dollar.
The Dollar dropped as the cost of living
climbed but our income hardly moved and therefore the reserve funds were eaten

away. For example, average giving in 1989 was at $2600 per month but for 1990
giving has dropped to $2300 per month.
Just the last few months have brought
about alot of the decrease.

As you can see from the report,

France.

At present,

we need

$3550

per month to live and work in

both our living needs and work needs are not being met.

This year's monthly salary and benefits

have been

at only $1650

per month

which leaves nothing for budget items that must be paid on a yearly basis.

Support must be increased or we will be obliged

to return to the States before

we feel that we have completed our purpose here.

All of this comes at a time when the work here in France is at its highest
since we've been here. In 1989, we had four baptisms and this year alone we
have had another six more and the year is not over.
We have moved into a

wonderful building which has allowed us to divide up the ages and provide
teaching at each level.
We have started and completed and are still starting
Bible studies.
Since entering France in 1984, the past several months have
been a great encouragement and there is still much to be done.
The theme for
this year '89/'90 is the FAMILY and we hope to win some of the families that
have expressed interest over these past months.

The point is: WE NEED SUPPORT.

Many of you already support us and we thank
you and ask that you continue on. If you don't support us already, we ask you
to consider our need and possibly make a monthly committment.
I'm not much on
gimmicks but I do recognize that a gimmick does help to motivate us and joggle
our memories so here's a gimmick that might help you help us. You might recall
the television series "Frank Buck, bring 'em back alive", based on the real
character, Frank Buck, known adventurer of the 1940's. During safari escapades
of capturing animals and "bringing them back alive" Frank would sometimes
encounter

the Nazi war machine and inflict some damage for the american cause.

Frank became rather popular to the point of having his own fan club. What does
the Frank Buck fan club got to do with the cause of the church in France?? .
Absolutely nothing, but now here's the gimmick: just as Frank Buck brought 'em
back alive, we would like to start a "Buck Franc club" to keep 'em there alive.
In other words as we change your Buck$ to French Francs we will be able to stay
and continue our

work in

France. Perhaps you can start a

Buck Franc club

in

your congregation or class by using this letter to explain the situation and
by serving as a secretary to collect the monthly committments and forwarding
them on to us.

We need to raise $1250 extra per month.

You can help ol' Buck Franc, keep 'em there alive through prayer and financial
support.

Let us know what you think.

For th.e F>Uier in France,

Make checks payable to:

God's Fellow Workers, Inc.
10028 Feeble Creek

Steve PETTY ^

Cincinnati, OH 45247