Jim “Train” King, YFC staff and former staff member through 1974 – 2004
There is nothing quite like it, sitting with friends at a French cafe drinking espresso and eating “pain” (bread) with cheese. Why were we there? What brought about YFC’s connection to France? It began when YFC Eastern Great Lakes, through YFC Project Serve, partnered with Jeunesse Pour Christ France. This took place in 1998.
Jerry Wheeler represented Michigan and I served Ohio. Our first mission trip to France took place June 27-July 14th, 1998. That year we took high school students from Michigan and Ohio to serve in advancing the gospel in France.
What made this venture and others which followed special was our teaming up with French students and adults. It truly was a cross-cultural experience! This was also the beginning of having close ties with then-former director of France JPC, Sam Weiler and his family.
The very first mission trip to France included working at the JPC camp near St. Amore and a church in Lyon. Like most of our service projects in France, we concluded with a visit to the City of Lights, Paris.
Over the years I have been involved in mission trips to France twenty times, most of them through YFC. How good it was to experience it with so many teens and adults going to France to be obedient to the Great Commission “to make disciples of all nations.”
