Missions Minute - Tom and Bev Hawkins (Nov 20, 2025)

Bev and Tom Hawkins are our missionaries serving in France (about 45 minutes north of Paris in a small town called Agnetz).

Bev and Tom have spent about a month (Oct. 20-Nov. 20) visiting family in the US. They welcomed their 7th grandchild, a little girl named Finley Esme on October 21st.

In Bev’s September craft workshop, a non-believer attended and shared about a rough time with her husband’s health. The crafting group (all believers) were able to come alongside her and offer practical resources and organizations she was not aware of. Bev has messaged her and continues to pray for her, as do others. In October Bev participated in an art exhibition with her art group (all non-believers). During the logistics of the show, she was able to interact with more of them on a personal level and further build trust leading to deeper conversations.

The International Personnel committee Tom participates in welcomed 4 couples from Europe as GEM missionaries. On Dec. 10-12 Tom will be participating in GEM field leadership meetings.

France held an October 5th worship celebration with 89 services held around the country. Locally, 800 people from over a dozen churches gathered for worship time. Two weeks prior to this event, a negative documentary aired on French television with questionable journalism practices that cast evangelicals in a suspicious light. The national Council of Evangelicals has submitted complaints to authorities. This is a reminder that we must be vigilant about our character and testimony with all the suspicion around religion.

Praises:
· The safe arrival of our sweet Finley Esme.
· Some good connections and spiritual conversations at a recent art exhibit in which I participated.
· Several European couples were recently appointed with GEM which is great! Prayer appreciated for the logistics of moving forward through fund-raising and any other administrative issues.

Prayer Requests:
· The dollar has been weaker relative to the Euro. Thus, because they receive their salary in US dollars but all of their fixed expenses are in Euros, their income has decreased by 13%. Due to this and the loss of some key supporters, they are $1,000 behind to date.
· The outreach choir is preparing for Christmas concerts (we have 4 scheduled) but with the fall vacation period and our trip to the US, we are missing 5 weeks of practice.  Pray that God will help us be ready to share his love at Christmas.
· Healthy and mutually beneficial negotiations between GEM and the French Evangelical Alliance as to how we as a mission can best serve the French evangelical church in the coming years.
· They are hoping to host a Thanksgiving dinner this year but arriving back in France on Nov 21 and are trying to decide the guest list.  Thanksgiving offers them a great trampoline for spiritual conversation.
· In the coming weeks Bev will be working to prepare for a solo art exhibit in February.  Pray that she will find effective ways to use art to talk about her faith.
· She is planning a weekend spiritual retreat for GEM missionaries in January – using creativity to more deeply engage with God’s word – but interest is low. Pray that God will help them to discern if we are to move forward with fewer than expected or if this is not the right time for the event.