French Mission Work

The Missionaries

The Freehold church of Christ, together with others, support Garth and Diana Huchinson, missionaries in Marseilles, France. Garth and Diana have been working in France over 6 years. They have two children, Lucas (2), and Sarah (6). Garth is a former Air Force mechanic who completed his BA (Bible) at Harding University in 1988. Diana holds a BS (Chemical Engineering) from the University of Rochester in 1983. Together, they have trained for mission work in a St. Louis church internship program between 1988 and 1989.

In France: Guy Huchinson, Traverse d'Alvergne, Residence le Pivoines No. 8, 13013 Marseille.

When visiting the USA: C/O Frank Rhodes 22 Eastbrook Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054, (201) 887-8266.

In the French culture, "the church" is the Roman Catholic Church. People, especially "outsiders" who challenge this concept show they do not understand or care much about the French.

Eighty four percent of the population is Catholic, and all of the remaining "religious" people in France are splintered among various Muslim, Jewish, and Protestant groups. All protestants in France combined amount to fewer than 2% of the population. In the past, many American mission efforts have focussed on this small minority of people who reject the Roman Catholic Church. The Huchinsons have taken a very different approach.

Their approach is to directly address the problems and needs of Catholic church members and leaders. By offering to be a positive, supportive religious influence among the Catholics, the Huchinsons seek to feed an emerging church restoration movement indiginous to the French culture.

France is at the cusp of profound religious transition. In 1991, a popular French book reported that the number of active priests in France has declined by 74% since 1965. The number of active priests is now declining at the rate of 50% every 10 years. This profound sea-change has already created a vacuum of spiritual leadership among the majority Catholic population. The Huchinsons have been filling this vacuum -- among Catholics -- with basic Good News. The Huchinsons teach weekly bible classes to Catholics, in Catholic church facilities, with the blessings of the church leadership. They have developed close relationships with several church leaders in France. Their approach is to get an all-French restoration movement going, to feed it from within, and then to watch grow based entirely on French initiatives, and ideas.

Financial Support Arrangements

Nine other churches, and approximately 25 individuals are now paying a portion of the Huchinson's expenses. Supporting churches include:

Whippany, New Jersey

Howell, Michigan

Unity, Maine

South Paris, Maine

South Portland, Maine

Augusta, Maine

Manchester, New Hampshire

Lancaster, New Hampshire

Sugar Notch, Pennsylvania

The Mid-County Church of Christ, in St. Louis, Missouri is coordinating their support and paperwork. As with many missionaries, support is always tenuous, sometimes adequate, other times distressing. Contributions may be sent as follows:

Dave Coffey, Deacon of Missions, Mid-County Church of Christ (314) 968-0138, P.O. Box 2003, St. Louis, MO 63144