I would like to offer a report of some of my experiences and my academic activities since my arrival at the Faculté Jean Calvin. The report comes in two parts. In the first part, I make some observations about how my family and I are adapting to this new context. In the second, I give a general outline of my first teaching responsibilities and experiences at the school.
Please pray with Faculté Jean Calvin
for current students in their studies, churches, and work
for preparation for the second semester, new courses of the professors
FJC's calling and faithfulness to the Word of God
for upcoming meetings at FJC: Portes Ouvertes, FORMAPRE,
CNEF, Carrefour Théologique...
Please Watch And Pray With Us
Pierre Berthoud, Professor Emeritus
Please take 7 minutes out of your day to watch this video presentation. It will leave you better informed about the people, place, and raison d'être of Faculté Jean Calvin, the Reformed Seminary in Aix-en-Provence, France. This version of the video is translated throughout using voice-over or text, as in the above image of Pierre Berthoud commenting on the Word of God. (Note that the intro briefly features some lively music. So please be patient, if not to your taste. The music that follows is sublime.)
If not already a regular contributor to The Huguenot Fellowship, please consider adding that to your 2017 New Year's resolutions.
Supporting the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the French-speaking world.
In 2017, the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation,
please pray with the Faculté Jean Calvin for...
the return to the Word of God
the reformation of hearts
the vocation of new pastors
exam week (January 9-13), and
following month of practical training.
Kim Tran, Director of Faculté Jean Calvin, is a talented singer and musician, as well as, administrator. He graciously provided a link to a YouTube video (click here) of his moving performance of "Minuit, Chrétiens" ("O Holy Night").
Take note that our English version of this classic Christmas carol is somewhat different than a literal translation of the French lyrics, which begin...
Midnight, Christians, is the solemn hour,
When God as man descended unto us
To erase the stain of original sin
And to end the wrath of His Father.
The entire world thrills with hope
On this night that gives it a Savior.
Using the Wikipedia article "O Holy Night" (click here), you may be interested to follow-along and to compare the French lyrics, based on a poem by wine merchant and poet Placide Cappeau (love that name); a literal English translation; and the more familiar version by Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight.
May we hear and truly take to heart the words...
People, stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!
In coming to teach Christian Dogmatics (i.e. the doctrines taught in the Bible) at the Faculté Jean Calvin I fully identify with its clear vision of teaching Reformed Theology in faithfulness and obedience to the God-given Word. I deeply appreciate the Reformed approach which gives due credit to the theological input of John Calvin and all his spiritual and theological heirs over the last five centuries, right down to … Paul Wells!
