Michel and Annette Houle Bury, Quebec Current ministry: In 1998 Michel began leading a small group meeting in the town of Bury in a building belonging to the English Baptist church in nearby Sawyerville. The English church had been praying to start a French church in the region and has now given the building to the French group.  Michel continues to be an elder and pastor-in-training under Pastor Bernard Guy of Sherbrooke (Église Évangélique Baptiste de l’Eau Vive). He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in May 2004. Michel says, “I feels that God is calling me to evangelize the region of Bury and establish a local church there.” Family: The Houles were married in 1985 and have three sons. Spiritual Background: Michel Houle grew up in a Catholic family in Coaticook, Quebec, the youngest of four children. The family was quite religious when he was young but gradually abandoned the church except for special occasions. In 1981, Michel received a New Testament from a Christian woman who was the first of many people to tell him it was possible to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He kept the New Testament but did not read it. Up until his conversion in 1989, he always gave the same answer: “I already have my religion.” Michel and Annette were married in August 1985. His marriage and work were important priorities in his life at that time and he was not greatly preoccupied by bigger questions. However, when his father-in-law died, Michel thought about death and wondered about the meaning of life. A Christian co-worker witnessed to him several times. One day he invited Michel to sit in his car with him during lunchtime. He explained that the Bible was the Word of God and that he could have a new life in Christ. That day in February 1989 Michel received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Within a few days of his conversion Michel went to Église Évangélique Baptiste de l’Eau Vive in Sherbrooke for the first time. He also started listening to Christian radio programs that led him to discover more about God and his new faith. He says, “My wife indicated that I had changed for the better but she was not ready to accept Jesus. Then about one month later, I shared my faith with Annette and she accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour.” In June of the same year, Michel and Annette were baptized. When they gave their testimony to the church that day they mentioned their desire to have children. Just three days later they found out that they were expecting their first child. Michel says, “What a wonderful answer from God!” Ministry Experience: Early in their Christian life Michel and Annette started to serve in various ministries at church. Michel had a burden for the unsaved and wanted to learn to share his faith. He took an Evangelism Explosion course and joined the church’s evangelism teams. A few years later he became an elder and preached occasionally. He has been encouraged to develop his spiritual gifts and to serve the church with them. He says, “My desire to increase my knowledge of the Word of God led me to take a variety of courses and to start a Bible study group in my home.”