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| Current
ministry: |
In collaboration with SEMBEQ, Gilles is mentoring and coaching SEMBEQ students as they begin serving in their churches. Gilles' desire is to follow these young men not only during their studies, but also throughout their ministry. The Fellowship French Mission has also asked Gilles to coach new church planters and be a resource person for the mission.
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| Family: |
Gilles and Irène have four married children, two sons, two daughters. They also have several grandchildren. One of their great joys is to see all four of their children and their spouses walking faithfully with the Lord.
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| Spiritual
Background: |
Gilles was raised in a Roman Catholic family in the Lac Saint-Jean region, the fifth of eleven children. After high school, Gilles attended college in Jonquière where he studied nursing. In 1972, at age 19 Gilles first heard the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. After 3 months of internal struggling and searching the Scriptures, Gilles says, “God had pity on me. In spite of my doubts, God helped me to understand that salvation comes through repentance and faith in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.”
Irène is the tenth of 11 children. After her mother’s death, Irène went to live with her sister Nita and her husband, Pastor Gabriel Cotnoir. She accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour when she was 12 and dedicated her life to the Lord when she was 16.
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| Ministry
Experience: |
Gilles and Irène were married in 1974 and settled in Chibougamau. They were among the six families who founded the local church in that town. In 1981, Gilles sensed the call of God to pastoral ministry. Two years later, he accepted to become a pastor-in-training at the Chibougamau church while he took theological training through SEMBEQ.
In 1993, Gilles and Irène answered a call to serve at Église Évangélique Agapé on the island of Montreal. Gilles has developed a gift for coaching men in ministry. In his own church he has mentored several men who now share the ministry load. Some of these men are also training for full-time ministry.
Irène ministers to the women at the church where she follows up personal contacts and disciples new believers. She also has a particular burden for encouraging, and helping pastors wives in their spiritual life, family life and in the support of their husbands.
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