Missionary Mailbox:
Jonathan & Karen Finley

by Jonathan Finley

Jonathan and Karen Finley met in Paris in the summer of 1992 while participating in evangelism campaigns to start new churches in the eastern suburbs. Though they became friends, Jonathan would never have guessed that this gifted "little French girl" would gently wrap her heart around him or that they would be married seven years later.

Jonathan is the founder and director of OIKOS, which means "household" or "family" (Ephesians 2:19). OIKOS is an intercultural community of believers who share life and work together in order to be shaped for God's mission in the Paris region and beyond. It's a training community that facilitates hands-on, church-based formation for "World-Christian" workers. The OIKOS community serves WorldVenture's church planting effort in the culturally diverse Eastern Suburbs of Paris. The OIKOS house, where most members live, is within 30 minutes of the 17 churches that WorldVenture and its partners have established there. In 2004, the OIKOS team helped plant the youngest of these churches.

Jonathan gives overall leadership to the OIKOS project, recruits new interns, cultivates partnerships with various churches and Bible schools, and facilitates local church internships and evangelism/service projects. OIKOS aims to cultivate transcontinental mission initiatives and friendships that energize a dynamic of missions.

Along with caring for OIKOS interns, Karen works as a kindergarten teacher for the French Ministry of Education. Everyday, she receives good morning bisous (kisses) from 28 little, multicultural Parisians whose origins are as different as mint tea is from black coffee.

Karen and Jonathan are part of the Claye Church's leadership team, a church they helped to plant in the Paris suburbs. Karen's skill and experience as an elementary school teacher has helped to develop the children's ministry. Jonathan is an elder, preaches regularly, and has organized the teaching strategy for the church's small group network. Karen and Jonathan are the grateful parents of two energetic boys, Samuel and Michael.

Please pray them as they adjust to life as a family of five. The newest French Finley will be born in late February 2008. Pray for Karen's work as a kindergarten teacher at the boys' school. This community connection is an important part of their witness to neighbors.

Pray for Jonathan's PhD studies in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. He'll visit West Africa in the spring and summer. Pray for financial support as PRC is no longer able to assist their ministry this way.

You may contact the Finleys at jonathan.finley@wanadoo.fr. If you would like to support them, look them up online.