La Raison d’Être

Living an Intentional Life

One’s most important reason for doing something or their purpose for acting

La Raison d’Être. You might have already heard this French phrase before. Just add it to the growing French vocabulary list you might have, such as words for “Hello,” “Please,” and “Thank you,” and you will be ready to buy your tickets for a visit to France!

La Raison d’Être actually indicates the idea of one’s most important reason for doing something or their purpose for acting. 

How would you answer the question, “What is your La Raison d’Être for your life?” It seems like such a simple question to ask, but we all know it is a very complicated question to answer!

As we come into our 21st year of ministering in an international church here in the south of France, John and I have had to wrestle with this many a time. If asked, we would sum up our “la raison d’être” in a single phrase:

“That the World May Know.”

“Know what?” you may ask … and how, in fact, are you going to execute your goal?

The following Mission Plan lays out the work that only God’s grace has been completing.  

• Follow along with us through these dark and foggy streets,
• guided by two imperfect people,
• seeking to execute a mission
• that can only be accomplished by a Sovereign Hand guiding them all along the way.

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Your Primary Daily Focus: That the World May Know the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. 

Projection of Execution:

Intentional Lifeline

• Phase One

• Place yourself in a transient multicultural city where the world has come to study, work and retire. Because of the transient nature of this group of people, their ability to linguistically attend a French church places a roadblock for many. 
• Determine to provide a spiritual lifeline through: Weekly Sunday Church services; Bible Studies; Church activities and church luncheons
• Develop a welcoming, caring and safe environment by showing the hurting what “true” church could and should look like.
• Take all of these elements, sift them together but always remember that you are reaching out to people who are diverse in every way possible! They are different in their language; their culture; their church experience; and even their church culture. There will be a variety of views on “What they think church should look like!”
• Now, your mission is to pray, pray, pray and work, work, work towards bringing unity, so that the Gospel can be heard!

Walk in God’s Sovereignty

• Phase Two

• Remember your Mission is Unique! Your congregation will change 60% every year. With this turnover, realize the privilege of Sending Them Out to places around the world you will never go to with the Gospel of Christ.
• Instead, intentionally build into the lives of the people who come. Set aside the tendency to want to see the final completed work in people’s lives and release the sanctification part to the Lord. And you … you, remain faithful.

Genuine Outreach

• Phase Three

Look around! You live in France, so reach out to the French community and welcome them in, not being put off by possible ulterior motives. Many have come to attend our services just to practice their English!

Fantastic! Come right in, we say. You can practice your English for free, and we will introduce you to the Maker of Heaven and Earth. The greater “win” is ours, to be honest. 😉

Other Elements Needed for Execution of the Goal:

• Time

Europeans need time to watch and see if you are willing to remain faithful to the cause. It’s part of their DNA and it is quite understandable.

Some cultures around the world are very friendly and have a very low proverbial wall to jump over in order to bring others into their sphere. However, for the European, that wall is much higher. There is a cautiousness about inviting strangers into their private space. Trust is a high societal value and you, my friend, need to show yourself to be trustworthy.

Never forget time. People are watching your life.

• God’s Grace

We conclude with God’s Grace because that is actually the beginning and the ending points of it all. 

God’s Grace for our salvation and the salvation for all that God draws to Himself. 

If God calls you to serve in an international church setting, feel free to use this as a launchpad as you wrestle with the task ahead.

But whether God calls you to remain in the town you grew up in or possibly move abroad, it can still be a healthy exercise to think through your own personal La Raison d’être. Days are bound to get foggy and dark where we question everything. But to live out an intentional life, filled with a defined purpose, this type of living helps us to stay grounded in and on the Truth.