By Jim Shoberg with Shanna DiPaolo, December 2007

For Avant Missionary Jim Shoberg, God used a routine errand at a French bank to open much more than a bank account.

The spring 2007 issue of avant magazine featured Avant's Team France and their journey to the field.  The Short-Cycle Church Planting team has been charged with the task of planting a church in Paris, France, a country notoriously apathetic to faith.  Even in the face of doubts and cultural divides, the team was eager to reach their field.

In June, Sheldon and Laurie Rempel and their children left for Paris, and Jim and Debbie Shoberg and their family joined them in July.  Vanessa Vannoy deployed in late November and December saw the team united in France with the arrival of Jeremy Wedel. Since their arrival, the team has found lodging in the Latin Quarter neighborhood of Paris and experienced God's leading of their ministry to the people of France.

I thought it was just a routine appointment to open a bank account. "What is your profession?" the director of the bank began. "Church work," I replied. He gave me a peculiar look.  "Are you a pastor?" he queried.

With that the banker began to share his opinions about religion.  He talked about his belief that the religious climate in France is going to change.  He explained how the attitude of the populace is affected by the past power of the traditional church, fear of Islam and a general distrust of religion.  "But I am an atheist," he was quick to inform me.

It became clear that this simple appointment to open a bank account was something bigger - divine.  God had arranged this meeting.  I took the opportunity to tell him of my desire to show people who Jesus is, straight from the Bible.  I came away amazed that God gave me a two hour conversation with this man, in English!  "Someone must have been praying for this," I thought.

Two weeks later the divine appointment resumed over lunch.  I had invited him to eat with me, eager to continue this conversation.  This time, I asked questions: "How is it you came to take the position of atheism?"  "Is there anything that could happen to change your mind?" "Have you ever read the Bible?" 

My questions prompted a near monologue as the man shared with me his personal history and his ideas about the French culture.  He attributed the lack of spiritual interest in France to years of disillusionment after WWII and the seeming hypocrisy in the traditional church. 

But he also admitted his decision to believe in nothing has left his children in the dark about spiritual matters. "My children do not have the chance to know anything about the faith," he said.  "Maybe someday I will change my mind about the church." 

He told me that he had never read the Bible, but he did own one.  It was given to him by a friend sometime ago, and he had accepted the book intending on reading it.  I politely encouraged him to read the gospels. 

The banker's response showed that God was working, present in this divine appointment.  "My work is full of difficulties, but when I talk with you it is like sunshine.  I will follow your suggestion to read the Bible, and I will invite you to lunch next time."

People here express surprise that a French man opened up with me the way this man has.  They are shocked that someone who comes from a culture that is notoriously secular would be vulnerable with a stranger.  But I believe it is because God opened a divine door - I just showed up and walked through.