STEPHEN AND ROSEMARY COX

Stephen was born in Wolverhampton and became a Christian when he was 21 years old. Leaving a career in insurance he went to Moorlands Bible College following which he became pastor of East Beach Evangelical Church in Selsey. (1986-1991)

Rosemary, a Londoner by birth became a Christian while a student at St Andrews University. She and Stephen met whilst on holiday in Israel and married in 1978. They have 3 children, Andrew (1979), Naomi (1982), and Peter (1985).

Both Stephen and Rosemary had a long term interest in France which was channelled into action following a visit to their church by an ECM missionary. In 1991 they left England to join the ECM team in Central France where they have been working with the church in Vierzon.

"In you I trust, O my God
… No-one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame"
Psalm 25:1-2

FRANCE

France is one of the world's most cultured and sophisticated nations and now reaping the barren fruits of 200 years of secularization.

France is not only needy but hardened to the gospel. Of its 56 million population it is estimated that there are only about 200,000 evangelical believers, and that more than 51 million people have no regular contact with a church of any kind. In this climate the sects proliferate and the power of the occult is disturbing. Islam is the second largest religion in France and gaining ground at an alarming rate.

The European Christian Mission's strategy for the 'nineties' is to concentrate on a church planting ministry in the area of central France especially in the departments of the Cher and Nièvre.