Baptism of Fire: Marseille mission update
A six-member team from London strengthened local church leaders, prayed for the city and joined two outreach events where people gave their lives to Christ.
In September 2026, a six-member team from London (Pastor Kemi Ajayi, Lola Arigbabu, Karen Makomereh, Vanita Winkler, Tsega Bekele and Jennifer Faith) travelled to Marseille to strengthen and encourage local church leaders, intercede for the city, and take part in outreach, deliverance and ministry.
Thank you for your prayers and support during this mission to Marseille, France. The weekend became a powerful reminder that God is still drawing people to Himself, breaking strongholds, and breathing fresh life into the city. Seeds sown through previous worship and intercession mission trips are beginning to bear fruit, and we were encouraged to witness fresh signs of transformation, salvation and spiritual hunger.
One theme emerged throughout the mission: “Baptism of Fire”, a fresh impartation of the Holy Spirit’s power, purification, passion and purpose.
Breaking through spiritual resistance
Marseille is a city of great potential and rich history, yet it faces significant social and spiritual challenges. Much of our prayer focused on asking God to remove obstacles, dismantle strongholds, and prepare the way for a fresh move of His Spirit. We prayed specifically against cycles of violence, addiction, hopelessness and family breakdown that affect many communities, particularly among young people.
On the second day, we conducted a prayer walk through the community, interceding and speaking God’s promises over the area. Inspired by the account of Elisha throwing salt into a spring to bring healing to the land, we were led to sprinkle salt as a symbolic act of prayer, cleansing and restoration for the city of Marseille.
A call to the fire: outreach and ministry
Before arriving in Marseille, our team spent time seeking God through repentance, consecration and unity. We sensed that the Lord was preparing us not simply to carry out activities, but to minister from hearts fully yielded to the Holy Spirit. Throughout the mission, there was a strong awareness that God was calling both the team and the local churches into deeper spiritual fervency and dependence upon Him.
A key part of the mission involved outreach events that created opportunities for worship, testimony, gospel proclamation, prayer ministry and meaningful conversations. The atmosphere was welcoming and relational, enabling people to encounter the love of Christ in practical and personal ways.
The first outreach was a joint event hosted by the Marseille Nord and St Louis churches. The evening began with food, fellowship and informal conversations before members of our team shared their testimonies and preached the gospel. During the ministry time that followed, God moved powerfully. Several people surrendered their lives to Christ, others received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, some speaking in tongues, and many experienced deliverance and spiritual freedom.
The second outreach took place the following day through friendship evangelism during an outdoor meal. Three women wearing hijabs joined the gathering. As conversations unfolded, God’s presence touched their hearts deeply, and all three gave their lives to Christ, with many tears accompanying their decision. Follow-up Bible reading meetings have since been arranged with them, and one of the women began reading her Arabic Bible that very day.
Unity, hope and a new thing
One of the strongest impressions throughout the weekend was God’s desire to strengthen the unity of His Church. We prayed for deeper collaboration between churches, stronger relationships among Christian leaders, and a shared Kingdom vision that would endure long after the mission had ended.
We saw evidence of this as the Marseille Nord and St Louis churches partnered together to host the outreach event on our first night. Their willingness to work side by side reflected the very unity for which we had been praying.
Again and again, the Lord impressed upon us the promise of Isaiah 43:19:
“See, I am doing a new thing!”
We sensed that God is establishing new parameters for His work in Marseille and calling His people to believe for greater things. What has been sown through years of faithful prayer is beginning to bear fruit, and there is growing expectation for all that God will yet do in the city.
The fire continues to burn
As the mission concluded, we left encouraged by what God had begun and grateful for the privilege of partnering with believers in Marseille. The “Baptism of Fire” was not simply a theme for the weekend; it was an invitation for God’s people to burn afresh with love for Christ, compassion for the lost, and confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer. Please continue to pray for the churches of Marseille, for lasting fruit from the outreach efforts, for young people to come to Christ, and for God’s Kingdom to be increasingly established throughout the city.
Together, we believe that the fire God has kindled will continue to spread, bringing hope, restoration and transformation for His glory.
