The Fantastic 4 Fantasy Tour scheduled for this summer is really shaping up! Publisher’s Weekly and Christian Retailing Magazine both picked up the story; John Cooper at Real Armor of God has graciously donated swords and shields to each author for the tour; and both Barnes & Nobel and Borders are rolling out the red carpet for us with booking dates!
Thanks for your continued prayers as we seek to reach the lost with the message of Jesus!
CH
Greetings everyone!
We’re all home safe and sound, and still in a bit of “dream land” from the amazing trip. I’m getting caught up on work and e-mails, but in the mean time I wanted to post some pics from 2 of our last concerts in France.
On Friday a small group of the team traveled to the ancient city of Metz and played in a church, formerly a Synagogue built in the 2nd century (that’s like 168AD folks). We made Joe, our drummer, an impromptu drum set out of a huge kitchen kettle, a tambourine, and chair and three ring binder. The best part is that he played as hard on that as he did on the multi-million dollar stages…a true testament of his attitude.
Ephraim, our bassist, had to stand on the window sill even thought he was the tallest in the group. And Jenny stole the evening with two of her jazz ballads.
Saturday, we closed out the three-day Easter festival, Pâques Impact, in Longuyon. It was about 90 degrees and we were pretty exhausted. But being out last event of the tour, we gave it everything we had.
One of the more memorable moments was spontaneously inviting rap artist Gospel MC to the stage for an off-the-cuff jam session.
We also did a drum piece where three drummers (Fabio Fernandez, Joe Gilchrist, and myself) all played the same drum set. When we were done, Jenny asked me, “Now what are you going to do?” I laughed. It brought down the house, to say the least.
The amount of ministry that took place over the 10 day tour is far from relateable. I could no more tell all the stories to you than name the stars in the sky. People were saved, touched, baptized, healed, delivered, and filled with the Spirit of God. It was a time we will never forget.
I’ll be posting more pics later, but thought you might enjoy these for now.
Thanks for spending some time with me today!
CH
The team just finished our last of 12 ministry events (in 10 days) in Europe during a huge outdoor festival in Longuyon, France this evening. It was the first time in a few hundred years (no kidding) that the Gospel has been preached there in public. We were the closer for the three-day event and the band and drama team did a fabulous job. I couldn’t be more proud.
After helping to tear down all the festival structures, we headed back to Moncel (our home base here), for 5 baptisms just as the sun was setting. It was an incredible way to finish things off.
Everyone is incredibly spent, and exhausted beyond reason. Most are staying up through the night as we depart for Brussels at 3am. We’re leaving 90 degree weather for a snow storm (hoping we get back to NY without too many delays). Needless to say, no one wants to go home.
Thanks for your continued preayers as we hit the home stretch of our journey! I’m good for at least two hours of sleep…
Blessings!
CH
Phew!
Finally got access to a computer today! For all those following the tour, sorry for the long delay.
We have been going nonstop, each night somewhere new. Each place arrive in the Lord has us confronting and breaking principalities in the towns, from spirits of suicide and depression to fear and unforgiveness. I’ve lost track of how many people have been touched and saved. I’m completely exhausted but the work is awesome.
Our team of 20 is marvelous. I seriously couldn’t ask for a better group of people. They are holding up amazingly well. With the extreme lack of sleep, hundreds of miles traveled, and expenditure of energy, I still have yet to hear one bad word spoken or have to confront an issue with any of them. They are working through their problems together and actively looking to grow. I’m honored to have them here and everyone loves them and doesn’t want them to leave.
Been touring through France since Monday. Pouring ourselves out in each meeting. Monday night was a huge concert in Vogelshiem. Tuesday we into Switzerland and then back to France to a town called Colmar. Tuesday night we ministered at a home group meeting with about 35 people present. Wednesday we visited my favorite castle in Alsace and then traveled back north for a meeting in St. Die. Then last night we ministered in Woippy. The team has been very active in ministering to people and leading the way in worship. The are the first to praise God, and the last ones to leave. They have been moving in the prophetic and seeing many miracles, both for themselves and for others.
Tonight starts Pacque Impact, or Easter Impact, a revolutionary new idea for this little town where the church puts on the largest festival EVER for the people, completely free, and brings in 5 top notch, A1 bands for three days. We play on the last day, Sunday. We have musicians arriving, sound technicians, chefs, and more! Its awesome! Today the team has been cleaning the large estate where we are staying, getting ready for the weekend and the huge amount of people that will be staying here with us. Tonight we minister in Metz, and then tomorrow morning we’re having a special ministry time just for our team. Afterward, we’ll all be ministering on the streets during the festival. Church in the morning on Sunday, our last concert Sunday night, then we drive back to Brussels and fly home on Monday.
It’s been a whirl wind tour for everyone, and they all want to come back!
Thank you for all your prayers!
CH
Last night the team and I traveled to southern Belgium, a city named Charleroi. Our host church was as healthy and active a church I’ve ever seen. With over 60 people living on premisis, including singers, painters, musicians, pastors, and more, the campus was a beautiful creation converted from an old steel mill.
Pastor Daniel and Christian welcomed our crew with coach (bus) ride from the train station to the church grounds. (Everyone enjoyed their first European train ride immensly!). Their hospitality was overwhelming and they made us feel right at home.
During the all-day outreach to the city, we saw the church’s heart towards the children dispalyed as the afternoon hours were filled with giant blow-up games and a full stage performance of Sesame Street style actors in costume.
Then their teen group ministered through dance and music, complete with a steel drum intro, and a hand clapping, dance beat out-tro!
When our time finally came, the musicians took the stage, diving in with a dynamic French translation of “You Are Good.” By the end of the second song, everyone was dancing, shouting, and praising God, and I was dripping with sweat…always a good sign.
The whole team was well receieved and we had a lot of spontaneous fun, including a special guest appearance from one of Holland’s top drummers, and my dear friend, Greg Pantophlet. He sat in for one song and also jumped on the stell drums with me for an inpromtu drum duet.
Joe Gilchrist really nailed the drums and Ephriam BBurt held down the low end on the bass with great passion. But mad props go to Jason Rodgers who really came out of his shell with one of the most amazing guitar solos I’ve seen in a while. People were cheering before he was even halfway through!
The 33 Live Drama Team took the stage next and did a powerful skit illustrating
When we were finished, I shared on Rev. 3 about being lukewarm, and the need to be hot for God. Then as people filled the altar area, Jennifer ministered on the keyboard. 40 teens and 5 adults came forward and gave their hearts to Jesus! It was one of the largest altar calls I’ve ever seen in Belgium.
Greetings everyone!
Sitting here in our host home in downtown Brussels at a table with our team. I just asked them to start shouting out their favorite parts of , our first day on the EuroTour 2007:
“Taking naps.”
“Sleeping.”
“Leaving me at Customs.” ~Joe Peterson
“Worship was great!”
“I wasn’t nervous on the stage at all. God took care of all my nerves.” ~Abby Damon
“I had a six year old praying over each chair in the church before the meeting last night; it was amazing to watch her work at such aa young age.” ~Kathleen Darling
“Everything seemed so hectic before we started, but it all came together in the end and was so God. On the way back from the place we had dinner, we got lost, and the Holy Spirit helped us get back to the place we were staying.” ~Hannah Damon
“I had my first prophetic word for someone last night, about them being a peace maker. It was amazing to be used by the Lord like that.” ~Gabbi Burt
“Seeing that 16 year old boy get touched by the presence of God at the airport. His mom said it was the first time she ever saw him cry in 16 years.” ~Jason Rodgers
We had a 16 year old boy give his heart to Jesus on the sidewalk outside the airport, prayed for a little girl in a wheelchair on the street, and then 7 more responded to the Gospel message at last night’s meeting. The music team ministered well for being so tired, and the drama team was awesome.
We head out by train to Charleroi this afternoon, just 45 minutes south of Brussels. We’ll have a meeting there and then return in Brussels tonight.
Thanks for your prayers!
CH
Hey’a!
Here are the EuroTour 2007 dates for us and our team. We’ll be leaving this Thursday morning and we greatly covet your prayers!
Thanks for making note of them!
CH
– – –
04.06 – Friday night meeting in Brussel
04.07 – Saturday night meeting in Brussel
04.08 – Sunday service in Brussel
04.08 – Sunday afternoon travel to Neufbrisach, France (Alsace Region)
04.09 – Monday afternoon meeting in Neufbrisach
04.10 – Tuesday explore Alsace
04.11 – Wednesday evening meeting in St Dié; after the meeting we go to Longuyon
04.12 – Thursday evening meeting in Woippy
04.13 – Friday evening begins Pâques Impact; help to prepare everything
04.14 – Saturday all day Pâques Impact
04.15 – Sunday service in Longwy
04.15 – Sunday afternoon concert in Longuyon
04.16 – Depart for Brussel; back to US
Greetings everyone!
I have some huge news that I’ve been biting my tongue about for the last six months. But with any big news, there are a lot of things to get in order before you can say anything.
So, without any further ado, it’s my honor to announce the world’s first Christian Fantasy/Fiction Author Tour, aptly named the “Fantastic 4 Fantasy Book Tour.”
OK…so what’s that? Let me explain.
Late last year, Wayne Thomas Batson and I had a crazy idea (but from fiction authors, what’s new?):
Stick a handful of Christian Fantasy authors from all different publishers in one van and tour the East Coast of the US.
We then approached three other fantasy author acquaintances, Bryan Davis, Donita K. Paul, and Sharon Hinck, and pitched the idea. They all replied with an ecstatic “Yes!” as did their publishers.
The FFT was born.
(Donita will hopefully be with the tour next year, as she had to pull out last minute).
We’ll be hitting 12 cities in 7 states along the East Coast this July. For more information, and to stay updated with news from the road, please check out the Fantasy Fiction Tour website.
Thanks for spending some time with me today!
CH
Greetings Dionians!
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback about the The Lion Vrie Book Trailer™. I love hearing from you! Very encouraging…
Just sending out a quick note to remind you that Tribe Grandath starts today! Again, we’ll be awarding a free copy of The Lion Vrie each week, starting a week from today, April 8th. So the sooner you get rolling, the sooner you can start winning! And there is no limit to the number of books you can win!
Please read through the whole site and register.
Thanks for your amazing support of The White Lion Chronicles. We can’t do this without you!
C’symia,
CH
Christopher Hopper 