God is at Work – Be Present | Guests Tony and Raeni Roos

Tony and Raeni Roos are native to the Iron Range and have spent many years swatting mosquitoes, eating porketta and wondering how the mines will do next year. Tony served in Minnesota and Wisconsin as youth pastor and Raeni worked in various jobs to support Tony’s youth ministry habit. For the last ten years they have made the country of France their home, where they focus on ministry with the local church seeking to reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ and helping those who know Jesus to follow him fully.

In this special missions-focused episode, Tony and Rainie Ruse share their incredible journey as missionaries with Envision France, a ministry of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. They discuss what it means to be present—in prayer, in community, in meeting needs, and in partnership with the local church. Their work in Toulouse, France involves training missional leaders, supporting local churches, and building gospel-centered relationships.

Key Themes & Scripture References:

  • The Call to Missions – Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)
  • Being Present Like Jesus – John 1:14 (“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”)
  • The Power of Prayer in Missions – Acts 1:8 (Jesus' call to be witnesses to the ends of the earth)
  • Serving with the Gifts God Gives You – 1 Peter 4:10 (“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”)

Personal Reflections & Stories:

  • Tony & Rainie's Journey – From growing up on the Iron Range to serving in France.
  • Creative Ministry: How artists, break dancers, and even collectors of Japanese dolls can use their talents for Christ.
  • Prayer Walking: How a young woman’s perspective changed when she started praying for the noisy bar below her apartment instead of resenting it.
  • Engaging in Community: Hosting game nights, BBQs, and English conversation groups to build relationships with non-believers.

Notable Quotes:

  • “Jesus didn’t just send a message—He became present. Missions starts with showing up.”
  • “The world will know you are Jesus’ disciples by your love for one another. That’s why we must engage with our communities.”
  • “If you don’t know the answer to a question about faith, it’s okay to say, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find out.’”

Application & Takeaways:

  1. Pray for Missionaries & Unreached People – Be intentional about praying for specific people and places.
  2. Use Your Gifts for the Gospel – Whether it’s art, teaching, or hospitality, God can use you.
  3. Start Gospel Conversations – Ask open-ended questions like “What do you think happens after we die?”
  4. Support Missions – Give, serve, or consider going on a short-term trip.
  5. Be Present in Your Own Community – Missions isn’t just overseas—it starts where you are.

Keywords & Tags:

missions, evangelism, Christian & Missionary Alliance, Envision France, discipleship, prayer walking, gospel outreach

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Note: New messages shared Sundays. Encouraging replay messages from Pastor Chris’s previous ministry (2021 and earlier), marked with an asterisk (*), shared Wednesdays.