JAY – Two couples with ministries to the French-speaking people of Montreal will be featured speakers at the annual missions challenge through April 20 at Bean’s Corner Baptist Church.

They are Duane and Miriam Mansveld, and Gilles and Irene Lapierre. They will speak at various services throughout the four-day conference, which is based on the theme, “Loving the Unlovely: God’s Love in Any Language.”

The Mansvelds have been associated with the French Fellowship Baptist Churches in Montreal since 1996 and with the Mission to the Americas for three years. They work closely with the Montreal churches in ministering to the street youth, estimated at between 5,000 and 10,000 people.

The schedule on Monday, April 19, includes a missions dinner at 6 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by a service with Gilles Lapierre speaking about establishing cross-cultural ministries. The conference will conclude Tuesday, April 20, with a men’s breakfast and a women’s tea, both at 9 a.m., and a concluding program at 6 p.m. with a panel discussion on reaching out to others. Panelists will include the Mansvelds and Lapierres; the Rev. Ira Hall, church associate pastor and director of Camp Berea in North Turner; Pat and Denny Daily, Christian counselors; and the Rev. Clifford Olson, who are ministers in area nursing homes.

Representatives of Western Maine Child Evangelism Fellowship will lead sessions for children throughout the conference.

For more information, people can call 645-2925.