Where we serve
Missionary Team
Hugo and Lyne Éthier
RiviÈre-du-Loup, Quebec
Current ministry:
The new church plant is underway in Rivière-du-Loup as a daughter work of the church in Rimouski. Sunday morning services started on June 4, 2006 with a core group of 35 people, including children.
Hugo says, “We’ve experience something like we read in the book of Ezra where ‘the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus’ and many other people to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. In our case, the Lord moved our hearts, the hearts of three other families, to bring us to Rivière-du-Loup to establish a church.” Meanwhile, a group of about 10 Christians from the area were praying for a pastor and an organized church.
After consulting with regional leaders and meeting with the Fellowship French Mission, the Éthiers moved to Rivière-du-Loup in 2005. They felt confirmed in their decision when the Lord orchestrated the sale of their house and the purchase of another one in record time.
Rivière-du-Loup and the area have a population of 32,000. Situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, five hours northeast of Montreal, the area has an economy based on agriculture and related industries.
Family:
The Éthiers were married in May 1995. They have four children: Marie-Eve (9-1/2), David (8), Frédérick (7) and Anne-Geneviève (5-1/2).
Spiritual Background:
Hugo and his wife Lyne both grew up and went to university in the Montreal area. Hugo’s father left the family when he was just 11 years old and he subsequently had a difficult adolescence. Yet, God was at work during those years. Hugo was touched by the testimony of his mother, his stepfather and his brother. In college, a philosophy course forced Hugo to think about existential questions. After searching in vain for answers in several secular books, Hugo started reading the Bible during his first year in university. Hugo says, “What a beautiful day, it was as if God was speaking to me directly and personally. The clouds disappeared and the light of Christ shone in my soul.” Hugo confessed his spiritual misery to God and in Jesus he found forgiveness, peace and direction for his life.
Since that day in the fall of 1991, Hugo committed himself to following Jesus and becoming an instrument of service in the hands of God. Hugo was baptized in January 1993 at the l’Église Baptiste Évangélique de Longueuil. He met Lyne at the Longueuil church in April 1992 and they were married in 1995. After 14 years of service, of training and of growth, the Lord has sent them to Rivière-du-Loup to start a church.
Lyne also had a difficult childhood. Her father was an alcoholic and was involved in organized crime. Yet, God had another plan for the Dubé family. When Lyne was 11 years old, her father came to know the Lord and his life was transformed, which had a huge impact on the whole family. Lyne gave her life to the Lord and was baptized at age 13. After a quiet adolescence, Lyne began to grow spiritually at age 19 when she became involved in the youth group at the church in Longueuil. This is where she and Hugo got to know each other. Hugo says, “Lyne is visually handicapped but she constantly extends the limits of what she can do because of her spirit of determination, her love of life and her faith in Christ.”
Ministry Experience:
Hugo and Lyne spent over ten years serving in various ministries in the Longueuil church with youth, young families and a cell group. For two years, Hugo was pastor of evangelism while also working half time as a high school math teacher. Hugo continues his theological training with SEMBEQ where he is pursuing a Master’s degree.