Jean-Louis Gaillard
Testimonial
My story
Testimonial
My story
Born into a traditional family, I was raised in religion, but it did not resonate in my heart.
I was studying in a religious school, my uncle was a priest, my grandfather was a cantor and sacristan. I often accompanied the latter in his service, attended the services, talked with the priests, but nothing brought me peace and joy.
I was “born again” at the age of 21; it was the first time I heard the true Gospel. At that time, I was a Marxist-Leninist, a photographer for various newspapers including “La Cause du peuple,” the newspaper of Jean-Paul Sartre.
At the same time, I was finishing my studies in oenology in Champagne. Despite everything around me, all the activities through which I was trying to find a reason to live, I was sad, even depressed.
Then my life was completely turned upside down… One day, while I was in Reims, a young British man approached me; he had come to talk about Jesus to French students. Immediately, I expressed my opposition to him. I was surprised that he dared to speak of Jesus, who, in my opinion, should be reserved for children and the elderly. In talking with him, I realized that this young man had completed distinguished studies in philosophy at the University of Oxford and that his knowledge exceeded mine. Despite his knowledge, which could have hindered him, he had discovered this Jesus about whom he spoke with such zeal and joy.
Then he invited me to attend a meeting in the vicinity of Paris, in Rueil-Malmaison, the following week.
It seemed impossible for me to come to Paris, given my obligations. However, a few days later, I decided to come and listen to this preacher and made my way to Paris by hitchhiking. It was May 15, 1971.
I listened to the pastor named Alain Choiquier. He said that revolution changes everything except the heart of man, but that Jesus came to change that heart, to conquer the power of sin, and to give new life. Hearing this message, the revelation of my sin and especially the price paid by Jesus Christ for me to receive forgiveness led me to repent and to accept Him as my Savior and Lord.
The meeting started at 3 p.m.
At 4 p.m., my life was transformed. My parents told me, “This will only last a few months!” but today, after 47 years, I still have the same peace and joy within me.
Today
I am one of the pastors of CTMI and I share the Word of God in many churches in France or elsewhere. I have been married for over 50 years and am the father of 3 children, and grandfather of 6 grandchildren.
“My parish is the World,” said John Wesley. For over 30 years, I have been part of the CTMI, Church Team Ministries International missionary team, which in French means Team of Ministries Serving Churches. We work with one heart and one vision to equip and strengthen leaders and churches in Africa and elsewhere with the apostolic message of the cross!
I travel to many countries, but particularly in Africa, and it is always a joy to preach the gospel to those who are lost in their religious traditions and to see them discover freedom in Jesus Christ!
I see true Christians being strengthened through His death and resurrection. I wish to continue serving Him on this earth for the rest of my existence, waiting to be with Him for eternity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How did I come to tell stories?
One day, a friend who was the director of a Christian radio station “Nu-Radio” in Mauritius, asked me to come to his radio to talk about my faith to his listeners. I happily accepted his invitation and illustrated my testimony with a story that had particularly touched me… This story was “The Theft of My Planks.” The radio’s listeners called in to express their interest, and my friend was so encouraged that he immediately asked me to come back the next day to tell another story, and so on the following days. After 15 days of broadcasts, he asked me to record, upon my return to Paris, six months and then a year’s worth of stories for his daily shows. That’s how “365 histoires.com” was born, although today, I have recorded more than 1000 stories!
Why did you come to write these stories?
Jesus told parables to His disciples to help them understand the important truths of the Gospel. He would say to them at the end of these: this is what the parable means… and He would provide, to their questions, a stunning explanation that enlightened them or, on the contrary, was incomprehensible to them if their hearts were not open. The preaching of the Gospel is something powerful. It can be enhanced with parables or real-life stories, intended to deeply illuminate the revelation of the Word of God and make it practical and concrete. The Gospel is real and tangible to change our lives… it’s up to us to open our hearts!
How did you come to video?
I was a press photographer for many years and always had professional equipment. One day, a friend asked me why I didn’t make videos of my stories? So, I tried because my cameras also allowed me to make videos, but I had no technical knowledge. I started to study and took the plunge. The beginnings were not glorious, but I persevered, and today 10 TV channels broadcast my shows.
A key factor in making my videos was meeting with Christian artists: graphic designers, cartoonists, illustrators, comic strip creators, who added value to my work. Indeed, without them, my videos would not have been as successful!
I welcome those who wish to work with me. New talents who contact me via the Internet to offer their collaboration, when they like what I produce, are always welcome.
About 2 to 3 million people in French-speaking countries watch my videos on television, and 1 million on the Internet.
What are the fruits that these stories produce?
For me, I am the first to be blessed by these stories because they either happened to me personally or they are stories told by others, which have impacted me and especially encouraged me in my faith, to live new experiences with Jesus.
An example: I hear on television a famous French actress recount having undergone two open-heart surgeries, leaving her without strength. Despite sessions with a psychologist, she felt empty inside, discouraged, even desperate.
That’s when I decide to write to her to tell her about Jesus Christ, the only true comforter and savior in this world, through His death and resurrection, the one who can give us true life.
But, I wasn’t sure of her real identity or her address; I only knew her stage name, and suddenly, I remembered this story I had read recently.
In 1885, after discovering the rabies vaccine, Louis Pasteur saved a 9-year-old boy named Joseph Meister, who later, out of gratitude, worked as a caretaker at the Pasteur Institute. Louis Pasteur became known as “The man who performs miracles.” Then, a young man in his village in Eastern France was bitten by an infected fox. His father decided to write to “the man who performs miracles.” He didn’t know his name or address, but he wrote on the envelope: “To the man who performs miracles, Paris!”
The postal service knows this man and forwards the mail to him. Ten days later, the child is vaccinated and saved.
I understand that what I just heard on television is eerily similar to what this father was experiencing as he watched his son deteriorate rapidly. I decide, with the help of the Lord, to write to this person. Lord, help me!
I’m in front of my computer, typing the first name and last name of this person @gmail.com, it doesn’t work, and I receive an “Error message.” Then I persevere with @hotmail.fr, then @yahoo.fr, etc… and finally, I receive a response acknowledging receipt of this message from this person. Since then, I have been in contact with her, and through my stories, I try to encourage her to meet the true “Man who performs miracles in bodies and especially in hearts!”
Also, many brothers and sisters share with me the impact of the stories in their lives, read their testimony.
What are your projects?
Currently, I am starting to explore the possibility of creating a database of all my stories to allow everyone, through keywords, to find the story that would help them illustrate a sermon or exhortation! I also desire to tell my stories in churches, and I am available to pastors who make the request.
Who is the audience for these stories?
The stories are intended for both children and adults.
Recently, I went to the invitation of a pastor from the Paris region to tell my stories at the church. He had wanted to keep the children during the worship service because, for him, they were the true recipients of these stories. After telling several stories, I noticed that the pastor was crying, moved by my narrative. My most faithful listeners are between 10 and 99 years old!
A 97-year-old grandmother, a former schoolteacher in her village, writes to me that I bring joy to her old age because she is now blind and listens to Christian radios or CDs to hear my stories.
In Réunion Island, children in Christian schools listen to my stories during their worship time, and when I am on their island, as soon as I start telling a story, they finish it with me; I see their faces light up because they know my stories by heart.
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