About Us

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About Parole de Vie Quebec

 
 

Part of a world-wide ministry

Parole de Vie (Word of Life) is part of a growing organization that is in 70 countries around the world. Our goal is to create faith-defining experiences that give students and families the opportunity to encounter God and grow in their spiritual walks.

Ministry Centred Campus

Our Language School is designed to train and equip believers to fulfill this very purpose in the French-Speaking world. The Language school shares a campus with an accredited French Bible School and hosts summer and winter camps, conferences, and other French ministries throughout the year. 

Prepare for your next steps

Established more than 65 years ago, we have been teaching French as a second language to people from all walks of life. Whether your goal is to reach a francophone missions field, or to simply broaden your horizons – our passion is to see you succeed in learning French as you prepare for whatever God is calling you to do next.

TEAM MEMBERS

 

Our dedicated staff are all support raising missionaries with a heart for the francophone world. Get to know them by reading more below. 

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David & Kristy Kelly
Director

 

David and Kristy Kelly have been serving with Word of Life in the USA, France, and Quebec for more than 15 years. Not only did they attend our Language school as students headed to Togo, West Africa, but they went on to Serve the Lord for six years in France. This gives them a unique perspective on the transitions that many of our language students will be facing as they prepare to leave for foreign lands.

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Michel Roby
Academic Dean / Teacher

 

Michel has been teaching French as a second language for over 30 years. He has a Master’s degree in Adult Education Studies from the University of Sherbrooke, a Bachelor’s degree in French Studies from the University of Sherbrooke, and a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Sherbrooke. Michel’s desire is to equip men and women to share the gospel throughout the francophone world and see French people reached for Christ.

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Mariette Bricault
Teacher

 

Since coming to Christ at the age of 25, Mariette has been passionate about investing in missions in Quebec through her local church and community. Mariette holds a Bachelor of Christian education and a minor in French at the University of Sherbrooke and has more than 15 years experience teaching French. Mariette has also worked in several camps in Quebec and several years with Child Evangelism Fellowship.

At Parole de Vie we are passionate about missions and seeing the Great Commission fulfilled: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone {through French Language School students}"

OUR HISTORY

 

Parole de Vie Language School has seen God’s faithfulness since it was founded almost 70 years ago. Click on a milestone to see how the ministry grew over the years.

1948

Our Heritage

Word of Life (Parole de Vie) was founded by Jack Wyrtzen in New York City in 1934. While the ministry has grown to include rallies, youth clubs, camps, and Bible institutes, the emphasis on evangelism remains unchanged. In 1948, a like-minded ministry began in Sherbrooke, Quebec called “l’Institute biblique Béthel.” For more than 40 years this school trained hundreds of young people in the Word of God. In addition to the regular Bible Institute program, a French Language school was also established to prepare missionaries to reach the French speaking world with the Gospel.
1956

The early years

In March of 1956 a board of directors for l’Institut Biblique Béthel was appointed and held their first meeting. Under the guidance and direction of these faithful pioneers in the ministry and those who came after, the ministry in Sherbrooke grew and at different times included summer and winter camps, radio broadcasting, a newspaper, and translation of various Christian resources into French. The ministry thrived in the 70’s and 80’s with a spiritual awakening that was sweeping across Quebec. A certain journalist, Michel Roby, joined the staff in 1989, first writing for the Bethel Editions and then later teaching at the Language School. The Bible School and Language School continued to be the heartbeat of the ministry, with the goal of both of these schools to train students to reach French speakers with the gospel of Christ. 
1994

Partnering with Parole de Vie

In 1992, Bethel Bible Institute approached Word of Life International with the idea of merging the two ministries into one. In September of 1994, Parole de Vie Bethel, opened its doors to welcome the Pioneer class with the new name and new management. The French Language School and Bible Institute programs continued under the new leadership, as well as the camp ministry and local church partnerships, with the same goal of reaching francophones all over the world.  
2019

Today

Our Language School can accommodate more than 35 students, and each year students from all over the USA and Canada come to learn French with hopes of serving the Lord in the French speaking world. The 2017-2018 school year was a banner year, with new direction under David and Kristy Kelly, official accreditation through Providence University College, and the approval to completely renovate our classrooms!