Derek & Jane French
Derek and Jane began serving with Grupos Bíblicos Unídos (GBU) in 2007. GBU is a Christian student organisation affiliated to the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. They are based in Bilbao in northern Spain.
Latest mission report
Derek and Jane’s mission work
The work of GBU principally involves evangelism among students and the discipling of Christian students. GBU’s vision is to reach all non-Christian students with the gospel and to develop student leadership which, in the future, should contribute to the growth of evangelical churches in Spain. GBU also seeks to contribute to the transformation of Spanish society through evangelical graduates and professionals who have been helped by GBU.
Derek and Jane are excited to be actively involved in a new project with the publishing branch of GBU (Andamio Kids). The project aims to provide resources for Sunday school teachers, youth leaders and devotional materials for children and teenagers. These resources will have a huge impact in developing young disciples in the Spanish speaking world. Many of the books are translated from English however, recently, Andamio Kids were thrilled to publish their first book written by a Spanish person. It is a devotional book that emphasizes God’s plan of redemption throughout Scripture.
Currently they are also heading up the Bilbao Team Project and have a team of 6, including Neil and Jenny Stewart (and family), who are also global mission workers. The vision of the team is to reach out to the community and plant a church in the area they live in.
Derek and Jane are also involved in local church ministry in Bilbao, serving in the Bilbao International Church (BIC) and working alongside the local Spanish church. Derek serves as the pastor of BIC, and Jane is part of the team ministry. Derek’s role is to oversee ministry and mission at BIC and their other ministry roles include preaching, teaching, pastoral care, Bible study groups, 121s, outreach and other initiatives. They are encouraged by ministry in both churches. Many non-Christians attend and their prayer is that they will soon respond to the gospel.
Derek and Jane met and got married when they were studying at Belfast Bible College, they have two children. They were commissioned for service in Spain at a service held in Drumbo Presbyterian, their home congregation, in January 2001. They served firstly in Valencia, Spain from February 2001 to 2007, working with the Levante Presbytery of the Spanish Evangelical Church (IEE).
Prayer points
- Pray for the Bilbao Team Project as they reach out to their community and plan to plant a church.
- Pray for Christian students to catch the vision of being evangelists and making disciples at university and that this would continue as they enter the working world and for good relationships between the student work and the local churches.
- Pray for full time staff workers to lead the work of GBU in the seven cites in the north of Spain.
- Pray for the work of Andamio Kids and the valuable resources they are providing for kids and families in the Spanish speaking world.
- Pray for the French family, that they will be a good witness in their community. Pray too for their children, that they will grow up to have a vibrant personal relationship with God.
Derek and Jane have recorded a short film clip which can be downloaded and used in church services, prayer meetings or events to raise awareness and prayer for what God is doing across the world, as we seek to go deep and wide in global mission involvement.
Latest report October 2026
The beginning of the academic year has seen an influx of new people at Bilbao International Church, pray that they would feel welcome and at home and that it will be an opportunity for them to grow, have fellowship and serve.
The Women’s Discipleship group began in September with 11 women and almost the same number of nationalities! This year the women are studying the book of James and looking at what it means to live a life of genuine faith. They alternate with Saturday breakfast and study and Wednesday supper and study.
Sunday 11 October is the BIC welcome service for students. This normally includes testimonies, a presentation of the work of GBU (equivalent to CUs), challenging talk for students as they commence their studies and pizza for everyone afterwards. It is an opportunity for those who have already started coming, to invite their friends. It is also a great evangelistic opportunity and pray that God will work in the hearts of the students that are studying in the Basque Country.
Friday 16 October - Sunday 18 October: GBU for the Basque Country has their beginning of term camp. Derek will be speaking at the weekend on the theme of “What is the Gospel?” and “How to share the Gospel”. A good number of students have already signed up, pray that it will be a time of encouragement for them and that they will begin their new semester with a passion for the Gospel and reaching their fellow students. A new MOCLAM (theological studies) course will begin in Sarriko (the Spanish speaking church) in October. Praise God for those who have committed to this course and the course begins with giving a panoramic view of the Scriptures. This will be every other Friday evening.
Prayer points
- The student welcome service that many would attend and become a part of the BIC family.
- The GBU camp in October that students would get a firm grasp of the gospel and that it would ignite in them a passion to share it with others.
- The BIC women’s study as they seek to live out lives of genuine faith and be challenged by the studies in James.
- The new MOCLAM course starting this month.
Mission report archive
Download a printable PDF of this and other recent bulletins below.