Fernand was born and raised into a Roman Catholic francophone family in the city of Trois-Rivières (Québec). Following-up an outstanding tract distribution by mail from Assemblies in Toronto, Christian Workers visited Fernand's home in 1947. Shortly after, the whole family came to Christ and the Assembly at the Cap-de-la-Madeleine saw its very beginning in the home of his newly converted parents. On April 10, 1947, Fernand took his Dad's French New Testament and read all the verses his Dad had underlined in red. All of thoses verses spoke about God's free Gift of Salvation through Christ. But it was John 3.17 & 18 that spoke loud and clear to his young heart: «God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ». Fernand asked God in a sincere word of repentance to become his personal Saviour. Later, Fernand was active in the Assembly : Sunday School Teacher and Superintendant; Deacon; Leader of Young People's groups locally and provincially as well, while working at a secular work.

Yolande , was born and raised also into a Roman Catholic francophone family in the city of Trois-Rivières (Québec). She came to the Lord and to the chapel with her Dad. By then, the Assembly had grown tremendously and was meeting in a new building. Yolande was working as a secretary. They got married in 1957 and after their first child was born, they came to Bethel Bible Institute as full-time students.

Yolande Saint-Louis