Celebrating the Chateau de Saint Albain: 60 Years of Spiritual Impact

The year is 1964, the location is France, and the context is…frustration. Our evangelists are making extensive efforts and sacrifices yet seeing very little fruit because their methods are too impersonal. “How are we ever going to reach French hearts with the gospel? What will it take for them to hear the message and genuinely consider it?” Those are the kinds of questions that gnaw at the minds of Tom and Doris Julien in eastern France. 

Despite these uncertainties, God connects Tom with an old castle in the French countryside—the Chateau de Saint Albain. “Could this be the answer?” Tom thinks. “Maybe it can become a place where relational encounters, attractive hospitality, and group reflection can break through the spiritual vacuum of French culture—even to young adults.” So, the Chateau is purchased in 1964, and a ministry is born, embodying a core principle: 

The effectiveness of any outreach strategy is directly proportional to its relational context.

That became the mindset of our Chateau ministry for the next 60 years. From the 1960s to the 2020s, the Chateau became a place of encounters—not only geographical and spatial ones, but also relational and spiritual ones. People came to the Chateau for forums, retreats, conferences, and innumerable small gatherings, but what they experienced was the power of the gospel. For many, it was their first time to hear biblical truth, consider the Christian worldview, connect with other seekers, enjoy community gatherings, or envision a creative outreach. 

The Chateau became a place that birthed new ministries and churches impacting eastern France. Some of those ministries even trained gospel ambassadors who influenced other parts of Europe and French-speaking Africa. And the churches that were birthed out of the Chateau have grown into a movement of their own. The Chateau started with the simple goal of providing space for encounters and experiences, yet God allowed its reach to extend beyond that. It’s amazing what God can accomplish with the combination of a gospel vision, prayer, and sacrificial labor! 

But even with abundant spiritual fruit, realities changed as time went on. Maintaining an old castle came with complications and difficulties that took their toll. An entire generation of French workers eventually faded from the scene along with the ministry’s founders. Governmental and regulatory issues became more prevalent. The original mission became more expansive and more diffused. But perhaps more than anything, society changed. 

By the 2010s, the complicated nature of operating a 14th century castle became more pronounced and precarious. Extensive measures had to be taken just to sustain long-term staff, renew ministry vision, and strengthen the finances. While these efforts were all commendable, they came with much difficulty. By 2022, it had been almost 60 years since the Chateau was purchased by the Foreign Missionary Society of the Brethren Church (now known as Encompass World Partners). That year, the Encompass board of directors reached the difficult conclusion that the time had arrived to conclude the Chateau’s long-term ministry. 

In April 2023, many French believers and quite a few Encompass staff prepared a fitting celebration to honor the Chateau’s impact and legacy. Several hundred people from multiple countries and continents gathered to celebrate, to mourn, and to remember. Most of all, they gathered to thank God for all the ways He used those seemingly hallowed grounds and many devoted people to shine the gospel’s light into thousands of lives over multiple decades. 

In early 2023, the Chateau and its property were placed on the market. To say that finding a buyer for an ancient French castle with constant maintenance needs “was a challenge” would be an understatement. That reality held true as legal complications and lengthy negotiations stretched longer than expected. But in God’s perfect timing, the Chateau de Saint-Albain was sold. 

In mid-2025, legal aspects of the sale were finalized, and the property was sold to a French couple who intends to use it for gatherings and hospitality—a kind of rural Airbnb. After several months of additional legal complications with French bureaucracy, Encompass is anticipating completion of the full financial transaction. The Encompass board has explicitly designated these proceeds to be used in ways consistent with the Chateau’s original mission in France and Europe: to fuel creative evangelism, church multiplication, and training for Christian leaders. But instead of using a historical castle to execute this mission, it’s now being accomplished through a network of churches and leaders making a growing impact in eastern France and beyond. 

The keys to the Chateau may have changed hands, but what God began there was never confined to a single plot of land. Lives were changed, faith took root, and callings were awakened. What once took place within a specific set of walls will now continue through people, churches, and communities all across Europe. The Chateau de Saint Albain served its purpose well, and because of that, its story continues for generations. 

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