| Europe |
The work of the church in all European countries is difficult, particularly, western Europe. The culture and government of France are not very helpful or conducive for healthy churches. Evangelism is resisted, but not impossible. Ask just about any person in the USA church what are the greatest mission fields and most would still answer Africa and Asia. Yet, the truth is that on those continents the church is growing rapidly. African nations are experiencing wonderful moves of God in the midst of persecution, martyrdom, and plagues. Asia has experienced an underground church movement that is bringing Jesus to many people in China and other eastern cultures. The 10/40 window is certainly a needed target and Muslim nations need the gospel badly. But most people would never consider Western Europe as a field of extreme need. What remains of the church in Western Europe is anemic and fairly persecuted in a quiet, but obvious ways. Evangelical churches represent less than one percent of the population. The Catholic Church is primarily a political consideration. Membership may be there, but attendance and faith is not. The churches are mainly museums that people tour to see the glories of ages gone by. Christianity's survival is at stake. Western Europe is totally overcome by the Age of Reason. The philosophies of Descartes and Voltaire are exemplified in the lives of the citizens. French culture still is influenced and controlled by the philosophies that caused the French Revolution in 1789. The church in France has not been able to free itself of the rule of the citizen. Each church must register as a society and have citizen rule. This is commonly known as congregationalism; however, in the French culture it is more of an anti-monarchy, anti-authority spirit that still rules. The bright spot in France and other Western European nations is the influx of African people who still have faith and still know how to pray. They have their churches, but also are becoming members of evangelical churches around the country and are bringing life back to the church. Another bright spot is the rise of home groups throughout the country. These are not numbered and are hard to determine, but there is a growing number of them made up of disgruntled Catholics, Reform church drop-outs, and potsherds of evangelical churches. One of them which I ministered to in Brittany had 50 people in a packed garage. These people came from the community and miles around. It distinctly reminded me of the beginnings of the Charismatic Renewal of the 70's. Another piece of good news seems to be the prayer movement in the United Kingdom. It is operating outside the mainstream of churches and denominations, but affects the churches.  The European theater of thought is rapidly becoming the thought of the USA. We are tracking about 15 years behind them in our responses to churches and Christians. The level of resistance from government to church planting, to church in general, is frightening; yet the same approaches are being applied in the USA. If we allow the current trends to prevail, we will be approaching the same demise.The American church needs to realize that our closest allies are dying for the lack of faith. If there was ever a need to send missionaries, it is to Western Europe now. It is interesting that the African church that I had the privilege of ministering in is sending missionaries to the USA. They are planting a church in the Raleigh, NC, as well as Gabon and Congo, Africa. The Chinese and Koreans are planting churches in the USA and France. The Australians have been coming to the USA as missionaries now for decades. The Australians, Hillsong, have just planted a church in Paris.  So, as we pray for a world vision, we must include Western Europe along with other regions. Just because they are economically western and culturally western, it does not mean that they are spiritually alive or Christian. The history of Christianity is rich here, but the life is little. Even as Asia Minor was a hotbed of Christianity in the first three centuries, it is nearly impossible to find a church there now and the area is Muslim. Without missionaries and continued effort in Western Europe it could fall to the same fate as the churches of Asia Minor. (Modern Turkey)The Power of the Word of God proves mighty in the midst of a resistant culture. Brave Christians continue to speak the truth and witness to people. Many Bibles were sold to people passing by. Frenchmen will not take a Bible free. It is considered worthless if it is free. While Steve Neptune was in Germany and Austria, all the brothers traveled together to Dresden to attend a conference on church planting in Europe. The opportunities for ATM to participate through our sister churches are wide open. There is a need for apostolic work in Europe. |