Some years ago, a little book was published under the title; “France; Forgotten Mission field.”  I wonder, is that title still applicable today?  News filters through to us from mission fields across the globe but how often do we hear mission news from our neighbor just across the Channel?  France is the largest country in Europe and a lovely place for holidays but underneath the beauty of the scenery, the culture and the language, there is a deep spiritual need and very few of the 62 million population have any idea of the Good News of the Gospel.

At present the population is just over 62 million and with the influx of immigration, there are about 62 different languages being spoken in France.  Such a diverse community demands an influx also of missionary workers.  For many years, France was regarded as the “missionaries’ graveyard” and was a notoriously difficult place for the spread of the Gospel but recent years have seen an opening-up and there are encouraging signs of God at work. For example, in 1960 there were only 180,000 evangelical Christians in the country but by 2010 that number has grown to 600,000 and there is evidence that new fellowships are being formed every year. 

Christianity, however, remains practically unknown territory to most French people.  Less that 10% own a Bible and 80% have never even handled one!  In spite of this – and perhaps because of it – sales of Bibles have reached an all –time high and are easily accessible in local supermarkets and bookshops.  Is France at long last awakening to her spiritual bankruptcy?

Sadly, to attempt to fill a spiritual emptiness, the French people have for many years had a widespread involvement with the occult.  There are ten times more occult practitioners than evangelical missionaries, outnumbering even medical doctors.  The sad truth is that there are still 50 million French people who have no real link with Christian church.  A hopeless task you may think but no, God is at work!  There is some good news;

  • Although the Catholic Church has lost a great deal of influence over recent years, the Alpha course is being introduced across many parishes.  The Word of God is being taught and we need to pray that these courses will bring light and understanding to those who attend them.
  • Although evangelical Christians number only 1% of the Christian community, the believers themselves are generally deeply committed to their faith and an interesting fact is that young people form a high percentage of the congregations.  Growth is steady and almost every week a new congregation is being planted.  Many of these cannot afford to pay a pastor – or erect a building – and most church-planting projects are led by ex-pats.  Full-time French Christian workers are few and cannot hope to fill the need.  Missionaries are urgently needed but those who go will need perseverance in the face of discouragement and an open attitude to enable them to adapt to the French culture; foreign cultures must be left behind!
  • There is an encouraging growth of unity among evangelicals in recent years emerging from a history of division and lack of cooperation. The National Council of French Evangelicals (CNEF) was initiated in 2001 is growing and now represents most of the 43 church unions of all denominations as the voice for evangelicals in France.

Sadly, however, the missionary drop-out rate remains high but for those who are able to stay the course there will be great rewards.  Those of you who follow Missionline reports from Philip Moore (Pastor of the church in Lagny) from the Hamilton Road Church, will have been thrilled to read of the growth of that work and the encouragements he has received.

Student and Children’s work is still carried on by a range of organisations, and Christian literature is proving a useful tool, but so much more could be done if only God’s people would remember the France as a mission-field.

Can you help?  Are you looking for God’s direction in your life?  Do you have a good working knowledge of the French language? Have you the skills and temperament for a difficult work?  Do you feel God is calling you to work in a mission setting? Are you interested in helping out on a short term team to France?

Why not contact the BM office and speak to Mission Director, Gordon Darragh?

Article by Joan Crory (who served in France with Baptist Missions, along with her husband George)

Some years ago, a little book was published under the title; “France; Forgotten Mission field.”  I wonder, is that title still applicable today?  News filters through to us from mission fields across the globe but how often do we hear mission news from our neighbor just across the Channel?  France is the largest country in Europe and a lovely place for holidays but underneath the beauty of the scenery, the culture and the language, there is a deep spiritual need and very few of the 62 million population have any idea of the Good News of the Gospel.

At present the population is just over 62 million and with the influx of immigration, there are about 62 different languages being spoken in France.  Such a diverse community demands an influx also of missionary workers.  For many years, France was regarded as the “missionaries’ graveyard” and was a notoriously difficult place for the spread of the Gospel but recent years have seen an opening-up and there are encouraging signs of God at work. For example, in 1960 there were only 180,000 evangelical Christians in the country but by 2010 that number has grown to 600,000 and there is evidence that new fellowships are being formed every year. 

Christianity, however, remains practically unknown territory to most French people.  Less that 10% own a Bible and 80% have never even handled one!  In spite of this – and perhaps because of it – sales of Bibles have reached an all –time high and are easily accessible in local supermarkets and bookshops.  Is France at long last awakening to her spiritual bankruptcy?

Sadly, to attempt to fill a spiritual emptiness, the French people have for many years had a widespread involvement with the occult.  There are ten times more occult practitioners than evangelical missionaries, outnumbering even medical doctors.  The sad truth is that there are still 50 million French people who have no real link with Christian church.  A hopeless task you may think but no, God is at work!  There is some good news;

a)    Although the Catholic Church has lost a great deal of influence over recent years, the Alpha course is being introduced across many parishes.  The Word of God is being taught and we need to pray that these courses will bring light and understanding to those who attend them.

 

b)    Although evangelical Christians number only 1% of the Christian community, the believers themselves are generally deeply committed to their faith and an interesting fact is that young people form a high percentage of the congregations.  Growth is steady and almost every week a new congregation is being planted.  Many of these cannot afford to pay a pastor – or erect a building – and most church-planting projects are led by ex-pats.  Full-time French Christian workers are few and cannot hope to fill the need.  Missionaries are urgently needed but those who go will need perseverance in the face of discouragement and an open attitude to enable them to adapt to the French culture; foreign cultures must be left behind!

 

c)    There is an encouraging growth of unity among evangelicals in recent years emerging from a history of division and lack of cooperation. The National Council of French Evangelicals (CNEF) was initiated in 2001 is growing and now represents most of the 43 church unions of all denominations as the voice for evangelicals in France.

 

Sadly, however, the missionary drop-out rate remains high but for those who are able to stay the course there will be great rewards.  Those of you who follow Missionline reports from Philip Moore (Pastor of the church in Lagny) from the Hamilton Road Church, will have been thrilled to read of the growth of that work and the encouragements he has received.

 

Student and Children’s work is still carried on by a range of organisations, and Christian literature is proving a useful tool, but so much more could be done if only God’s people would remember the France as a mission-field.

Can you help?  Are you looking for God’s direction in your life?  Do you have a good working knowledge of the French language? Have you the skills and temperament for a difficult work?  Do you feel God is calling you to work in a mission setting? Are you interested in helping out on a short term team to France?

Why not contact the BM office and speak to Mission Director, Gordon Darragh?

Gordon Darragh says:

‘I am delighted to commend this article by Joan to our Insight readers and to hear from anyone interested in serving in France.  France continues to be a country of great interest to the Mission as the extract from our new BM Strategy indicates.

In Europe we will continue to send missionaries under established agreements to pioneer new church plants and train local leaders. New opportunities in France are opening up

 • To promote France as a realistic place for church planting and provide the necessary training to equip people for effective ministry.

• To renew partnership links and assess the viability of joint mission ventures as we see workers responding to a call of God to France.

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Article by Joan Crory (who served in France with Baptist Missions, along with her husband George)