Why Europe is an Important Mission Field
photo by kellymlaughren on flickr
I recently came across a blog with an interesting response to American church leaders trying to help European exchange students find a good church when they return home:
“You need to realize firstly that the most of the churches to which you are sending your new believer are fundamentally broken. What used to be the heart and center of world-wide Christianity—the home of the reformation—is decidedly post-Christian. Churches are relics, museums, and empty memorials of an institution that is as worldly as they come. You are preparing to send your student away from a vibrant community that meets regularly and pushes the limits of creativity to an empty, cold stone building that might see a dozen people gather once a week for a matter of minutes to celebrate a religious ritual. Europe is less evangelical today than parts of communist China. It is harder to communicate the true meaning of the Gospel to Europeans than to Muslims in the Middle East.“ (source)
Obviously this is one person’s opinion, but there is a lot of truth in it based on what we’ve been learning about the state of Christianity in Europe and in our talks with missionaries and pastors there.
When most Americans think of international missions, Europe probably isn’t on the radar. When we share with people that we’re planning to be missionaries they’re usually really encouraging and excited for us, and then when we share that we’re going to Germany they often look really confused!
Europe is full of “first world” countries and is a lovely vacation destination— what would be so hard about being a missionary there? There are tons of beautiful churches— why do you need to plant more? They have a rich religious history and many statistics show a high percentage of Christians— why go there of all places?
But when you dig a little deeper, there is a lot going on, much more than meets the eye or makes its way across the Atlantic to most Americans’ knowledge.
If you’d like to know a little more about why we felt called to Europe as a mission field (and why we hope more and more people will be called there as well!) check out our “Why Europe?” page— click here.
May I add a thought that burdens me. I guess the Eu is hardened to religion and despise it. but if we can preach “Jesus” as the apostles preached Jesus then we can influence the EU as the apostles influenced their world. They had the key to pioneering an entering territory that worshipped many gods and schisms. It was the name of Jesus and salvation in the name
(Act’s 238 and 10). The revelation shook the gospel hardened world and brougth Jesus to the Gentiles who only knew religion, well their version of it! The apostles revealed Jesus.. it worked and will still work for those who follow the book of Acts doctrine and lifestyle, its God’s mandate and pattern for those who go to virgin territory… Go for it my brother and Sister…go for it, preach Jesus!
……Then pray that God will take me back to Dallas and Waco…
Paul
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