WHY EUROPE?
Over the last four decades the church has witnessed an amazing spiritual awakening in Africa, Asia and South America, spawning more conversions in the last 35 years than in the entire previous history of Christianity. Sadly, during the same time, the growth of Christianity in Europe has declined. Once a vibrant missions-sending continent, today Europe has become a vast wasteland of secularism, agnosticism, atheism, and now, a growing seedbed for Islam.
Europe is comparable to the Muslim world in terms of the percentage of born-again Christians. In fact, there are higher percentages of evangelical Christians in China, Nigeria and India, than in European countries like France or Spain. According to the missions book, ‘Operation World’, only 7 out of 1000 in France profess to be born again.
Also alarming is the fact that Paris is now 25% Muslim – a number that threatens to increase as some 45% of those 20 and under are Muslim. Many fear that the Muslim religion will one day dominate Europe.
These statistics highlight the urgency for the spread of the gospel in Europe and in particular, in France.
WHY PARIS?
With more than 12 million residents, Paris is the largest city on the European continent and one of the most influential cities in the world. The city is filled with millions from all over the world, many of whom speak English as a second language. In addition, the Church of England estimates there to be more than 500,000 native English speakers in the Paris region.
And yet, there are only seven English-speaking churches in Paris. This makes Paris a prime target for an international inter-denominational evangelical church.
WHY INTERNATIONALS?
Europe is a different continent than it was 20 years ago. The burgeoning Europeon Union has unified the continent geographically, financially (through the successful transition to the Euro) and politically. Visit the EU in Brussels and you’ll hear French, Italian, German and other European languages…but you’ll hear a lot of English as well, since it has been adopted as the common ‘business language’.
The growing interdependency of the 27 countries within the EU, and the growing immigration to Europe from countries around the world, has created a phenomenon that is ‘internationalizing Europeans’ and ‘Europeanizing internationals’.
In practical terms, this means that, on one hand, Europeans are having to learn the common language of English, appreciate cultures other than their own, and embrace the fact that their country is part of a larger international community.
On the other hand, internationals – whether they are refugees, students, expats or newly married to a European, are leaving their native lands, cultures, and languages, and embracing the European way of life.
All of this has created a unique need for international churches that offer a spiritual home for those who may not share the same culture, but do share a love for God and His people. And for the lost who have experienced a major life-changing circumstance, an international church offers a warm and inviting atmosphere to explore Christianity, build relationships and transition more easily to a foreign culture.
No doubt, Europe needs God; Paris needs a strong international church; and internationals need the Biblical teaching and vibrant church life that The Bridge will bring.
