europe needs missionary's more then ever

I haven't read all the respounces but thought I would point out there are a lot of places in america yes the good old USA still need missionary's . I live in northern maine and the pop. here is about 99% roman catholic everyone here it seems puts Mary in a higher place then Jesus. Our church is the only true bible beliveing church for at least 25 miles in each direction. It was started about 2 years ago buy a pastor sent out as a missionary from churchs in the south then after about a year he pulled up and left I felt the call of God to Pastor the Church and the congergation took me on but we were left with no support basicaly deserted as this area has been many times in the past. We are doing good Learning more and more every week to sreve the Lord better but if you would vist here you would be shocked how dry this area is of any true christian work and teaching I truely feel America is on apath of destuction we need to continue our work around the world but like as in many other areas we better start looking in our own backyard more

 

I know what Mickes is saying... the county I grew up in was 90%+ RC and there was NO evengelical work of any flavor. This is true for much of Iowa. Yet the home mission boards send their people to place with E frees, and 7 other types of Baptists, but not THEIR type of Baptist.

Rene's post reminds me of Keith Green's song "Asleep in the Light". "Jesus rose from the bed, and you can't even get out of you bed"

 

I have been in England ministering for the last few days and consequently haven't been able to keep up with the discussion, but I have now read through the posts on this subject which is of great importance to me, given that I am ministering in Western Europe.

Whilst it is true that Europeans are more difficult to reach with the gospel than Africans, Filipinos or Latin Americans, there is an imperative placed upon us to Go into ALL the world." Some American missionaries have been greatly used of God in Europe, others have not. I think it depends upon the man and his methods, particularly with respect to cultural sensitivities. Be that as it may, the presence of American missionaries is a great blessing to national pastors and churches. They often come with resources that have passed national ministries by. I am thinking of their approach to youth, or children's work. Even their Bible education is often far superior to that on offer throughout Europe. These men may not win many to Christ, but they impact, encourage and influence at times those who do. It would be a huge loss to Europe and a great gain to atheism, liberalism, agnosticism and humanism if Americamn churches refused to support them, or channelled their financial resources elsewhere.

 

hmm - I don't know if that is true - Islam is certainly increasing in popularity but it holds nothing like the number of followers or influence that Christianity does.

I think you are way off base here - European opposition to the war in Iraq had very little to do with religion and very much more to do with concepts like international law, fabrication of evidence, the role of the UN etc etc etc

 

Well I don't think it played any part at all to be fair - the percentage of Islamic citizens in European countries is so small as to have no real influence at all over foreign policy.

Perhaps it is out of context but I feel it is important that these factors are not overstated - otherwise our brothers & sisters will have a heck of a shock when they arrive in Europe!

 

Of course God is at work in Europe !!! even in France ! (one of the most hostile country to the Gospel)

Let me give you a small example. Since last September, I've been living in Nantes (West of France), and this year in that city, I was able to witness (or heard of) 4 or 5 conversions (2 Americans, 1 Chinese, 1 Irish, 1 French); and last year I was said there had been 2 conversions (1 Chinese, 1 Japanese) in my church. But it is a bit special, for all those people are students, and that population is traditionally more receptive to the Good News.

However, foreign missionaries who come here must have nerves of steel and be ready to see no immediate result to their work.

 

I agree that Europe needs missionaries more than ever before. Christ is speaking to my heart to immigrate to Scotland after my High School graduation and be in Full-Time ministry. I'll minister to the Youth of Scotland. The British Isles are still largely Pagan.

 

Ingo I am praying.

Sherrie

 

</font>[/QUOTE]Respectfully, I somewhat disagree, InHim. I have been to the UK just often enough and know enough people there to be opinionated.

The great missionary movements began in the UK less than 200 years ago, but such a small percentage even goes to church now. Less than 3%, I understand, in many places.
Towns of 20,000 to 50,000 might have just two or three churches, and few attenders.
Many villages just have one small Anglican church.
According to the English Heritage magazine's most recent issue, most church buildings are in trouble
because they are very old and expensive to maintain, and their congregations are few and elderly.
In a town of 20,000 that I am well acquainted with, there are 6 small churches, including the Catholic and the Anglican. The largest, an independent group, has less than 100 in regular attendance.

I have met many on-fire Christians in the UK, and they have all told me they are praying for serious revival.

Karen

 

Very well written. Europe as a whole is a very diverse continent both culturally and spiritually. It is declining spiritually in a very fast paste both in Western and Eastern Europe. There are major differences however between the east and the west. Currently I believe that Western Europe is one of the most ungodly and pagan places on this planet. Since East was shielded from this shift by the Iron Curtain for many years, the change is much slower but it does follow its neighbour. Western Europe is rich, east is very poor. The west leads the continent's politics, the east must follow.

Both ends of Europe is in a tremendous need for PRAYER first and MISSIONARIES. I firmly believe that a great spiritual battle is going on there. One can sense that just by visiting certain places.

Also, as a sidenote and as an example. I am from Romania where LESS THAN 2% of the whole population can be considered Evangelical. The churches are struggling but God is in control even there. I would like to urge any reader to pray for the Christians in this country and for the whole continent. May the Lord send many many more laborors into this rapidly changing area of the world.

With brotherly love

Felix

 

the reason why there is such low attendance in churches is because most people feel that the church has nothing to offer - not because they are not aware of what it is - everyone in the UK has to do Religious education at school and most schools are Christian (ie school prayers etc)

One thing that really turns off most europeans is the hyper-fundementalistism of many american churches

 

Dear InHim2002,
I would suggest that if they were really aware, they would realize the church has a great deal to offer.
Yes, religious education classes there do teach some of the main doctrinal points, but not in the context that it is truth, and Buddhism, etc., is presented, too.
I do question your premise that some hyper-fundamentalist American churches are a cause of this. The root causes probably lie more in the devastation and questioning caused by World War I and other catastrophic events, IMO, that happened close to hand.

Karen

 

okay - I disagree with you here, there are huge cultural differences between the UK & the USA. Hyper-fundementalism is laughed at here, plain and simple.

 

I think INHim2000 is bang on on this point. Hyper-fundamentalism, whether American or national born, is laughable in the UK, even amongst the evangelicals.

As one who lived through the war, I can say it strengthened my faith. We learned early on to trust God more than ever during those dark days and nights when bombs fell on us.

A lot of us grew up in church schools, and we were well acquainted with Christian teaching. I never saw a state school until I came to Canada.

For a month of each year, I went back home, and engaged in preaching, mostly in Anglican Churches. I can tell you, there are people of very deep faith in those churches. Yes, there are many nominal members as well. The same is true in America and in Canada. There are many who wave their hands, shout amen, and show all the outward signs, but there is little depth.

I know of one man, now in his eighties, in the Devon area, who walks one mile there and back to church each Sunday. He finds purpose in church, and he is not alone.

I wonder if we have not found the comfortable pew on this side of the pond. We have grown used to the preaching, the ranting and raving in some churches, the political innuendo, rather than sound preaching of the word. We have the pretense of being religious.

If the UK is so bereft of Christianity, why have so many fine preachers and theolgians come from British schools? Many of these men are Anglicans to boot, but Baptists have also come abroad to minister and find great acceptance in both America and Canada.

I agree that Muslims are making great inroads in Europe, but they are doing that in Canada and America too.

If anything can be faulted for the drop off, one might look at affluence. Wages are much higher in the UK. People are travelling more,,,,out of the country. You are all familiar with the story of the rich man gaining a place in heaven...

The need is universal, and we better clean our boots and get at it. The time is short.

Cheers,

Jim