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France is the largest country in Europe. France is a central and enthusiastic member of Europe, but it is a country which has a strong sense of its culture and history. Laws protect the French language from the creeping advance of Americanisation; even McDonald's Big Mac had to become 'Le Big Mac'. France has a long history of persecuting religious minorities and religion is still regarded with suspicion. Recent laws have been introduced that limit the activities of religious 'sects'. Many smaller bible-believing churches are in danger of being labelled as 'cults' or 'sects' under these laws.
Paris is the Capital with 20 million people, many churches, especially 'ethnic' churches. Yet the heart of Paris is still untouched in many places, the Gospel is needed so much in the heart of the French people. Some historical facts: Apart from the Reformation, France has not been touched by what may be called "evangelicalism", apart from a wave of the prophetic in the year 1700. The hundreds of thousands of Christians that fled during Louis XIV's persecution in 1685, the later Revolution in 1789, meant that France did not receive the same seed as in England during Wesley or during pietism in Germany. Evangelicalism came into France in the midst of the 19th century only. The positive side is that there are 7 times more evangelicals in France since 1945 (400,000 today). Yet if you do any survey in the population, Catholicism still remains the only major Christian influence in France.
In 2006, 65% of the French population declared themselves Catholics. If the practicing Catholics are less and less numerous, their identity is reinforced through communities of a new type, prayer groups and Charismatics. Agnosticism is progressing. More than 25% of the population declaring they have no religion. Islam has become the second religion in France with more than 4 million Muslims (very conservative statistics: it could be 6 millions). In some parts of Marseille, 30% of the population is Muslim. Protestantism (reformed church and protestant churches): the number remains stable but the composition is changing). They represent around 2% of the population, (4% of the 18-24 year olds), around 1.2 million people. The number of evangelicals and Pentecostals has grown inside this protestant group. Evangelicals and Pentecostals are around 400,000 people (30% of the Protestantism). They are 2,000 evangelical and Pentecostal churches in France.
Since 1960 the evangelical community in France has risen fivefold to half a million! The Gypsy community is really leading the way - a quarter of them are now Christians.
France is at a spiritual crossroads; 20% of the population are 'non-religious', church attendance is plummeting and Christianity is seen as irrelevant and out of date in this secularised society. Pray for a dramatic spiritual change over France. Occult practices are widespread across France. 50,000 full-time occultic practitioners outnumber Christian workers by a long way. The spiritual impact on every level of society is obviously huge. Pray that the presence of Jesus would be stronger in even the darkest places. France used to be known as the 'graveyard of missionaries'. The drop-rate for missionaries continues to be high and many are discouraged. Pray that the Holy Spirit would refresh and encourage all those who have come to France to serve Him.
In Paris we have our ‘Temple du Paris’ led by Pastors David and Christine Thabot who planted the church in the early 90’s and have continued despite tremendous opposition to close the church where they were meeting. The good news is now we have managed to purchase a new building in a different area of the city which is currently being renovated. Let’s continue to pray and believe for revival in Paris.
We have a Bible School in Marseille which currently has a total of fourteen students. The students are keen to make an impact on France, going out twice a month to evangelise on the streets. The Bible School “IFIM” is focusing on training future leaders for church planting in France and North Africa. Generally speaking, in France the pastors are not very aware of the need for training, yet there are a number of young people who are looking for training and are hearing the call of God.
The Bible School is now recognised by spiritual leaders in the town as having a breakthrough impact in the atmosphere in Marseille, pray that this would increase and that the position of each student and the staff would rise in faith. IFIM want also to have a direct impact in North Africa. For this we opened a Language School where we give Arabic and French courses. Non-Christians as well as future missionaries are coming to that Language School.
We have translated Pastor Colin’s Sword of the Spirit books into French. Please pray that these books get out to all the Pastors and Leaders in France as well as the rest of the French speaking nations.
‘The language that was used to blaspheme my name will be used to proclaim my name in all the nations of the earth’ (Colin Dye) The blood of the French martyrs of the past is calling for the spiritual harvest it has been shed for. It is the time to prepare for revival in France. For this to happen, the mentality has to change, the church needs reformation. The reformation is about the opening of the hearts, the learning of how to hear the voice of God. God cannot send a revival now. People in the church should rise up and fan the flame in them by prayer and fasting. God has given the Christians in France all authority and power, yet they are not aware of their position and authority in Christ. God is not going to change his mind to adapt to the French church mentality, the French church has to change and be one with God in thoughts. (Christian Fondacci) It’s the time for a movement of house type of church planting. Sometimes simple prayer groups will become house churches and will become the normal pattern of church life. (Jim Goll)
