Missions – France

the largest country in western 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.

80% of the population have never even seen or held a Bible! This year a brand new ‘rap’ translation has hit the streets and stayed in the best-sellers list for months.

Since 1960 the evangelical community in France has risen five fold to half a million! The Gypsy community is really leading the way – a quarter of them are now Christians.