About Our Work...
We are missionaries to Northern France in the Nord-Pas-De-Calais Region, Nord Department, we are located 10 miles West of Lille (the region’s capital), we live in La Chapelle d’Armentières, next to the town of Armentières (County Seat). The North Sea is one hour drive away, and the Belgian border is one mile away from our home. We are spreading the Gospel and planting a local independent Baptist Church in that County. Our County has a population of 50.000. The closest Independent Baptist Church is located in downtown Lille. Our focus is in the County of Armentières.
Roman Catholicism has been the predominant religion in France for more than a millennium, but it has been since the end of World War II losing of its influence on the French people : in 1965, 81% of the population were baptized (sprinkled) Catholics; 64% in 2008. In 1952, 27% of the population went to mass once a week of more, and in 2006 only 4,5%, with 15% attending once a month. In 2007, it was reported that only 5% of the French population attended church on a regular basis ; that 31% of them were Agnostics or Atheists; 4% Muslims; 3% Protestants; 1% Buddhists and 1% Jewish. 34% of the French say “they believe there is a God”.
These statistics reflect very well the spiritual reality in the County of Armentières. Most people here, have never read any portion of the Bible, don’t know anything about Jesus, they even think He never existed. The fastest growing religion in our area is Islam, they have a mosque in town. Christianity is rapidly decreasing. There is one Assembly of God in Armentières, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a kingdom hall in town, but they are also losing ground.
Our mission work is rendered difficult, due to the fact that the French government is making it illegal for any denomination (except Islam) to practice proselytism, especially when it comes to reach the youth. We Baptists, are regarded by the natives as a sect of a cult. For the most part, they don’t believe in life after death, heaven or hell. The actual economic and social crisis is keeping them more worried about finding or losing a job and on material things than on finding God or eternal life. But by God’s grace, Diane and I are here with the Gospel of Christ to share with them, because God’s will is that none of them should perish, but that they come to know Jesus-Christ and be saved. For the moment, we are holding church services in our home. We are the only Baptist Church of any kind in the County. Please pray for serious contacts to be made, and especially for French hearts to open up to the Gospel of Christ.
Roman Catholicism has been the predominant religion in France for more than a millennium, but it has been since the end of World War II losing of its influence on the French people : in 1965, 81% of the population were baptized (sprinkled) Catholics; 64% in 2008. In 1952, 27% of the population went to mass once a week of more, and in 2006 only 4,5%, with 15% attending once a month. In 2007, it was reported that only 5% of the French population attended church on a regular basis ; that 31% of them were Agnostics or Atheists; 4% Muslims; 3% Protestants; 1% Buddhists and 1% Jewish. 34% of the French say “they believe there is a God”.
These statistics reflect very well the spiritual reality in the County of Armentières. Most people here, have never read any portion of the Bible, don’t know anything about Jesus, they even think He never existed. The fastest growing religion in our area is Islam, they have a mosque in town. Christianity is rapidly decreasing. There is one Assembly of God in Armentières, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a kingdom hall in town, but they are also losing ground.
Our mission work is rendered difficult, due to the fact that the French government is making it illegal for any denomination (except Islam) to practice proselytism, especially when it comes to reach the youth. We Baptists, are regarded by the natives as a sect of a cult. For the most part, they don’t believe in life after death, heaven or hell. The actual economic and social crisis is keeping them more worried about finding or losing a job and on material things than on finding God or eternal life. But by God’s grace, Diane and I are here with the Gospel of Christ to share with them, because God’s will is that none of them should perish, but that they come to know Jesus-Christ and be saved. For the moment, we are holding church services in our home. We are the only Baptist Church of any kind in the County. Please pray for serious contacts to be made, and especially for French hearts to open up to the Gospel of Christ.
