About France
For many centuries the Roman Catholic Church held
absolute power in France, and at that time, often blended corruption and
oppression with the monarchy. During the French Revolution, the people cast
away both the aristocracy and religion, which they viewed to be oppressive
authorities, and many churches were closed or turned into museums. Into
the void flowed many new philosophies, such as existentialism, rationalism,
and humanism, as well as the influence of men like René Descartes,
Jean-Paul Sartre, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, which affect French
people to this day
The gospel made great inroads in the 16th century as the Bible was translated into French, and many people became Protestants. French Protestants were called Huguenots. But the Catholic-Protestant conflict, which raged for nearly 200 years, crushed the Reformation in France. The strong Protestant presence of the 16th century dwindled through 2 centuries of martyrdom, persecution, and exile until they numbered only the 2% that we see today
Spiritually…
In current French society, secularism predominates. Although a high percentage
of the French claim to be Roman Catholic, only about 5% practice their faith.
For the majority, religion and faith are irrelevant to their daily lives.
More than in previous generations, the French have little religious upbringing.
They are becoming increasingly secular.
There are between .6% and 1% evangelical Christians in France today. Despite the hardness of the spiritual soil in France, the number of churches has doubled in the last 35 years. However, many rural areas still have no evangelical presence for hundreds of miles. More churches exist in urban and suburban areas, but even these have difficulty connecting with the average secular French person. Many people are unfamiliar and therefore distrustful of evangelical groups, thinking they may be cults.
About Paris….
Paris is the capital of France. Over 2 million people reside inside the
city limits, and another 10 million dwell in surrounding suburbs. Their
lives are rapid, busy and often filled with fear and tension. Unemployment
is high, as is the cost of living.
There are about 70 evangelical churches scattered within Paris. Many of
these churches are ethnic (Chinese, Congolese, Arab, etc.) Although churches
are multiplying, in Paris the current number is one for every 30,000 people.
Many of these churches are too traditional to attract the average secular
French person who is disillusioned with religion.
Paris is strategic for starting new, culturally relevant churches. People
are increasingly hungry for spiritual truth but new means are needed to
reach these people. And if Paris is reached with the Gospel, the ripple
effects will be felt throughout France and Europe
