France Challenge Project

France is one of the most historically and culturally important nations of Europe and, indeed, of the whole Western world. Yet to most French people, the evangelical message is still seen as an alien ideology rather than a home-grown faith. Public over-reaction to extremist suicidal sects has led to many evangelical groups and agencies being labeled “sects” by a government commission in 1999. Evangelicals are described as “extreme emanations from the Reformed Church.” This has made all forms of outreach very difficult. In addition, the diversity and fragmentation of the evangelical witness hinder cooperative effort and unity among true believers.

World Team's missionaries in France form a team known in French as France V.I.E. V.I.E. is a play on words, "VIE" means life, yet the initials stand for "a vision to plant churches." Recently a new church planting project has gained momentum and has been aptly named the France Challenge Project, and as a national worker likes to add, the challenge of this project is like "watering a desert".

The long-term objective of the France Challenge Project is to see 50 churches planted within the next 20 years. The greater Paris area has 1 church for every 50,000 inhabitants. In Oise, the numbers are closer to 1 church for every 80,000 inhabitants. Overall France has an average of 1 church per 38,000 inhabitants.

To accomplish this God sized task of planting 50 churches, France V.I.E. will look to:

In order to see the Gospel have a major impact upon France in the coming 15-20 years, certain basic ingredients will be required: a solid understanding of church multiplication, working in multicultural teams, mobilizing and training of nationals, working with national associations, and networking through partnerships towards reaching a common objective.

The France Challenge Project includes four key strategies that will help the team meet their goal:

Establishing an administrative center. This involves the needed structure to handle personnel needs and materials for the expanding workload of church multiplication, mobilization and training as well as office space for this support team

Scholarship funds to allow French Bible school students to participate in Internships in their church planting efforts. At present, French Bible school students have very limited resources and could not participate in such a program. Often, students return to secular jobs after graduating due to lack of available funds for ministry opportunities.

Communication and training tools are needed to help establish partnerships between French churches and foreign churches (American, German or English). This type of partnership requires training materials in French and English, as well as the means to communicate this kind of vision.

National church leadership targeted funding. These funds will allow national church planters to begin new works and be supported for a given time frame until they can be supported by the national churches they plant.

Pray for the French people, that the Gospel will be irresistible to them and that they will find freedom in Christ. France V.I.E. members have determined that in order to launch this project, they would need an initial sum of $25,000.

The financial resources and prayer needs of the France Challenge Project can only be met through the involvement of individuals and churches who will join us. We will be working to establish a firm spiritual foundation within the greater Paris area, Cergy-le-Haut and St. Remy/Magny, and to open up the area in L'Oise to the Gospel.

Please contact Susan Best, Director of Development, to learn more about World Team and how you can be involved in reaching France with the Gospel

We are loking for new missionaries