I recently listened to a sermon that challenged me with a question inspired by The Truth Project. The question posed in the sermon that challenged me was: Do you believe, what you believe is really real?
This month, our team has come face to face with this very question during our time in ministry. Each afternoon we ventured downtown to the University of Cologne, Germany where we surveyed students about their interests and their beliefs about God. Each student we approached was asked a series of questions, including: What do you like to do in your spare time? What person, living or dead, do you respect/admire the most? Who/What do you think God is? If you could ask God onequestion what would you ask? What do you think happens when you die?
If it was possible for you to hear that you can have eternal life, would you be interested? Do you believe there is a purpose to your life? Our hope in conducting these surveys was to start conversation that might lead to sharing the Gospel and/or relationships with students who would be interested in becoming part of The Bridge church who we partnered with.
The majority of the people I
talked to were open to taking the survey, although some were less inclined to answer the questions once they found what the survey was all about. Many were interested in our travels around the world, however, few showed any further interest when I shared about my faith in God or the fact that I was a missionary in Germany for the month of June. My overall impression is that the students we surveyed respected our beliefs but saw little or no reason for them to explore a relationship with God–“that’s good for you, but it does not really appeal to me”.
talked to were open to taking the survey, although some were less inclined to answer the questions once they found what the survey was all about. Many were interested in our travels around the world, however, few showed any further interest when I shared about my faith in God or the fact that I was a missionary in Germany for the month of June. My overall impression is that the students we surveyed respected our beliefs but saw little or no reason for them to explore a relationship with God–“that’s good for you, but it does not really appeal to me”.
Carly compiled the results of our survey this past week and found the following from our survey of 150 students: 45.5% of those surveyed believe God is some type of
Energy Force – but not a person, 37% do not believe God exists at all, 10.5%
believe God to be a supreme being or God other than a Christian God ie: Allah, and 7% believe in a Christian God. 40% believe that there is no life after death, 28% believe in
reincarnation, 17% are not sure, and 15% believe in some sort of
heaven/hell.
Energy Force – but not a person, 37% do not believe God exists at all, 10.5%
believe God to be a supreme being or God other than a Christian God ie: Allah, and 7% believe in a Christian God. 40% believe that there is no life after death, 28% believe in
reincarnation, 17% are not sure, and 15% believe in some sort of
heaven/hell.
Shocking results, wouldn’t you say?
I know, in my heart of hearts,
that the message we shared with students this month and with other
people around the world in the last nine months IS REAL! I have seen
the change in people’s lives who have accepted this truth and the
miraculous provision and signs that take place among those who pray in
faith to the King of Kings, Jesus, for all that they need. My heart burns to see the people of this area find the TRUTH we have seen around the world. In my experience, there is always a void and a hunger for something deeper until the Gospel Truth is truly understood.
that the message we shared with students this month and with other
people around the world in the last nine months IS REAL! I have seen
the change in people’s lives who have accepted this truth and the
miraculous provision and signs that take place among those who pray in
faith to the King of Kings, Jesus, for all that they need. My heart burns to see the people of this area find the TRUTH we have seen around the world. In my experience, there is always a void and a hunger for something deeper until the Gospel Truth is truly understood.
My teammate Neil, had this to add:
After spending a month here in Cologne and several conversations with our contacts who have planted several
churches while living in Germany for the past 18 years, I have gained a deeper
understanding of how hard this soil can be. According to our contact
Europe is now considered one of the most un-reached areas of the
world with France having the highest turn over rate of missionaries.
churches while living in Germany for the past 18 years, I have gained a deeper
understanding of how hard this soil can be. According to our contact
Europe is now considered one of the most un-reached areas of the
world with France having the highest turn over rate of missionaries.
What is even more freighting inEurope is a new movement to evangelize Atheism. A campaign in the U.K.
raised almost $250,000 to plaster the phrase “There’s probably no God.
Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” on public buses and in other
areas (www.humanism.org.uk/bus-campaign).
It seems that the only higher good has become to “enjoy your life”. Interestingly enough, this is exactly what God wants for us –but how can we
truly enjoy life if we don’t understand that we all have been uniquely
created for a unique purpose by a God that desperately loves us, even
to the point of dieing on a cross.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” -Eph
6:12
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” -Eph
6:12
Europe IS in need of an awakening and I believe it is coming but it must begin with our heartfelt prayers for this nation. Please pray with me against the evil
spiritual forces that have tightly wrapped themselves around the throat of Europe and that hope and truth will prevail in this region of the world (end Neil’s blog excerpt).
What do you think? Do YOU believe what you believe is REALLY real? Do you believe it enough to pray that other nations will come to know Him too?
