This past week we were asked to write a magazine article about…
1 – Who we feel called to minister to
2- Their current need
3 – What ministries are currently doing something about it
4 – What we plan to do
The next two blogs are my passion and my vision. I wish I could make the actual article bigger, but unfortunately all I can give you is a the little version. However, I trust that the words will speak for themselves without the graphics and nice layout.
Is there still hope for Europe?
Or are we fighting a losing battle?
Or are we fighting a losing battle?
Europe was once founded on Christianity. Everything from
education, to business, to art was based in and around the church. It’s
presence was unmistakable and it’s power was undeniable. However, if we
take a look at present day Europe the remnant of the church is most
visible in old Cathedrals that are photographed by countless tourists,
yet, remain empty on Sunday mornings. Europe has moved on from Rome
and it’s Popes and Luther and his 95 theses and replaced Christianity
with a mix of hedonism and socialism which is creating a selfish and
pleasure seeking culture where religion and God are the last things on
anyone’s mind.
education, to business, to art was based in and around the church. It’s
presence was unmistakable and it’s power was undeniable. However, if we
take a look at present day Europe the remnant of the church is most
visible in old Cathedrals that are photographed by countless tourists,
yet, remain empty on Sunday mornings. Europe has moved on from Rome
and it’s Popes and Luther and his 95 theses and replaced Christianity
with a mix of hedonism and socialism which is creating a selfish and
pleasure seeking culture where religion and God are the last things on
anyone’s mind.
If we take a look at statistics it can seem like we are fighting a losing battle.
- There are more believers in China than the entire population of Germany…
- One church in Korea has a membership that is equal to the whole population of Amsterdam…
- There are more members of the Assembly of God denomination in Brazil than there are evangelicals in all of Europe.
Is it a lost cause to try and bring Jesus to this generation of
Europeans? Is it hopeless to think that Europe may once again live in
the fullness of it’s Christian past? From all appearances
“Europe has become the prodigal continent, squandering its
Judeo-Christian heritage which leaves us with the daunting task of
helping it to come to its senses and return to the Father.”
with a hopeful eye the question still remains… how do you take a
continent “who’s been there, and done that” and get them to once again
embrace the church, once again embrace the Father that loves them, the
Son that died for them, and the Spirit that guides them?
continent “who’s been there, and done that” and get them to once again
embrace the church, once again embrace the Father that loves them, the
Son that died for them, and the Spirit that guides them?
Do Europeans really need God?
Don’t they have everything they need?
Many Europeans live in nice flats and drive fancy cars, they drink good
wine and eat great food. They are well educated and versed in the
arts. They have health care and some of the world’s finest doctors at
their finger tips. They have a job that pays the bills and even gives
them four weeks paid vacation a year. What more could they want or need?
wine and eat great food. They are well educated and versed in the
arts. They have health care and some of the world’s finest doctors at
their finger tips. They have a job that pays the bills and even gives
them four weeks paid vacation a year. What more could they want or need?
In a purely physical sense most Europeans don’t need God. They don’t
need him for shelter, for food, for protection, for healing. Why would
they need to believe in God when they have it all? So many Europeans
view a belief in God as a weakness and Christianity as a belief for
those who are less intelligent and haven’t really thought through it
all.
need him for shelter, for food, for protection, for healing. Why would
they need to believe in God when they have it all? So many Europeans
view a belief in God as a weakness and Christianity as a belief for
those who are less intelligent and haven’t really thought through it
all.
Somewhere in between their Christian foundations and their secular
present, Europe has lost sight of what is really important. They have
forgotten that there is a God above that loves them and craves a
relationship with them. They have forgotten what church is really
supposed to be like. “They
have forgotten that their beloved Europe wasn’t built by men who
believed ‘Christian values’, it was built by men who believed in
Christ.”
present, Europe has lost sight of what is really important. They have
forgotten that there is a God above that loves them and craves a
relationship with them. They have forgotten what church is really
supposed to be like. “They
have forgotten that their beloved Europe wasn’t built by men who
believed ‘Christian values’, it was built by men who believed in
Christ.”
Christ is the key. The old covenant ways of right and wrong, of law and
conscience are over. It’s time that Europe’s eyes are opened to the
realities of Christ and his new covenant of grace and truth.
conscience are over. It’s time that Europe’s eyes are opened to the
realities of Christ and his new covenant of grace and truth.
The saying goes ‘actions speak louder than words’ and that is exactly
what we need to do. We need to show the Europeans that we are bringing
something different. If we arrive with Christianity tied up in a nice
little package, they will laugh. They have heard it all before, or so
they think. We need to provide a way for Europe to experience God
outside of the organized church and present
them with the truth that doesn’t resemble the strict, traditional,
stagnate form of religion that they have become immune to. We need
to show them that God is alive and well, that He is reigning on His
throne from heaven and that He has a plan and purpose for each and
everyone of them.
what we need to do. We need to show the Europeans that we are bringing
something different. If we arrive with Christianity tied up in a nice
little package, they will laugh. They have heard it all before, or so
they think. We need to provide a way for Europe to experience God
outside of the organized church and present
them with the truth that doesn’t resemble the strict, traditional,
stagnate form of religion that they have become immune to. We need
to show them that God is alive and well, that He is reigning on His
throne from heaven and that He has a plan and purpose for each and
everyone of them.
Who’s daring to be different?
Who’s thinking outside of the church box?
In Amsterdam, a group of young artists have opened Dwaze Zaken, a
Christian cafe in the center of the city. It functions as any other
cafe would, selling chai lattes and slices of homemade carrot cake.
Yet, there goal is not to make money from overpriced coffee and
pastries. They’ve created an environment where God is constantly
present and anyone is welcome. The cafe reaches out to the art
community be showcasing artwork, hosting dance nights, and putting on
live concerts. Whether there’s a trumpet blaring jazz, a guitar playing
some rock tunes, or a dj scratching some beats, the crowds flood in.
Christ is shown not by singing hymns or reciting prayers, but through
the art, the music, the peaceful atmosphere and the smiles of those
behind the counter.
Also in Amsterdam, the Shelter City Hostel is striving to take
Christ out of the church and into the hands of the people. Shelter City
is a youth hostel that at first glance looks like any other. It’s rooms
are nice enough, with bunk beds lining the walls decked out in Ikea’s
finest, but it offers much more than a regular youth hostel. The hostel
has only a few paid managers while the rest of the staff are Christian
volunteers looking to share God’s love with the travelers that come
through. Shelter City’s goal isn’t to cram the Gospel down the
backpacker’s throat, but instead offer a safe place to ask questions
and be exposed to Christ’s love.
Christ out of the church and into the hands of the people. Shelter City
is a youth hostel that at first glance looks like any other. It’s rooms
are nice enough, with bunk beds lining the walls decked out in Ikea’s
finest, but it offers much more than a regular youth hostel. The hostel
has only a few paid managers while the rest of the staff are Christian
volunteers looking to share God’s love with the travelers that come
through. Shelter City’s goal isn’t to cram the Gospel down the
backpacker’s throat, but instead offer a safe place to ask questions
and be exposed to Christ’s love.
It is a great place to reach out to those who are searching for more. A
majority of the backpackers are longing for something, searching for
that missing piece, searching for community, for love, for something
greater than themselves. They are open to hearing about a God that they
can have a relationship with, a God that loves them, a God that is
about more than rules and “don’ts”, a God that is about grace and
mercy.
majority of the backpackers are longing for something, searching for
that missing piece, searching for community, for love, for something
greater than themselves. They are open to hearing about a God that they
can have a relationship with, a God that loves them, a God that is
about more than rules and “don’ts”, a God that is about grace and
mercy.
Shelter City holds weekly Bible studies and nightly prayer sessions in
their cafe, along with cookie baking sessions and open mic nights. The
events are all optional and open to whomever wishes to attend. Some
nights there may only be a few curious participants and other nights
the house is packed with bohemian wanderers who are finally realizing
that Christ isn’t just a missing piece, but He is the whole peace.
their cafe, along with cookie baking sessions and open mic nights. The
events are all optional and open to whomever wishes to attend. Some
nights there may only be a few curious participants and other nights
the house is packed with bohemian wanderers who are finally realizing
that Christ isn’t just a missing piece, but He is the whole peace.
All over Europe Christians are realizing that there needs to be a new
approach to reaching the lost. Cafes, hostels, bookstores, etc are
popping up around Europe and their impact is being felt in a strong
way. Change is in the air for Europe and it’s not coming from Sunday
morning services or five “Hail Mary’s”, it’s coming from the waitress
serving your espresso and the hostel clerk behind the counter. It’s
coming from outside the walls of the church and the Europeans
are beginning to realize that their disappointment has never been with
Jesus, but with stifling and irrelevant religion. And slowly but surely they are choosing to give God a chance.
approach to reaching the lost. Cafes, hostels, bookstores, etc are
popping up around Europe and their impact is being felt in a strong
way. Change is in the air for Europe and it’s not coming from Sunday
morning services or five “Hail Mary’s”, it’s coming from the waitress
serving your espresso and the hostel clerk behind the counter. It’s
coming from outside the walls of the church and the Europeans
are beginning to realize that their disappointment has never been with
Jesus, but with stifling and irrelevant religion. And slowly but surely they are choosing to give God a chance.
Part 2
Bringing God out of the church
and into the hands of the Europeans…
and into the hands of the Europeans…
