Western World

The western world — encompassing parts of Europe, North America, and Australasia — is often characterized by individualism, a desire for freedom from restraints, and even outright selfishness. Discover how you can be a part of reaching Westerners with the message of God’s love.

Dramatic Conversion from Islam to Christianity in Central Asia

By Frank Johnson on November 17, 2021 0

FROM ADVANCING NATIVE MISSIONS:
Dramatic Conversion from Islam to Christianity in Central Asia
Rastin and Maryam (not their real names) grew up in a Central Asian country that was formally a Soviet republic. Rastin grew up as the son of a nominally Christian Russian mother and an East German father who thought God was a tyrant, punishing those who misbehaved. Maryam was the daughter of an observant Muslim family. Both Rastin and Maryam came to faith in Christ, met each other, married, and now pastor a house church and support themselves through a bee-keeping business. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Advancing Native Missions Website to read the article Dramatic Conversion from Islam to Christianity in Central Asia

Photo courtesy of Advancing Native Missions. Used by permission (personal correspondence).

The Extraordinary Re-Evangelization of Europe

By Frank Johnson on October 22, 2021 0

FROM THE LAUSANNE MOVEMENT:
The Extraordinary Re-Evangelization of Europe
“No other continent (but Europe) has been exposed to Christianity for such a prolonged period and in such an extensive way. Yet just as Europe was the first continent to be Christianised, it was also the first to be de-Christianised … Many see Europe as thoroughly post-Christian or secular, yet the reality is much more complex than that. And out of the spotlight, an extraordinary re-evangelisation of Europe is taking place. Three dimensions of this can be identified: diaspora churches, church planting movements and platforms, and the next generation.”

Visit the Lausanne Movement Website to read the article The Extraordinary Re-Evangelization of Europe

Map courtesy of Wikipedia. Used by permission.

Thor Is Beating the Lutheran Church in a Battle for Believers in the Land of Fire and Ice

By Frank Johnson on September 24, 2021 0

FROM NEWSWEEK:
Thor Is Beating the Lutheran Church in a Battle for Believers in the Land of Fire and Ice
Iceland’s fastest-growing religion is Ásatrú, a revival of the worship of Viking deities. It tripled in size from 2007 to 2017 while the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland that once made up 90% of Iceland’s population in the 1990s but has now fallen to 64 percent of the population.

Visit the Newsweek Website to read the article Thor Is Beating the Lutheran Church in a Battle for Believers in the Land of Fire and Ice

Photo courtesy of Caleb Charters. Used by permission.

While Iceland has been called “the most godless country in Europe,” in reality God has not abandoned this nation of about 300,000 inhabitants. After reading the Newsweek article, read this 2017 article by Gunnar Gunnarsson, the pastor of Loftstofan Baptistakirkja, the only Baptist church in Reykjavik: Europe’s Most Godless Country May Surprise You.

From House to House in Switzerland

By Frank Johnson on August 31, 2021 0

Could it be that the small nation of Switzerland is strategic in God’s plan to reach the countries of Europe? And even beyond Europe, could reaching the 8.5 million residents of Switzerland — just over one tenth of one percent of the world’s total population — with the gospel be an incendiary spark for reaching people around the world? Bob and Erin Stetz, Assemblies of God missionaries, aim to find out — with a bold vision and an innovative strategy.

View This Story entitled From House to House in Switzerland

At the Center of a Strategic Opportunity in Edinburgh

By Frank Johnson on February 1, 2020 0

Matthew and Marsena Cunningham find themselves at the center of a strategic opportunity to serve the Lord in Edinburgh, Scotland. Read about their exciting work already in progress for the completion of the Great Commission in our generation and find out how you can join them in their innovative approach to planting a birthing church in this strategic city.

View This Story entitled At the Center of a Strategic Opportunity in Edinburgh

Church Planting in Vienna, Austria

By Frank Johnson on November 19, 2019 0

Zach and Carrie Brinegar never saw themselves as church planters. But over time, the Lord led them to believe that church planting is the most effective way of spreading the gospel. And for the last twelve years, they have proclaimed the message of Jesus’ love to those who have never heard the gospel, first in Northern Asia. Now, with God’s direction, they are moving to Vienna, Austria to plant a church in a city whose population of 1.8 million people is 25% atheist and only 0.5% evangelical.

View This Story entitled Church Planting in Vienna, Austria

The Evangelical Church is Growing in Ireland

By Frank Johnson on October 6, 2019 0

FROM THE GOSPEL COALITION:
The Evangelical Church is Growing in Ireland
According to an article written by Jonny Grant and Patti Richter for The Gospel Coalition entitled Reaching Ireland for Christ — Again, only about 0.5 percent of the Republic of Ireland’s population is evangelical and it is the least evangelized country in Europe. At the same time, there have been signs of progress in the wake of the Catholic charismatic renewal in the 1970’s an an influx of missionaries from the United States and Northern Ireland in the 1980’s. Those factors contributed to the establishment and growth of gospel-centered churches scattered throughout the Republic of Ireland. Today there are over 240 evangelical churches with an average attendance of about 80 people. And now, Irish evangelicals are catching a vision to plant churches where Christ is not yet known and to support Christian workers in other countries. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Gospel Coalition Website to read this story entitled Reaching Ireland for Christ — Again

Photo courtesy of Sean Griffin. Used by permission.

Proclaiming the Message of Jesus in a Preacher’s Graveyard

By Frank Johnson on October 5, 2019 0

FROM THE GOSPEL COALITION:
Proclaiming the Message of Jesus in a Preacher’s Graveyard
In a March 2017 article entitled Europe’s Most Godless Country May Surprise You, Gunnar Gunnarsson tells the story of how he and his wife, Svava Maria, began planting a church in downtown Reykjavík, Iceland — a place a former minister told him was a “preacher’s graveyard.” The church Gunnar and his wife planted — Loftstofan Baptist Church — has an overarching vision to plant reproducing churches throughout Iceland. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Gospel Coalition Website to read this story entitled Europe’s Most Godless Country May Surprise You

Photo courtesy of Yuri Loginov. Used by permission.