Western World

Western Symbol 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.

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 for the completion of the Great Commission in our generation.

Church Planting in Vienna, Austria

By Frank Johnson on November 19, 2019 0

The Brinegar Family — Photo courtesy of Zach and Carrie Brinegar. Used by permission (personal correspondence)

For the last twelve years, Zach and Carrie Brinegar 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.

The most recent article on their website, Never Say Never, tells the story of how the Lord took a couple who never saw themselves as church planters and yet over time led them to believe that church planting is the most effective way of spreading the gospel — to the point that now they are obviously passionate about planting a church for Him among the unreached.

The Evangelical Church is Growing in Ireland

By Frank Johnson on October 6, 2019 0

According to an article written by Jonny Grant and Patti Richter for The Gospel Coalition — 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.

Proclaiming the Message of Jesus in a Preacher’s Graveyard

By Frank Johnson on October 5, 2019 0

Reykjavik, Iceland — Photo courtesy of Yuri Loginov. Used by permission.

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.”

Sharing the Old, Old Story with Old, Lonely People

By Frank Johnson on September 7, 2019 0

Telling the Old, Old Story to Old, Lonely People — Photo courtesy of Michael. Used by permission.

According to the results of a survey of 1,896 people over the age of 65 in the United Kingdom:

one in five senior adults will have a conversation with three people or less over a week;
225,000 seniors will go through an average week without talking to anyone in person;
38% of the elderly admit they feel lonely;
12% of senior adults do not leave their home because of loneliness;
40% of seniors say they would be more confident if they knew their neighbors; and,
54% of older adults say their day would improve overall if they could just have a simple, short conversation with someone.

To My Fellow Evangelical Believers

By Frank Johnson on October 16, 2016 0

Photo courtesy of DonkeyHotey. Used by permission.

As we approach what probably is the most unique election some of us have ever faced, I have some thoughts on the current political climate that are a little bit broader than whether we should vote for one candidate or another.

I’m somewhat hesitant to share them because I’m generally not consumed with politics and probably don’t keep up as much as I should. But after a fair amount of inner debate, I’ve decided to offer these thoughts not only because I think they might be helpful to some but also to hear the opinions of others who might have a different perspective than I do.

Part of what concerns me about the current climate is the close identification that often is assumed between evangelical Christianity and the GOP – it is almost as if they are the same thing for many of us.