the largest country in western Europe

France is a central and enthusiastic member of Europe, but it is a country which has a strong sense of its culture and history. Laws protect the French language from the creeping advance of Americanisation; even McDonald’s Big Mac had to become ‘Le Big Mac’.

France has a long history of persecuting religious minorities and religion is still regarded with suspicion. Recent laws have been introduced that limit the activities of religious ‘sects’. Many smaller bible-believing churches are in danger of being labelled as ‘cults’ or ‘sects’ under these laws.

80% of the population have never even seen or held a Bible! This year a brand new ‘rap’ translation has hit the streets and stayed in the best-sellers list for months.

Since 1960 the evangelical community in France has risen five fold to half a million! The Gypsy community is really leading the way – a quarter of them are now Christians.

France is at a spiritual crossroads; 20% of the population are ‘non-religious’, church attendance is plummeting and Christianity is seen as irrelevant and out of date in this secularised society. Pray for a dramatic spiritual change over France.

Occult practices are widespread across France. 50,000 full-time occultic practitioners out number Christian workers by a long way. The spiritual impact on every level of society is obviously huge. Pray that the presence of Jesus would be stronger in even the darkest places.

France used to be known as the ‘graveyard of missionaries’. The drop-rate for missionaries continues to be high and many are discouraged. Pray that the Holy Spirit would refresh and encourage all those who have come to France to serve Him.