Opportunity France!
Dear Friends:
I found a quote by President Ronald Reagan that is applicable to the work of the Lord around the world:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
This is certainly true when we consider spiritual freedom. We must work diligently to continue to impart the Gospel to everyone, everywhere and journey with them to be who they were created to be in Christ.
It is heartbreaking to know that there are locations around the world where people once proclaimed the Good News but are now living in darkness. The phrase, “post-Christian” should not exist … but it does! While we must take the message of Jesus Christ to people who have never heard the Gospel, at the same time, we must continue to reach those who have a spiritual heritage somewhere in their family history but who have been raised by parents who turned away from the Lord long ago. Their spiritual freedom was not “fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
One example of a land where spiritual freedom is not championed is the nation of France. An AGWM missionary to France told me the following:
- 40% of France considers themselves to be Atheists.
- There are more mediums, spiritists, and witch doctors in France than there are Pastors.
- 98% of all French people have never read a Bible.
- When a man received Christ, he was given a Bible. It was his first time to ever hold a Bible in his hands.
I thank the Lord that there is hope! First, the Assemblies of God in France is ministering
constantly by the power of the Holy Spirit. Also, AGWM missionaries are in the nation working in cooperation with them. Second, it is with your partnership that Network211 can help “people discover and grow in their journey with God.”
Together, we have presented http://reponsespourtavie.com/ (Journey Answers) and http://qui-est-jesus.com (Who Jesus Is). In just over two years, we have seen the following results to our evangelism sites in France:
- 58,650 Visitors
- 6,459 Evangelism Responses
- 570 Discipleship Connections (those who have written to us)
These numbers are significant in light of the spiritual climate in France. What is interesting, as well, is that the visitors came from 1,591 locations throughout the nation; villages, towns, and cities.
This presents us with an unprecedented opportunity for us to reach more people in the France! We are developing “landed networks” (our response teams in country) and working with the AG in France. The director of Church Planting for the Assemblies of God of France wants to partner with us so that their local believers can respond to those who write to us, share the Gospel, and invite them to their churches across the nation. What an amazing opportunity!
We launched recently our interactive online discipleship community in French at http://LeParcours.net so that we can be more impactful in follow up and discipleship as well as directing individuals to belong to a local church.
What we need is more funds so that people can find our French evangelism sites more readily! For example, with just $100 a month, we can reach 1,500 individuals with the Good News in the France. As Jesus said in John 4:35, “lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest.”
As believers, we must fight for the spiritual freedoms of individuals around the world. We must engage the “never reached” people groups and, at the same time, impact those who have never heard yet live in a land where the Truth once shined brightly. Your prayer and financial support is making a difference!
Blessings,
Mark
Dr. Mark Flattery
Network211 President
