Let's Set the Record Straight on Missions in Europe...

Okay, so the Lord has burdened my heart to write about this subject that is so close to my heart. For those of you just joining us, I did a missionary internship in Marseille, France last year, and I'm going to Belfast, Northern Ireland next year as a missionary. So clearly, God has given me a heart for Europe. But I need to address something I have found very disheartening within the church: the lack of support I have received in these endeavors to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Europe that so desperately need it. Now when I say this I am not just talking about financial support, and for the sake of the rest of this post, support will not mean financial support. I am talking about prayerful, spiritual, and encouraging support. That is not to say I haven't received any support, I have, and I am so thankful for those of you that have been supportive, and agreed with me in prayer as the Lord leads me to these amazing people. But we need to talk about the people who haven't supported, the leaders that I had to fight tooth and nail to get on board with me, and even then it's with much reluctance. This needs to be addressed, and I'm not going to stay quiet about this anymore, because my heart is weeping for Europe, and I know that it is a reflection of how God's heart weeps for the lost that still reject Him.

The Great Commission...

We all know the great commission: "Go into the unreached parts of the world, in Asia, Africa, and parts of South America, with the most poverty, that have the best pictures for your slideshows, and tell them about Me so I can come back sooner. But do not worry about those that have television, radios, and access to bibles, they've chosen to reject Christ, and that's their problem, not yours. And I will be with you always." No? Yeah, that's not the great commission I remember either.... Here's the real one: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Fo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20, emphasis mine) Huh, that's odd... I missed the part where all Jesus cared about were the unreached? Oh, maybe because that's not all He cared about! Now, I have to say this, and it is one hundred percent true: I absolutely care about the unreached. I long to see them know Christ and make Him known in their nation. I believe that there are many people called to them, and I myself am called to one day go to the unreached. If you've known me for any amount of time you know I feel called to go to Iraq one day, and be a missionary there. So yes, reaching the unreached is so important, and is very much on God's heart, but is it supposed to be at the expense of other nations as well? Europe needs Jesus, and I will touch on that in the next section, but should we be making it difficult for people, like myself, and many friends of mine, that are called to Europe to actually get there? When Christ has specifically said to go to all nations? I think there is something seriously wrong with a picture where other nations, that need Jesus, are being rejected and passed over because we want Jesus to come back sooner? Is it fair for us to pass judgement and say: "Well they had their chance, too bad, so sad..."? 

The Great Lie...

Europe doesn't need missionaries. This is one of the biggest lies I've heard. "Why are you going there?" or "Sounds like a vacation to me..." or "That's too expensive, why don't you go somewhere else that has a lower cost of living?" are all arguments that have it's root in the lie that Europe does not need missionaries. So let's have a little history lesson, shall we? 

Since Christianity became a major player in world religions, and even before, there have been countless wars over religion. But let's focus on the part Christianity played in religious wars... To name the major conflicts, there were the Crusades, where European "Christians" invaded the Middle East and North Africa to force Christianity upon the "heathens"... And yes, there was much more at play than just that going on, but it was all done in the name of Christ. Many died, there was much bloodshed, and death. Then there's the Inquisition, can't forget our buddies involved in that one. Many were tortured, burned, and killed in the most brutal way for "not complying with the Holy Church". Oh, and of course, the slaughter of Protestants during the Reformation. This is the conflict that has carried the longest... There is still fear amongst Protestants in France because of what was done to their grandparents, great-grandparents, and all the way back to the beginning of the Reformation. Northern Ireland is still just coming out of the fog of war between Protestants and Catholics. Many times, if we're being honest, there is much behind just Protestant and Catholic, Christian and Muslim that brings about these wars and killing, but it's more often than not wrapped in the label of religion in order to justify it. 

Okay, so what's up with this history lesson? Well, now you understand the utter distaste many Europeans have for religion. Jesus has become this bloodthirsty tyrant to so many, that the true gospel of Christ has been lost in the shuffle of idolatry and war. He no longer is the loving, merciful God full of grace, but a man that has had so much blood shed because of His name. I don't know how to put it in simpler terms other than this: The Jesus we know is not the Jesus the majority of Europeans know. At best He is a distant deity, at worst He's a man that has been the cause of conflict ending in blood. So is it really any wonder they want nothing to do with Him?

The Great Reason...

So why am I writing this? Well, we, as a church have greatly forsaken Europe. Many look at Europe and see a warning, not a mission field. Before I went to France I was told it was "The missionary graveyard." I believe that is due, not just to the spiritual darkness there, but also because of the lack of support missionaries have when going to Europe. I, as well as many missionary friends, have been shot down and questioned when we tell people we are going to Europe as missionaries. Maybe it's because we don't have pictures of poverty and need, because you can't always capture brokenness on camera. And oh, there is such brokenness in Europe. Suicide, depression, broken families, broken homes, are so common there. But as I said, that can't always be captured in pictures for me to show. All this to say: we need you church. I am pleading with you, to step up, and recognize that the lost are not just in Africa, Asia, and parts of South America, but they are in Europe, North America, Australia, they are everywhere. They are not just the unreached, but they are those that have rejected God too, they are those that have heard of Jesus, in passing, as a man that caused war and strife in their country's past. I have had to fight to have this recognized, I have had to work hard to show people why I am going where God has called me, and I'm not complaining, because it has given me more passion, drive, and more of a heart for these people. But I am saying this: stop making us fight for this! We should not have to fight for your prayers, for your encouragement, for your spiritual support! God has called us to these amazing places, to these amazing people, not so we can be on vacation, or so we can "have it easy", because being a missionary in Europe is not as easy as you might think it is, but because HE has a heart for these people. Because He has created them, He loves them, and He wants them to know that. His love, and desire for them is no more, no less than the love He has for those who have not been "reached". 

The Great Challenge...

So here is my challenge for you: Start praying for missionaries in Europe. Start talking to God about His heart for the people of Europe, ask Him if there is anything He wants you to do for European missionaries. If you feel the Lord lay it on your heart to write an encouraging note to a missionary there, do it! If you feel the Lord prompting your heart to pray or do something for a specific country, do it! Maybe you feel prompted to pray every day for each country in Europe: do it! Whatever God prompts you to do, do it! Please do not for get us, do not forget what God is doing there, and recognize that as God moves through Europe He is raising up more missionaries to reach the unreached and the lost in this world. He loves them, and church, it's time we stepped up and loved them too.

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy