What is the role of immigrant populations in European “mission” churches?
Immigrant populations can often be open to Gospel while “Europeans” are not. The churches of Christ in Paris are essentially focused on the “changing France”, that is, one of the churches is largely made up of French citizens from the Caribbean (blacks) while the other is made up of French-speaking Christians from sub-Sahara Africa. Of course, many African immigrant children will become European citizens, possibly opening the door to new missions.
The Marseilles church is in a rather poor area of the city. Their members come, for the most part, from the neighborhood. On any given Sunday, you will find North Africans, native Marseillais, several European French who are retired people who cannot afford to leave the neighborhood. The church there is a reflection of the neighborhood.
The same is true in Lausanne and Geneva. There are ethnic Swiss, French, other Europeans, South/North Americans, and Africans all worshipping together. The church is a reflection of the city and the neighborhood. As long as this is the case, local churches appeal to all ethnic groups.
In general, it has proven difficult, for example, for predominantly African or Caribbean churches to attract “white” Europeans. As a church reaches out to specific ethnic groups and its identity is partially defined by that ethnicity, it may be “stuck” in that ethnicity until popular thought changes and that specific ethnic group is no longer marginalized.
The Marseilles church is in a rather poor area of the city. Their members come, for the most part, from the neighborhood. On any given Sunday, you will find North Africans, native Marseillais, several European French who are retired people who cannot afford to leave the neighborhood. The church there is a reflection of the neighborhood.
The same is true in Lausanne and Geneva. There are ethnic Swiss, French, other Europeans, South/North Americans, and Africans all worshipping together. The church is a reflection of the city and the neighborhood. As long as this is the case, local churches appeal to all ethnic groups.
In general, it has proven difficult, for example, for predominantly African or Caribbean churches to attract “white” Europeans. As a church reaches out to specific ethnic groups and its identity is partially defined by that ethnicity, it may be “stuck” in that ethnicity until popular thought changes and that specific ethnic group is no longer marginalized.
October 28th, 2007 at 7:57 am
Brady, these series of blogs have been very interesting, informative, and encouraging. Thanks!
October 30th, 2007 at 2:34 am
If we are not careful we observe the same situation here in the States and soon.