How to plant a Church in secular France?
Wednesday 22 January 2025 13:12 Despite challenges, God’s Word keeps thriving. From a basement to baptisms and Alpha courses, the Gospel spreads as young people hear it for the first time. We trust Him for open doors and new opportunities.
As we travel to different parts of France for the Baptist Association, we are struck by the variety of ways in which churches are planted. Strategies are set but they are rapidly challenged by the particularities of the context and unexpected obstacles. Church planters constantly need to seek God’s guidance and adjust, but there is one determining factor: the clarity in which the Gospel is displayed and preached. In the book of Acts, “the Word of God continued to spread” (6:7, 12:24, 13:49…). It is the key-element whatever the approach.
A year ago, four couples including us, joined forces to reach the medieval town of Provins (outside Paris). After much prayer and research, we found a place to meet, but it is in a basement! Not ideal to invite new contacts, but young people don’t mind! Two of them recently got baptised and they keep inviting new friends who hear the Gospel for the first time. We decided to launch an Alpha Youth course in our home and around 20 attended. Praise God for the door he has opened for his Word. We recently found new facilities we hope to purchase, but we are waiting for the mayor’s approval and God’s confirmation.
Archive > 2025
December
- 12/23/2025 12/23/25, 11:15 AM - Merry Christmas from ECM!
- 12/16/2025 12/16/25, 11:03 AM - Standing with Bitaj
- 12/9/2025 12/9/25, 10:23 AM - Join the Team
- 12/1/2025 12/1/25, 5:13 PM - A Continent in Need of Hope
November
- 11/19/2025 11/19/25, 2:22 PM - Love looks like Jesus
- 11/12/2025 11/12/25, 2:06 PM - Walking with God, Walking with Others
- 11/5/2025 11/5/25, 11:35 AM - Joining Forces
October
- 10/29/2025 10/29/25, 11:05 AM - What Is In Your Hands?
- 10/22/2025 10/22/25, 11:58 AM - Faith Takes Root
- 10/15/2025 10/15/25, 11:49 AM - Don’t Overestimate What You Can Do in a Year
- 10/8/2025 10/8/25, 5:34 PM - “Someone Has to Slay the Dragon!”
- 10/1/2025 10/1/25, 5:18 PM - Unhindered
September
August
- 8/28/2025 8/28/25, 9:57 AM - A New Church in the Heart of Budapest
- 8/12/2025 8/12/25, 10:30 AM - God's own words of love
- 8/6/2025 8/6/25, 8:56 AM - Another new worker for Portugal!
July
- 7/30/2025 7/30/25, 3:26 PM - One Answered Prayer at a Time
- 7/23/2025 7/23/25, 3:38 PM - "They may be broken, but God sees the potential”
- 7/16/2025 7/16/25, 4:04 PM - Prague: From the Giant Peach to the Hobbit House.
- 7/9/2025 7/9/25, 1:42 PM - Equipping God’s People: A Journey We’re Honoured to Share
- 7/2/2025 7/2/25, 1:35 PM - Sharing Jesus—and Growing Leaders—at Austria’s Summer Camps
June
- 6/25/2025 6/25/25, 1:27 PM - Reaching Romania’s Children with the Gospel of Grace
- 6/18/2025 6/18/25, 1:13 PM - God’s Word on Campus: Training Bible Study Leaders in Portugal
- 6/11/2025 6/11/25, 1:00 PM - Equipping for Abundant Life
- 6/3/2025 6/3/25, 11:41 AM - Groninger Cake in the Court Garden
May
- 5/27/2025 5/27/25, 3:29 PM - From DOS to the App Store: The Story of La Parola
- 5/16/2025 5/16/25, 12:08 PM - Hope in the Post-Atheist Neighbourhood
April
- 4/9/2025 4/9/25, 11:30 AM - Growing a Church that will Last for Generations
- 4/2/2025 4/2/25, 11:43 AM - Jesus is the Way on the Camino: Pilgrims finding God
March
- 3/26/2025 3/26/25, 11:08 AM - Reaching Hearts Behind Bars
- 3/19/2025 3/19/25, 11:55 AM - How God Called Us to Stay at Home
- 3/12/2025 3/12/25, 11:39 AM - How Much my Supporters Mean to Me
- 3/5/2025 3/5/25, 11:33 AM - An experience I couldn’t recommend more!
February
- 2/19/2025 2/19/25, 11:10 AM - From a Bar to the Bible
- 2/12/2025 2/12/25, 12:19 PM - From War Volunteer Centre to Thriving Church
- 2/5/2025 2/5/25, 11:28 AM - How was I called to Europe?
January
OUR IMPACT IN UKRAINE
Discover our impact in the Ukraine crisis and how you can be part of it.
USA MISSIONARIES: DOING OUR PART
BE PART OF GOD'S MISSION IN EUROPE
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Unshakable
September - 16 - 2026 11:16 Unshakable faith shines brightest in difficult seasons. Read how ECMI missionaries across Europe are trusting Christ through loss, opposition, and uncertainty — and inspiring others to do the same. full story“You Are”: An Unexpected Call
September - 09 - 2026 15:39 A simple question asked from a car window in rural Spain became God's answer to a calling BJ Whitaker never expected. Years later, that call led to a church plant in a town with no evangelical church, where the gospel is transforming lives, families, and futures. full storyFocus on the Baltics
September - 02 - 2026 14:56 The Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have a combined average 4.3% evangelical population, which is above Europe’s average. Even so, the need is acute, so our desire is to serve this region where we currently have no ministry presence. full story 
